Old Parktown Boys pupils vie for new adventure
PARKTOWN - Former pupils at Parktown Boys, Ricardo de Carvalho and Alistair Moodie are keen to embark on a trans-atlantic sailing race in January 2014.
They will be part of the crew to participate in 43rd Cape to Rio Race which has taken place since 1971.
De Carvalho said, “As the first Wits student sailed boat in this race we hope to show all other sailors that a race of this magnitude is not out of reach of students and that it is not an exclusive sport.”
The adventure was the brainchild of De Carvalho, Moodie, Patrick Chappel and Bradley Robinson in January 2013.
Alexa Brown and Sebastian Bode were added to the team in July completing the Wits crew. Rudi van Velzen from Cape Town jumped on board this mission and will accompany the crew to Rio as well.
Sean Cummings and the 2 Oceans Maritime Academy in Cape Town offered a boat called ‘Cape Storm’ to the team.
Brown, an old girl from Parktown High School for girls said, “It is amazing that we have all come together through a yacht club at university, in Johannesburg where no major water bodies exist and are going on this journey across the Atlantic Ocean together.”
Sailing is not a common sport in Johannesburg, so the team would like to start spreading word of the opportunities involved. The team has been greatly inspired to take on this mission and they hope to inspire others around South Africa in doing so.
Sebastian “Sea-Bass” Bode, another Parktown Boys old boy said, “I am unbelievably excited and with a great crew I know we’ll do great! At the end of the day, we want to achieve something extraordinary!”
The team requested for financial support from good Samaritans to fulfill their dreams.
Details: www.witscapetorio2014.com
