South Africa aims for yachting success

By Richard Hamilton
BBC, Cape Town

South Africa has launched its entry to the America's Cup yacht race - the most prestigious sailing event in the world.

The yacht is decorated with traditional motifs

This is the first time an African country has entered the race, which will take place in Valencia in Spain in 2007.

The team's training yacht, Shosholoza (meaning "Go Forward"), was launched at the harbour in Cape Town.

Accompanied by the South African navy brass band, a floating crane delivered the Shosholoza to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The hull of the yacht was unveiled to reveal a design based on traditional Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele patterns in the colours of the South African flag.

A bottle of champagne was smashed against the side of the hull to christen the yacht.

'Role model'

It was a proud moment for the president of South Africa's America's Cup Syndicate, Mafika Mkwanazi, who said the race was an interesting challenge.

"We've had 10 years of democracy and we've such a good project which basically puts South Africa on the world map," he said.

South Africa will be the first African nation to compete in the cup

"And not only South Africa, but Africa as well, because when we in South Africa do well in terms of any world events, whether it's in sports, business or cultural activities, we represent the rest of the continent.

"Therefore it begins to motivate the African renaissance philosophy, because, in my interpretation, the other African countries get the benefit of seeing us do well. We are almost a role model.

"And after the three years that we are committed to, we will find other sponsors, so that it becomes one of the normal national sports of South Africa that we participate in all the time."

The America's Cup has a long history. It was started in 1851 and was won by an American team on every occasion until Australia took the trophy in 1983.

We're really making a statement to the world that we are right up there with our industry and our lifestyle South African skipper Geoff Meek

The managing director of South Africa's challenge is Salvatore Sarno, an Italian businessman. He said the team had the backing of everyone, including the country's minister of sport Ngconde Balfour, to whom he had outlined the project two months earlier.

"When I introduced to him our vision and our project, he was saying, 'Ah, Captain Sarno, it would be very nice if you go to Valencia'," Mr Sarno said.

"I told him, sorry, we are not just going to Valencia. We are not just going to Valencia to show some of our black faces and to say sorry to have disturbed you and come back.

"We are going there because our people will look into the eyes of the best Americans, the best Australians, the best Italians, the best French and we will win! We will beat at least a lot of them."

Statement

South Africa hopes it will be able to hold its own in this fiercely competitive race. The captain of the Shosholoza, Geoff Meek, believes the team's participation will help the country a lot.

"I think it's fantastic," he said. "You know, for South Africa, it's more of an adventure than it is for most teams who've done it before. It's a real slog for them.

"Obviously we're going to work hard, but for us it's fun, adventurous and it's great.

"We're really entering something that usually only First World, hi-tech countries would want to enter. So we're really making a statement to the world that we are right up there with our industry and our lifestyle."

Two new yachts will be built in the same style as the Shosholoza and whichever proves the fastest will compete in the Louis Vuitton challenger series.

In the meantime, the South African team will be sailing, training and preparing for one of the toughest and certainly the most famous sailing race in the world.