Over 50 boats expected at Trans Agulhas

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The 37th edition of the Six Gun Grill Trans Agulhas Challenge (TAC) is officially underway, with over 100 participants expected to finish the first leg of the four day, 700km race in Mossel Bay this morning, 28 December.

Deemed the 'World's toughest inflatable boat challenge' by TAC, over 50 boats raced off from Hobie Beach in Plettenberg Bay at 08:00 today toward their first checkpoint in Nature's Valley.

They were expected to reach their second checkpoint at Plett's main beach just before 09:00.

The estimated times of arrival of the boats at various checkpoints is as follows:

• Nature's Valley at 08:20
• Plett main beach at 08:42
• Brenton-on-sea at 09:28
• Swartvlei at 09:54
• Wilderness at 10:14
• Glentana at 10:44
• Great Brak River at 10:50
• Little Brak River at 11:00
• Mossel Bay at 11:15

A total distance of 188.5km is covered on the first day of the race.

From Mossel Bay, the course heads to Stilbaai on day two with a total distance of 86km covered. Day three will see the participants travel from Stillbaai to Struisbaai, a total of 161km. The final stage, day four will see competitors race 223km to the Strand Beach, the finish line.

TAC organiser Stefan Lindeque said that with the number of participants, the officials and backup teams, the TAC's 'travelling circus" totals over 400 people.

“Besides support at each beach between the Plett start and the Strand finish line, our drones have counted about 1 000 spectators per beach at any given time, coming and going during the course of the race,” said Lindeque

“Last year, we counted about 4 000 people rotating during the day at Santos Beach for the race’s first big stop in Mossel Bay," he said.

Lindique added that at around noon today, they will once again host a surf race.

Last year’s TAC crown was earned by race veteran Eben de Bod, with Henco Nel as co-pilot. Visit www.trans-agulhas.com for news on this year’s competitors and additional information.

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