KNYSNA NEWS - The Trans Agulhas Challenge (TAU), widely regarded as the world's toughest race for dinghies, kicks off as usual on 28 December. The first stage starts on Hobie beach in Plettenberg Bay, and ends 188,5km further on at Santos beach in Mossel Bay.
Forty boats dare this grueling voyage this year, which ends after 658,5km on December 31 in the Strand. This is the 36th time that this will take place.
The evergreen Wimpie Ackerman from Durbanville will be in action with Devon Henning as his crew member in the colours of the main sponsor, Six Gun Grill.
Ackerman will be in action as the current SA champion and also as the current world champion, after he also added this title to his already long list of impressive achievements earlier this year in February in Gqeberha.
"And just by the way, he also won the King of the Surfers title two weeks ago in Blouberg at our most recent Six Gun Grill event," saysTAU organizer Stefan Lindeque.
"Let's see if he can repeat this feat with the Iconic Mossel Bay King of Surf Competition in Mossel Bay on the afternoon of the 28th."
Spectators along the Southern and Western Cape coasts will once again have the opportunity to see this world-class speed master in action in late December, together with a large group of other veterans, which also includes Eben de Bod.
For example, one of the newcomers this year has another success story to tell.
Brendon Groenewald is known in mixed martial arts (MMA) circles as a double-gold medalist in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he won at the professional trials of the African event in 2011.
He also won a silver medal at the Abu Dhabi World Championships in 2012, and he was the EFC Heavyweight World Champion in 2016.
"Brendon felt he wanted to take on another sport that tests participants to the limit. That's the Trans Agulhas offers, and caught his attention," explains Lindeque.
Groenewald takes part with Joshua Smith - one of twelve rookie teams, who take on this race.
Brothers Tyler and Dusty Day return this year for their tenth participation. They are even more famous for other achievements, which they achieved in cycling. Tyler won the Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCT), formerly known as the Argus, in 2011, while Dusty won gold at the Race to the Sun in the veteran category in 2023.
Further top places were achieved by Dusty at the 361 Endurance Challenge and last year's Swartberg Grand Fondo.
"Apart from their outstanding sporting talent, the Day brothers are unique characters and always good company for the rest of the teams," says Lindeque. He adds that Trans Agulhas veteran Eben de Bod should also be watched closely.
Challenge Cruise
This Challenge Cruise is also supported by Iconic Mossel Bay and deserves its reputation as the "world's toughest dinghy challenge". Four action-packed racing days follow the kick-off in Plettenberg Bay.
The route has been tried and tested over decades, but the one factor organisers cannot control is the weather conditions.
"This year our fleet of safety boats includes three large fixed-hull boats, which means we're covered for any eventuality. Come what may!"
Lindeque says the extra safety measures will ensure that each of the six shifts can be completed on the water while also ensuring that participants' safety is never compromised.
The second stage over 86km stretches from Mossel Bay to Stilbaai after which the third stage is decided over 161km between Stilbaai and Struisbaai. Shifts four to six will take place on New Year's Day, December 31, between Struisbaai and the Strand over an enormous 223km.
Uilenkraalsmond and Gansbaai will be visited on this route.
In Mossel Bay, Stilbaai and Struisbaai there will also be a King of the Surf competition, where the participants will provide great entertainment for the beachgoers on a circular route in the shallow surf.
Visit www.trans-agulhas.com for all information about this 2024 Challenge Cruise.
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