The alexforbes Angel Wings team from the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) Sailing Academy has won the 2025 Cape2Rio Yacht Race, finishing first and marking a significant achievement for South African sailing, when they sailed into Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Tuesday, 20 January, 2025.
The team completed the 3,300-nautical-mile transatlantic race to Rio de Janeiro, representing Masiphumelele, Khayelitsha, Grassy Park, and Athlone, and women crew members included Sesona Ntsaluba and Yonela Temela, with reserve sailor Yobanathi Klaas supporting training and preparation. Notably, the three women on board had never crossed the Atlantic before.
Despite sustaining a major setback on 10 January when the boom broke during a sailing manoeuvre mid-Atlantic, they rallied and continued on with their race to defy the odds and sail to victory in 19 days, eight hours, and forty-one minutes.
Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, congratulated the RCYC Sailing Academy and the Angel Wings team.
“This victory is about far more than winning a race. It is about young sailors who were given the platform to apply their training in a real-world environment, make critical decisions in difficult conditions, and support one another when things did not go according to plan.”
Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe
“The RCYC Sailing Academy, through this team, has shown the world what South African youth can achieve when talent is matched with structure, discipline, and belief,” said Mabe.
“The alexforbes Angel Wings are champions, and their story will encourage young South Africans to dream bigger, train harder, and believe that they belong on the world stage.”
Main Photo Caption: The alexforbes Angel Wings team from the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) Sailing Academy won the 2025 Cape2Rio Yacht Race, finishing first and marking a significant achievement for South African sailing. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Women crew members Sesona Ntsaluba and Yonela Temela, and reserve sailor Yobanathi Klaas, had never crossed the Atlantic before.
