Cape-Rio part 1

Smaller monohulls get a head start across the South Atlantic

The first start of the SAP Cape-Rio race got underway with the added excitment of 35 knot winds provided by the local 'Cape Doctor'.

The Charger 33 yacht FTI Flyer, skippered by Keith Mattison, took an early lead after the start gun.

At the first mark buoy just off Mouille Point, the smallest boat in the fleet Suidoos 2, skippered by the oldest entrant 77-year Gawie Fagan, crept up into second position. Fagan’s crew consisting of his son Hennie, 21-year old Jamie Waters of Port Elizabeth and 21-year old Brandon Smith will be posing a serious challenge for the handicap honours in the monohull class.

If they manage to reach Rio de Janeiro in less than 24 days, experts are forecasting that they will be the yacht to beat.

The 9.4 metre Miura Julie III, skippered by 70-year old Robin Green, was in close third place.

John Levin helmed Indaba to a fourth place around the mark, while the rest of the fleet followed in close pursuit.

Table Bay was awash with a flotilla watercraft ranging from small rubber ducks to luxury motor launches, which set out to wave off the competitors.

Since the start a crewman has been taken off the yacht Acalantis with a 'severely damaged hand'
and was to Vredenburg Hospital for recovery.

The start for the bigger monohulls and three multihulls will take place on 11 January. Favourite among the multihulls is the 60ft trimaran Nicator (ex Pierre 1er, Lakota) of Swedish former EF and ASSA ABLOY crewman Klas Nylof while Hasso Plattner's maxi Morning Glory will be attempting to break Zephyrus IV's record of 12 days 16 hours and 49 minutes for this 3,540 mile classic. Morning Glory is being run by Dee Smith and will have Ian Moore navigating and Boewe Bekking and North Sails Denmark's Jen Christensen as watch leaders.

Leaderboard (5 Jan)

1, JULIE III
2.SAFARI - CTW
3.FTI FLYER
4.INDABA
5.NAUTY 40S
6.INYONI
7.ALBACORE
8.AQUILA
9.ACALANTIS