Sure Travel Journey 6.1 Summer 2020 | Page 63

ADVERTORIAL SAA backs the Cape to Rio Getting there As the airline partner for this year’s Cape to Rio, SAA is offering incredible fares. One-way Economy fares start from R6,070pp; round-trip fares start from R7,434pp in Economy or R16,479pp in Business). Ask your Sure Travel consultant for more details. Contact your nearest Sure Travel agent to enquire or book, or call us for a quote on 0861 47 48 49. South African Airways (SAA) is proud to be the airline partner for this year’s Cape to Rio race, giving the national carrier the opportunity to offer discounted one-way or round-trip fares from South Africa’s major airport hubs to Sao Paulo. This transatlantic yacht race (connecting Africa with South America via the southern Trade Winds) is open to hard-core racers, family cruisers and avid adventurers, according to Cape to Rio chairman, Luke Scott. “The race connects the iconic, exotic and historic into an incredible cocktail of deep blue water sailing.” It’s been running since 1971 and is the longest continent- to-continent yacht race in the southern hemisphere. It links two of the world’s most stunning sea ports, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro, over an expanse of 5 800km. The Cape to Rio attracts crews from all over the world, including South Africa, America, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Take part This year’s race is scheduled for 2 January 2020 (for cruisers and lower handicap boats), routed via a compulsory stop at the mid-South Atlantic island of St Helena. A second, more challenging route will start on 11 January 2020 for racers on higher handicap boats, racing directly between Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. Prizes will be awarded on 2 February in Rio. Register for the event or learn more at cape2rio2020.com. From the Chairman’s Desk The Cape2Rio2020 Ocean Race is proud to associate with South African Airways in delivering a world-class ocean yacht race between Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. These two iconic cities are connected via the ocean and skies over the vast South Atlantic. As the fleet of yachts races between the two countries, they will be shadowed by SAA’s daily return service between South Africa and Brazil. It’s an adventure of a lifetime voyage, which will take competitors between one to four weeks to complete – depending on the speed of the different boats entered and the weather conditions. This is typically a beautiful warm weather downwind race in the trade winds. For the many local and international sailors whom this race has attracted since 1971, as well as the many family, friends and returning crew, SAA is the perfect choice to connect into and out of South Africa. Organised by the Royal Cape Yacht Club, this edition of the race embraces the best international practices in safety standards for boat and crew preparation. There are two starts in Table Bay, under the majestic Table Mountain, on 4 and 11 January 2020, while the Prize Giving dinner will be held at the prestigious Clube do Rio de Janeiro, at the foot of the Sugarloaf, on 2 February 2020. Luke Scott – Race Chair