Weather no match for determined sailor Zirk
By Okuhle Hlati
Share
Cape Town - Extreme adventurer Zirk Botha has been soaring through strong south easterly winds as he heads for Rio de Janeiro on his boat named Ratel.
Botha, 59, has refused to be deterred by the unpleasant weather for the second time on his solo row from Cape Town.
The former naval combat officer previously departed from Granger Bay on December 5, but was forced to return to harbour due to adverse wind conditions.
At about 8am on Saturday Botha left Kommetjie, on the southern Cape peninsula.
“The weather had been rather unsavoury on Sunday, with a few side swipes and waves breaking on the boat. But Ratel has totally taken it in her stride. The upside is that after covering 54 nautical miles in day one, I am set to cover 64 nautical miles on day 2. The exceptional distances covered are owing to Ratel’s open-class design that benefits from a stern wind,” said Botha.