After winning the Cape2Rio 2025 yacht race, three South African sailors had to abandon their sinking vessel on its return to South Africa, prompting a rescue at sea.
Skipper Sibusiso Sizatu, first mate Tshepo Renaldo Mohale and Andrea Myburg were returning from Brazil to Cape Town when their vessel, the Angel Wings, encountered serious difficulties in the early hours of Monday 2 February while approximately 800 nautical miles southeast of Rio de Janeiro.
Sizatu reported that he was preparing to begin his watch when he noticed the mast collapsing. With limited fuel reserves of approximately 200 litres and worsening conditions, the crew determined that returning to Rio was not feasible. Shortly thereafter, the vessel began taking on water, the SA Navy said in a statement.
“I immediately contacted the Royal Cape Yacht Club Commodore, David Garrard, who alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre South Africa (MRCC),” said Sizatu.
Through satellite tracking systems, it was established that the nearest vessel to Angel Wings was the Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel Bryant, en route to Singapore. The vessel diverted from its course to respond to the distress call. The crew of Angel Wings were safely taken aboard Bryant.
Shortly after the rescue, the yacht sank. The decision to abandon the vessel was made in consultation with the Master of Bryant, taking into account the complete loss of spare equipment required to establish a jury rig and deteriorating weather conditions.
Following the rescue, the Royal Cape Yacht Club formally requested assistance from the South African Navy to transfer the three sailors from Bryant once the vessel reached South African waters. The South African Navy immediately activated arrangements for the Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV) SAS Adam Kok III to conduct the transfer operation, the Navy said.
SAS Adam Kok III rendezvoused with Bryant on Wednesday 11 February, approximately 63 nautical miles off Cape Point. The three sailors were safely transferred and arrived at Naval Base Simon’s Town on Thursday morning.
“The South African Navy commended the swift coordination between the Royal Cape Yacht Club, MRCC South Africa, and the crew of Bryant, whose decisive actions ensured the safe rescue of the sailors. Upon arrival in Simon’s Town, the crew expressed deep relief and gratitude, stating they are eager to reunite with their families after the ordeal,” the SA Navy said.
“The South African Navy remains committed to protecting the country’s maritime interest and safeguarding lives at sea by supporting maritime safety operations in partnership with national and international stakeholders,” it concluded.
Last month the Alexforbes Angel Wings youth team with sailors from the Cape Flats representing the Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy claimed first place on handicap in the 2025 Cape2Rio race. In doing so, they made history as the first such team to earn their place and take victory in the 3 300-nautical mile transatlantic crossing, which took 19 days. For the race, three other female crew took part, but they had already returned to South Africa for work and education commitments when the Angel Wings sank.
Photo: Alexforbes
On 10 January, the team faced a major setback when their boom broke during a sailing manoeuvre mid-Atlantic. Its failure placed the crew in a severely compromised position and would typically force retirement from a race of this nature, Alexforbes stated. Faced with that reality, the team made the decision to continue, racing without a boom and spinnaker – the large, balloon-like sail used to maximise downwind speed. Despite the damage, Alexforbes Angel Wings not only remained competitive but extended their 25-hour lead by several hours, arriving in Rio ahead of their expected finish time.
“I’m incredibly proud of this crew. They were tested, and the way they stayed calm, solved problems and kept racing was impressive,” Sizatu said. “The support from home and other crews along the way meant a huge amount, and I hope this shows young people in South Africa that with commitment and teamwork, even things that seem impossible can be achieved.”
