May the best team win - Volvo Ocean Race

I don't pretend to be a sailing expert and don't even have an unusual interest in sailing, but that doesn't mean to say that I don't appreciate the sport and the guts it takes to participate in a race such as the Volvo Ocean Race. We went to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town to have a look at the different yachts participating in this race and I walked away much wiser but also with enormous respect for these men and women who take on the elements out there - the rough and unpredictable waters, living in close proximity for such a lengthy time, working together as a team and most of all using their skills and talents to sail through troubled waters. The men and women who take on a race of this nature have to have unquestionable passion for sailing, or they are mad.

Abu Dhabi - the yacht that so far has won the first leg as well as the in-port race
 

This amazing race takes place over four oceans, five continents and with seven teams over nine months at sea. It is said that it is the longest sporting event in the world. I can imagine the endurance that it takes and at the end of it those competing must have an incredible sense of achievement. Something I can only dream of.

The race was established in 1973 and this year (2014) marks the tenth time that the V&A is hosting it. A whole program was developed around the Volvo Ocean Race and I can imagine the type of sponsorships that go into an event of this nature. The aim was to celebrate life on the ocean, but also to involve the public in various water sports at the V&A.

We saw the maintenance teams working hard to clean and service the yachts; the sails were spread out and being serviced and inspected - I couldn't believe the size of these mainsails. A film interviewing the different individuals and teams finally gave me an idea of what it takes to challenge the elements of nature and the absolute commitment and endurance it takes.

The sails are said to be 1414.2 m2 which is the surface of 7 tennis courts

The Abu Dhabi yacht won the first leg of the race from Spain to Cape Town and it also won the in-port round-the-buoys race in Table Bay Harbour this past Saturday. The race takes off tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, 19 September), so I guess many bookies will have their money on Abu Dhabi, but for me, I salute each and every man and woman taking part in this grueling event. By competing you are already winners and my bet? Well, may the best team win!

MAPFRE with Table Mountain in the background

Castle of Good Hope...but where is South Africa of good hope?

Our outing to the Cape Town Military Tattoo at the Castle of Good Hope turned out to be an evening full of surprises, but also one of deep reflection. The theme of the event was the celebration of 20 years of democracy. Now, some may ask...what is there to celebrate since we have become a country with the highest figures for crime, murder, corruption, HIV and a number of other ills. Nothing comes to mind when I try to think of positive aspect of which we are the leaders or frontrunners. But, that is no way to start an evening...

Jordi and Damita posing in front of one of the canons which was later to form part of the event
 

Garry and the children posing in front of the monument in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the war
 

The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town

 

The organization of the event was excellent and planned with military precision. The show was spectacular, the music of a high standard and I was proud of our military bands (the South African Army Band Western Cape, The Cape Town Highlanders, The South African Navy Band, The Algoa Caledonian Pipe Band, The Pipe Band of the 1 Medical Battalion and of course The South African Army Band Kroonstad, just to mention a few).

It is difficult to make an exception of any one event, but the performance by the TS Woltemade South Africa Sea Cadets was not only highly entertaining but made me proud of the skill and discipline displayed by our young people. They performed without a leader and did it without fault.

The young navy cadets moving in a figure eight

It was with sadness that I watched the motorcycle-cade displaying the flags of the different military services that came together under the umbrella of the SANDF after 1994. Upon hearing Nelson Mandela's recorded voice in the background I reflected about how much hope we had for this country and I wonder if this is just the pendulum swinging from very positive to very negative and that somewhere we will find a balance...or is this country on a downward spiral and lost forever? I hope and trust it is the former.

By the end of the evening I feel some nostalgia for what we had...the hopes and dreams and I decide that we cannot give up. We have to go forward with a positive attitude, regardless of our leaders having lost their way and that they are wandering around in the wilderness...albeit with more money, fancy cars and houses than they need. Regardless of the lies and cheating and their disregard for the poor...regardless of the fact that they live only for themselves and try and rape this country of all its resources. This is my country...my country of birth. I have nowhere else to go and I cannot allow anyone to take my hope away. I need to feel proud of that which I am part, that which I was born into. Regardless of who runs the country, I need to be proudly South African!

One of the final acts with all the role players

The Lone Piper