Entries for the 2023 Cape2Rio race keep rolling in and the Royal Cape Yacht Club and Iate Club do Rio de Janeiro are delighted to announce the entry of TIM with lead singer of JustJinjer, Ard Matthews at the helm.
The Impossible Machine (TIM), formerly known as The Howard Davis, was designed by Kurt Oehlman and built by Louw and Halvorson. It is a classic 66-foot wooden sailing vessel commissioned by the SA Navy in 1966, made of Mahogany on Oroko frames, with a 16-ton lead keel and approximate 200sqm sail area. In 1971 The Howard Davis competed in the inaugural Cape2Rio race under the command of Captain Phil Nankin, and subsequently completed several Atlantic Ocean crossings to South America.
Early 2020, Matthews acquired her and spent the best part of the year restoring her to her former glory In April 2022, Matthews had his Skipper’s ticket commercially endorsed by SAMSA and is currently in the final stages of upgrading to Offshore Yachtmaster.
Having never done a crossing before, Matthews will be joined by a crew with vast experience and from all walks of life so as best to safely represent the spirit of the race. His team so far consist of Tavish McKenzie, Jules Lambert, Victor Kapurura and Joe Heywood. Matthews will have a mobile studio on the boat with the aim of continuing his recordings, all while documenting as much as possible for the world to see.
BOAT SPECS
Make: Oelhman 66 | Sail #: ON 350522
LOA: 20 m | Beam: 5.5 m
Owner: ARD Matthews | Skipper: Tavish McKenzie
Number of crew: 7
