Umgababa’s ‘Machine’ to make Pacific crossing in yacht race
Local sailor to sail from port of Qingdao to San Francisco.
An Umgababa sailor hopes the wind fills his sails when he competes in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Nqoba Mswazi will fly out to China to join the fleet of 12 clippers currently sailing around the world. He will race in one leg in the 10th race of the series, that will take about four or five weeks from the port of Qingdao to San Francisco.
Nqoba, a regular sailing personality nicknamed ‘The Machine’, competes in all of the local races, but has only sailed in two international races prior to his upcoming Pacific crossing. He competed in the Vasco da Gama race from Maputo to Durban last year and early on his sailing career he raced in the Round Creole Island Race in Reunion.
“My mentor Sean Jones and I competed in a class that we knew little about, but I learnt a lot,” said Nqoba. “It was the F18 class, in a big hobie cat. We came third last, but my passion for sailing was ignited there.”
Having just turned 21, he celebrated this milestone in Portsmouth when he was there for his clipper training.
The tough 5,800 nautical mile race begins on Sunday, 16 March and is a monster of a leg. Once leaving the safety of the port, the clippers will weave around local fishing boats while battling the renowned fog that hovers off the coastline. The cold winter conditions will challenge the fleets in the first week at sea as snow will be a regular feature on the decks. The cold is one of Nqoba’s biggest fears. He and his team will have to read the weather carefully as they cross the largest ocean in the world.
Invest Africa’s estimated arrival is around 15 April. “I look forward to the privilege of sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. The sailors I have spoken to have talked excitedly about the feeling you get gliding underneath it and the magical sight of San Francisco coming into focus after weeks at sea,” said Nqoba.
For more information on the race, visit https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/ or visit the Royal Natal Yacht Club website www.rnyc.org.za.
