2024 Cape2rio race date announced at winners' celebration
by Royal Cape Yacht Club 11 Mar 2023 06:35 UTC
17 December 2024
Cape2rio race winners' celebration © Alec Smith
After 3300 nautical miles and a shoulder operation, Cape2Rio overall winner Adrian Kuttel finally raised the iconic South Atlantic Race trophy in victory at a winners' celebration hosted at the Royal Cape Yacht Club on Friday.
South African solo sailor Adrian Kuttel made history in the Cape2Rio race with his outstanding performance to win the monohull category in 21 days 18hrs 59min and 37sec. An injured Kuttel sailed solo across the South Atlantic Ocean in the smallest vessel in the entire fleet of 16 boats. Atalanta (Sentinel Ocean Explorer), a JPK 1030, finished 61 minutes behind Michael Kavanagh's Ray of Light, but Kuttel won the Cape2Rio 2023 Race on handicap. Not a mean feat keeping in mind that he was sailing with a disconnected bicep - the ligament from his elbow to his bicep was torn and detached, and he had since had an operation to re-attach it.
Ray of Light won IRC line honours and second place overall. This family affair of father, son, wife and two nieces sailed a competitive race but still managed to find time for Marlin fishing during the crossing.
Sibusiso Sizatu captained the Alexforbes ArchAngel team from the RCYC Sailing Academy who were placed third overall. The crew from the Cape Flats chased a bold dream to cross the Atlantic, something that has not been done by an Academy team before.
The evening was concluded by RCYC Commodore Neil Gregory announcing the next race date when the fleet will set sail for Rio (South America) again, on 17 December 2024.