Team Shosholoza recorded two more points on the Louis Vuitton leader board Friday after a resounding win over Team China as the South Africans continue to give all they can to make the semifinal cut when racing ends next Wednesday.
A tense pre-start dial-up saw the Chinese over the line at the start giving the South Africans the chance to pull out an early lead as the Chinese returned to re-start.
The South Africans continued to extend as they ripped around the course posting a one minute 30 second delta at the first windward mark and gained more on each leg to post a winning delta of two minutes one second on China as they victoriously swept across the finish line.
Sandra Sarno, wife of Team Shosholoza captain Salvatore Sarno, was on board as ”18th man”.
The team have never lost a match to China with her on board and because of this the superstitious captain always insists she takes the coveted non-sailing position on the boat each time the two teams face each other.
Team Shosholoza were due to race Emirates Team New Zealand in the sixth flight of races of round robin two later on Friday.
Team Shosholoza are tied sixth overall with Italy’s Mascalzone Latino Capitalia after five flights of races. — Sapa