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Humbled and Grateful – Cool Idea Nemesis Shines in Cape2Rio

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Gqeberha has a proud history of competition in the Cape 2 Rio Yacht Race.

Who can forget the first time that Phil Gutsche unleashed his magnificent spinnaker, cut in the colours of our new South African Flag, in the first race under democracy? Gutsche completed many races – first on Witchdoctor and then on Warrior.

Our city can boast of an entry in the first ever Cape to Rio – Flame – with one of the youngest sailors in the fleet coming from Muir College – Jimmy Swinnerton.

Cool Ideas, Nemesis raced the Cape to Rio De Janeiro race this year with the owners Tony and Sigi Bailes from Gqeberha Yacht Club based in Gqeberha. The crew is made up of Lake Deneys Yacht Club sailors Ted Barale, Michael Motsoneng Bill, Nigel Beckett and Anthony Engelbrecht.

It took Cool Idea Nemesis 24 days to complete the 7000 odd kilometre race.

As some yachts are still on the course all results are provisional to date. Suffice to report that provisionally Cool Ideas Nemesis is in 7th place after sailing 3808.5 nautical miles to finish on 26 January 2023 at 01:31:29 giving them an elapsed time of 23 days 11 hours 31 minutes and 29 seconds.

In the ENCA interview below Michael Motsoneng Bill talks about his epic trip and of how humbling the experience was – that all people on earth could experience that humbling moment, that mooment when you realise that we are not that big, that wonderful or that important, that what really matters is how we progress on and through our wonderful planet.

YouTube video player

The first yacht to cross the line in Rio was Norhi which sailed 3808.1 nautical miles to finish on 21 January 2023 at 10:42:16 in 18 days 20 hours 42 minutes and 16 seconds.

In 3rd place was Ray of Light carrying two more Gqeberha based sailors and daughters of Tony and Sigi Bailes – Jenna and Tammy Bailes.

Some of the other local sailors that sailed the epic Cape to Rio include:

  • Ronnie Baer on Sprinter in 1979
  • Doug Gorton on “Robust” a Robert’s 53 sponsored by Murray & Robert’s in 1982
  • Frans Loots on Checkers Hyper (Pegasus), a Peterson 33 that finished 3rd in Class 3 in 1982
  • Dries Erwee, Graham Wentworth and Phil Steyn on Checkers Hyper (Pegasus), a Peterson 33 that finished 3rd in Class 3 in 1982
  • Rod vd Weele – Skipper on Wings a Charger 33 along with Arthur Clayton, Jeremy Bagshaw, Frans Loots on Wings a Charger 33 in 1985 which received the Neptune Trophy for Seamanship.
  • Basil Wheel – Skipper of Flame a Lello 34 in 1971 along with Harry Hauzer, Gavin Wynne, Jimmy Swinnerton and Phil Stone.
  • Tom Ferreira – Skipper on Prost a Worrior 34 in 1976.
  • Ken Traughton – Skipper on Intakamanzi, a Hartley 39 in 1976.
  • Rob Smith on a St Francis 44 – Birdwing in 2000.
  • Alan Straton, Justin Dent, Glynnis Straton on Chubb Protector – a Montevideo 42 in 2000.
  • Jason Dymond in the Cape to Salvador edition on Gumption (ex Orion Express) in 2006.
  • Robbie Gwynn – 2000.
  • Ian Tough on Environ High Noon, a Sparkman and Stephens 36 in 2000.

The sailors are ONLY sailing to win the South Atlantic Trophy which is awarded to the winner of the Cape to Rio Race on corrected time. The trophy is of 32 oz. of 18ct gold in the stylised boat hull whilst the sails are sterling silver. The trophy was donated to the Royal Cape Yacht Club by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa for the inaugural race in 1971.

Cool Ideas Nemesis
Cool Ideas Nemesis finishes the Cape to Rio de Janeiro South Atlantic ‘dash’

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.