South African ocean sailing has come a long way since ‘Voortrekker’.
The 25-year-old skipper vying to win this year’s Cape to Rio grew up in Durban’s KwaMashu township.
Vuyisile ‘Vuyie’ Jaca was drawn to sailing after a Durban Port visit as part of her school nautical science studies. She learnt her sailing ropes at the Sail Africa academy where her regular visits drew attention – and admiration. “I said I was willing to do anything – I had never been offshore,” Vuyisile told Pippa Hudson during a radio interview last week. “I took every chance I was given at Sail Africa, to sail and to help out. I always made sure that I did my best, and they started to see my potential.”
Her sailing career then took a quantum leap forward when she was selected first to join the now world famous Maiden Factor sail outreach programme, and then to form part of the Maiden Factor’s all -female 2024 Ocean Globe Race team – which won the race.
Vuyisile now wants to make more history as the first female skipper to win the Cape to Rio.
She and her Metro Offshore Sailing Team are proudly sponsored by the South African Ocean Racing Trust.