PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Ray of Light, the first monohull yacht that crossed the line at the finish of the 2023 Cape2Rio race last week, has a Plettenberg Bay connection. One of its crew, Francois Olivier, owns a home in Plett.

Francois was aboard Ray of Light, skippered by Michael Kavanagh, and celebrated along with the rest of the crew with Ray of Light taking line honours in the IRC fleet after finishing third overall in the race on 23 January. 

Two catamarans finished ahead of them.

For Francois it was a life-long dream come true to sail the famous Cape2Rio race. Ray of Light's crew consisted of the Kavanagh family (Michael, his wife Heidi and son Sean) and two nieces, Jenna and Tammy Bailes, Francois and a friend, Malcom Tiley.

"We were third over the line, behind two catamarans, after an afternoon sprint against Atalanta (skippered by lone yachtsman Adrian Kuttel) which had led since early in the race," said Francois.

"We spotted him on the horizon during the morning of the last day. "Mid-afternoon there was a thunderstorm that had built up over land. As it passed over us the winds helped us pass Atalanta, who we eventually beat by an hour as we crossed the line at 23:00 local time last Monday [23 January].

"On handicap (the race for the trophy) he, being smaller and single-handed, won and we were second," said a proud Francois. 

"I have wanted to do Cape2Rio all my life and got the opportunity after our business, Mazi Asset Management, sponsored the first black skipper to compete in the race in 2017, Siyanda Vato, on CFM/Mazi."

Quipped Francois, who is a keen sailor, on the prospect of sailing locally, "I have not sailed on the Knysna Lagoon, but hope to in the future…"

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