The best thing you'll see all day - a sunset onboard Dongfeng somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean (Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race). Photo: Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race. As a sailor myself I can attest to the most magnificent sunrises and sunsets, incredibly clean and ultra violet water that one can see into for what seems miles and miles and the most magnificent view of the Milky Way imaginable from the middle of the ocean. The absence of any ambient light at night is incredible and … [Read more...] about The best thing you’ll see all day
Sport
Tip Toe Through the Cloud Banks
As temperatures rise and strong winds give way to localised storm activity on the approach to the Doldrums, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is picking its way through the cloud systems, attempting to connect the dots, joining the wind pressure cells. It’s exhausting work for navigators and skippers in terms of decision-making, and for the crew moving the stack of sails on each gybe. At least some if not all of the teams have elected to ‘split the stack’, piling half the weight on each side of the … [Read more...] about Tip Toe Through the Cloud Banks
The cloud giveth and the cloud taketh
Leg 1 winners Vestas 11th Hour Racing jumped to the head of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet three days into Leg 2 as the big dive south began in earnest on Wednesday. Clever sailing from Charlie Enright's Danish/American outfit saw them dart past their rivals with a well-timed gybe yesterday evening that put them into their own windshift. When they emerged they had a welcome 10-mile buffer over closest rivals MAPFRE, Dongfeng Race Team and Akzonobel. But it hasn't all gone Vestas' way – … [Read more...] about The cloud giveth and the cloud taketh
Warriots Team to Face VKB Knights
The Warriors today announced their 14 man squad for the first RamSlam T20 match of the season against the VKB Knights which takes place at St George’s Park tomorrow at 6pm. The squad is as follows: ACKERMANN, COLIN BIRCH, ANDREW CLOETE, GIHAHN GQAMANE, AYA HARMER, SIMON INGRAM, COLIN JONKER, CHRISTIAAN MAGALA, SISANDA NORTJE, ANRICH NQOLO, JERRY NQWENI, SOLO SMUTS, JON-JON (CAPT) SMUTS, KELLY WALTERS, BASHEER … [Read more...] about Warriots Team to Face VKB Knights
One In and One Out
One man in, one man out! That was the news from the Southern Kings this morning when it was revealed that wing Anthony Volmink would be joining the franchise with immediate effect from the Golden Lions whilst centre Jarryd Sage was preparing for an exit. “Jarryd has decided to take up an offer from rival GUINNESSPRO14 championship outfit Newport Gwent Dragons and will further his rugby career with them. We are extremely grateful for the contribution that he made to the Southern Kings during … [Read more...] about One In and One Out
30 Knot Sleigh Ride to Cape Town gets interesting
As the Volvo Ocean Race fleet continued to charge west at breakneck speeds on Tuesday, a crucial decision that could ultimately affect the overall outcome of Leg 2 was looming. The seven teams have been treated to a wet and wild opening 48 hours to the 7,000 nautical mile stage from Lisbon to Cape Town, their biggest challenge to date. Boat speeds have been soaring close to 30 knots as the VO65s charge downwind on a tradewind-powered sleigh ride that has lasted since leaving Lisbon on … [Read more...] about 30 Knot Sleigh Ride to Cape Town gets interesting
Cricket’s Dancing Lights
St George’s Park will officially launch the newly installed multi million rand dancing LED floodlights on Friday 10 November when the Warriors play the VKB Knights in the opening match of the RamSlam T20 Challenge. It’s going to be lights, action and game on when the match gets underway at 6 pm, providing spectacular cricket and great entertainment with added excitement for fans with the doubled Catch a Million, tallying up to Catch TWO Million Competition, requiring fans to take a clean … [Read more...] about Cricket’s Dancing Lights
Is West Best?
After a fast and furious opening to Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race, the fleet is settling into a groove on Monday, with navigators and skippers already facing the first of many critical decisions on this race from Lisbon to Cape Town. Watch highlights from the windy start of Leg 2 Today will give us the first indication as to how far west the teams want to set up for their approach to the doldrums. “We’re planning another gybe to the west to take advantage of the shifts,” explained Juan … [Read more...] about Is West Best?
12-Try Thriller
Rugby's first-ever GUINNESS PRO14 Championship match to be contested at the Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele on Saturday produced a 12-try thriller that had the crowd on the edge of their seats right until the very last minute but, unfortunately, ended in a narrow 36-43 defeat for the Southern Kings by Irish visitors, Ulster. The Kings led 22-10 at the break courtesy of a try each by Burton Klaasen, Yaw Penxe and Michael Makase - the latter a long-range individual effort that needed TMO … [Read more...] about 12-Try Thriller
The ONLY way open to a VIP Guest to leave a speeding yacht – JUMP!
It is tradition to put VIP Guests and Sponsors on yachts at the start of races such as the Volvo Ocean Race. These incredibly lucky people get to experience first hand the adrenalin associated with a high intensity start and that initial first dash for the next port of call. The 'problem' comes in when that VIP has to disembark as the speed and aspect of these racing machines does not lend itself well to gently stepping off and onto a chase boat. HENCE - we now have the JUMPER who has to take a … [Read more...] about The ONLY way open to a VIP Guest to leave a speeding yacht – JUMP!
We Gonna Give You 21 Days to get to Cape Town
Dongfeng Race Team converted a strong start into an early lead as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet embarked on Leg 2, a 7,000 nautical mile race from Lisbon to Cape Town wich is estimated to take three weeks to sail down the West Coast of Africa and finish in Cape Town around 26 and 27 November 2017, But, at 01h00 UTC on 6 November, it looked like MAPFRE were going like a rocket with their Speed Over Ground at 21.1 knots - a full 13 knots faster than second placed Donfeng. MAPFRE were then ahead of … [Read more...] about We Gonna Give You 21 Days to get to Cape Town
Marathon Leg to Cape Town Starts Sunday
The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 shifts into a new phase on Sunday with the start of Leg 2, a 7,000 nautical mile, three-week, marathon leg to Cape Town, South Africa. It’s one of the iconic legs of this offshore classic, as the teams transition from the North Atlantic, through the Doldrums, into the trade winds and may even dip a toe into the Southern Ocean before the finish in Cape Town, which has already been a stopover host 10 times. The tactical options on the leg have been opened up this … [Read more...] about Marathon Leg to Cape Town Starts Sunday
Liz Wardley’s leg caught in sheet and dragged across yacht [video]
In Port Win for Team Brunel
Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel fended off a late charge by MAPFRE to win the Mirpuri Foundation In-Port Race Lisbon on Friday afternoon. Conditions were challenging, to say the least, with squalls bringing rain and gusty, shifting winds. Not only that, but the confines of the mouth of the Tagus River meant a short leg length, with four laps of the race course – plenty of manoeuvres and boat handling for the teams. “I think we did well, we’ve made huge steps as a team,” Bekking said following … [Read more...] about In Port Win for Team Brunel
Three Changes to Kings Team for Ulster Clash at Wolfson Stadium
The Southern Kings team to face Ulster tomorrow (Saturday) has been named by head coach Deon Davids who has made three changes to his side. The game will take place at Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele at 3pm (1pm UK/Ire) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport One and BBC 2 Northern Ireland. In total the Southern Kings have made three changes to the starting XV that took on Glasgow Warriors in Round 7. Two of those alterations come in the backline with Yaw Penxe moving to full back in … [Read more...] about Three Changes to Kings Team for Ulster Clash at Wolfson Stadium
