Consistency and a superb solid performance brought South Africa’s Team Shosholoza two impressive fifth places and third spot overall after the opening two races on Saturday of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 11 fleet racing event being held in the Mediterranean off Spain.
Smart tactical racing in light, shifty winds and a lumpy sea saw the South Africans finish ahead of some of the giants of the Americas Cup in both races. In the first they put Cup Defenders Alinghi three boat lengths behind them at the finish and convincingly beat the Italian Luna Rossa challenger who finished 10th.
”We gave a good solid performance. It is fantastic to be in third place. It is above our expectation and if we keep it solid we can stay there. The guys are feeling very proudly South African and very, very happy today,” said a beaming skipper Mark Sadler when cheering supporters mobbed him at the dock.
Captain Salvatore Sarno said he was hoping for a fourth overall: ”But here we are third! The crew are working very very well as a team. They are good. The boat is good. It is fast. We are not here to be the nice guys. We are here to beat the best of them.
”We still have three more races to go. But we are confident and unless we have a major breakage we should do well. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. They are phoning from Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. It is good to know we are doing so well for our country. This team deserves a homegrown sponsor. It would give us the edge!” said Sarno. – Sapa