Cape Town: The Alexforbes Angel Wings crew won the Cape 2 Rio Yacht Race 2025. It was a combined group that included members from Masiphumelele, Khayelitsha, Grassy Park and Athlone. They were the first one to cross the line after 3300 nautical miles of sailing, from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro.
Reportedly, the six young sailors from the RCYC Sailing Academy secured their victory and proved themselves as champions. Despite of a mid-ocean mechanical catastrophe that would have ended the campaign for many other sailors, the youth-led crew claimed the first place with their handicap yacht and completed the 3300 nautical-mile crossing in just 19 days.
Cape2Rio is one of the world’s toughest offshore races that covers 3300 nautical miles from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro, along with international crews and unpredictable conditions that demand stamina, technical skill and serious mental strength. The South African champions, Alexforbes Angel Wings team didn’t just survive this win, they conquered it.
Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture – Peace Mabe called it a proud moment for South African sport and youth development. He praised the RCYC Sailing Academy for building a world-class result through consistent investment in young talent.
Mabe said, “This victory is about far more than winning a race. It is about young sailors, three of whom are women, 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 the plan.”
Behind this great achievement was the calm leadership of experienced and a whole lot of heart of the skipper and mentor – Sibusiso “Sibu” Sizatu. He guided the young sailors through the RCYC Sailing Academy for years and he knows exactly how rare it is to see a crew to handle the pressure, in the middle of the Atlantic.
After the win, Sibu said that he couldn’t be much prouder. He stated that he is incredibly proud of this crew. They were tested properly out there, especially after the setback and the way they stayed calm, solved the problem and kept racing was impressive.
The support received from home and from other crews along the way meant a huge thing for them and he hope that this shows young people in South Africa that, with commitment and teamwork, even the impossible things can be made possible to achieve.
With this, the Alexforbes Angel Wings crew amazed all not just by winning but by how they won. Not through perfect conditions or easy sailing, but through grit, teamwork and belief.
They solved problems in real time, while being exhausted, far away from the home and being in the ocean and throwing its worst at you. Journey of their crew is the moment that only started in a yacht but in the sailing academy that committed to opening doors where there were none before.
Cape2Rio programme gave young people the communities where sailing is not a common sport but the training, access and mentorship to become world-class. These young people have done something extraordinary to raise the South African flag higher, by facing impossible challenge with a broken boat and turned it into a win that will echo far beyond the finish line in Rio.