SSL Team RSA – By Sailors for Sailors

THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP... IN SAILING

15 NOV - 13 DEC 2026 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Events

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G2 - Race 1

12:30

26 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

CHI

RSA

R1A1

R1C2

Results

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G2 - Race 2

14:00

27 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

CHI

RSA

R1A1

R1C2

Results

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G2 - Race 3

15:30

28 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

CHI

RSA

R1A1

R1C2

Results

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G2 - Race 4

11:00

29 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

CHI

RSA

R1A1

R1C2

Results

See All Races

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Team Ubuntu

Our diversity is our strength

“Sport has the power to change the world…it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. ” Nelson Mandela.

The team’s nickname is Ubuntu. This is an African concept which translates as: “I am only because of who we all are”. The concept is about the interconnectedness of all beings .It is about being humane and always ensuring human dignity as at the core of your actions and thoughts.

If Nelson Mandela hoisting the rugby world cup in 1995 was an act of reconciliation and ubuntu, the sight of a racially transformed 2019 Springbok rugby team again winning the world cup, was another huge moment of hope. This was a team of players that the nation could recognize as representing them. They brought hope to a still divided nation that our strength is in diverse people helping each other to achieve a common goal. As the rugby coach told the players: “It is not about you. Be fearless, you are not fighting for yourselves, you are fighting to give a nation hope.”

15 years ago, South Africa had an improbable America’s cup entry in Valencia with team Shosholoza. They could overcome a lack of experience and resources with a lot of passion to punch way above their weight. Black sailors filled meaningful roles within the team and contributed greatly to the success. South Africans want to see that our sport teams are being represented at all the races, they must be united and be willing to make “big hits” for the team. South Africa’s team for the SSL Nations Cup will embrace this challenge.

Statistics

THE COUNTRY

South Africa’s coastline is 2800km long. With few natural harbours, huge waves, the Agulhus and Benguela currents ripping up the coasts, most South African sailors are comfortable in extreme sailing conditions.
73 sailing clubs affiliated to national sailing federation
23 Sailing schools, many of which focus on previously disadvantaged race groups
About 6400 active dinghy and keelboat sailors at club level and many more unaffiliated windsurfers and kite surfers

ACHIEVEMENTS

Competed in Olympic games from 1992 to 2016
Competed in Valencia America's cup 2007
Currently 2 South African flagged boats in TP52 super series

SSL Ranking

SSL best ranked woman: #
SSL best ranked man: #
SSL nations ranking: #

MAIN EVENTS

Lipton cup
Cape to Rio race
Youth nationals

2007

2007. 15 years ago, South Africa had an improbable America’s cup entry in Valencia with team Shosholoza. They could overcome a lack of experience and resources with a lot of passion to punch way above their weight. Black sailors filled meaningful roles within the team and contributed greatly to the success.

The captain

Ian Ainslie

He was born on July 27, 1965, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and started sailing at the age of 6. Ian Ainslie is a three-time Olympian in the Finn Class. He started the Izivunguvungu school for transforming sailing in South Africa and was a head coach of the Netherland Olympic sailing team in London 2012 and Rio 2016)

THE LEADERS

Asenathi Jim will be the helmsman

His life conditions were typical of many South Africans, but his life story is not. Growing up in poverty in an informal settlement, he was introduced to sailing at the Izivunguvungu school of sailing. His determination and skills saw him competing in 2 Olympic games in the 470 class. He is considered one of SA’s top sailors across a range of dinghy and keelboat classes

Paul Wilcox – The Tactician

Paul is from Johannesburg and is the South African who is doing the most high-level professional sailing. He has taken part in the Volvo ocean race and currently spends most of his time trimming the mainsail on a TP52 in the super series, amongst other projects.

Joweal Klaase – Bowman

Joweal is the bowman who has won the most Lipton cup regattas, the most prestigious regatta in South Africa. He is employed in a sail design office. He is also an alumnus of Izivunguvungu. He was introduced to the sport at the age of 15 by a sailing school called (Izivunguvungu) founded by Ian Ainslie and Matthew Mentz.

THE YOUTH FACTOR

Gareth Blanckenberg – Mainsheet trimmer

Gareth previously won the youth worlds and competed in 2 Olympic games in the laser class. He currently competes in TP52 and Cape31 classes. At the age of 19, he competed in the Sydney Olympics in the laser class, finishing 9th overall, winning a race in the regatta. He was ranked in the top 3 in the laser world rankings in the following years and then competed in Athens 2004 in the laser class. he then stopped competing in the Laser class but had remained very active in various classes, including the Finn class, and is regularly found on winning boats in SA (tp52, cape31 etc). as a tactician/helmsman/mainsheet trimmer.

Confirmed Athletes

Captain | 10

TBD | 9

Helm | 8

Bow | 1

Pit | 2

Floater | 3

Trimmer | 5

Grinder | 4

Main Trimmer | 7

Tactician | 0

Potential Team Position

1 BOW Joweal Klaase	2 MID-BOW
3 PIT Inge Schabort	4 GRINDER Marlon Jones
5 TRIMMER Murray Willcocks	6 TRIMMER Charles
7 MAIN TRIMMER Gareth Blanckenberg	8 HELM Asenathi Jim
9 TACTICIAN Mark Sadler	10 CAPTAIN Ian Ainslie
11 FLOATER Howard Leoto