It was with great excitement that the committee of the Cape2Rio 2025 Yacht Race welcomed the Line Honours winner, SV Vineta as she crossed the finish line in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, late yesterday afternoon.
Skipper Felix Scheder Bieschin completed the crossing in a provisional time of 16 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes and 15 seconds.
Bieschin was visibly thrilled to finally finish the race after being forced to abort his 2006 Cape to Salvador campaign due to equipment failure. Making the achievement even more special was sharing the experience with his brother Wolf and son Theo, completing what he described as an adventure of a lifetime.
While Line Honours celebrations marked a milestone moment in Rio, the race continues to deliver powerful offshore stories — none more compelling than that of RCYC Sailing Academy entrant Alexforbes Angel Wings.
Angel Wings has been locked in a gripping duel with the German entrant Vineta, with the classic Oyster 39 matching pace with the modern Jude/Vrolijk–designed yacht. The contest highlighted how preparation, experience, and determination can rival cutting-edge design.
A few days ago, Angel Wings suffered a major setback when her boom failed during a gybe at the preventer attachment point. The crew acted swiftly, safely dropping sails and securing the broken boom below deck.
Skipper Sibusiso Sizatu and his crew demonstrated exemplary seamanship, re-hoisting the mainsail without a boom — an unconventional but effective solution that has allowed the yacht to continue toward Rio under controlled and stable conditions.
While the team has shifted from full race mode to a safety-first approach, their response reflects the true spirit of offshore racing: adaptability, calm decision-making, and collective resolve. For this youth crew, the experience has become a powerful lesson in applied seamanship and teamwork at sea.
As Alexforbes Angel Wings continues her passage to Rio, she does so as a reminder that success offshore is measured not only in trophies, but in the ability to meet adversity with skill and resilience.
And as the fleet presses on, one thing remains certain – the game isn’t over until the final whistle blows, with Vineta still in contention for the overall handicap victory.
