From the Shipyard to the Podium: Philasande Gwala's Cape2Rio Victory

Meet Philasande Gwala. At Balance Catamarans Cape Town she keeps tasks moving and deadlines met, but in early 2025 she traded the shipyard for the open Atlantic. As part of the Alexforbes Angel Wings team, she claimed first place on handicap in the 2025 Cape2Rio, a 3,300 nautical mile offshore race from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro and one of the toughest ocean events in the Southern Hemisphere. In this video, Philasande shares how she went from a love of the water to crossing an ocean by sailboat. She started sailing in 2022, committed herself to two years of training with the Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy, and earned her spot through hard work both mental and physical. The crossing took 19 days, 8 hours and 41 minutes, faster than the crew anticipated, and it was not without hardship. A mid-Atlantic boom failure forced the team to adapt and keep racing competitively across thousands of miles of open ocean. Their two years of training together, and the trust they built as a unit, carried them to the finish. Her win matters beyond the result. The Alexforbes Angel Wings campaign was part of a development program working to open up sailing to communities historically underrepresented in the sport. Philasande's journey is a reminder of what happens when talent meets access, mentorship, and effort. We could not be prouder. Congratulations Philasande, you didn't just cross an ocean, you inspired all of us. The winning crew: Skipper: Sibusiso Sizatu First Mate: Tshepo Renaldo Mohale Crew: Philasande Gwala, Sesona Ntsaluba, Yonela Temela Reserve sailor supporting training and preparation: Yobanathi Klaas Read the full story: https://balancecatamarans.com/balance-catamarans-philasande-gwala-cape2rio-victory/ #BalanceCatamarans #Cape2Rio #Sailing #OffshoreSailing #CapeTown #SouthAfrica #Catamaran #SailingLife