Every year on 28 December, at 8am, the Trans Agulhas Challenge (TAC) kicks off with sonorous and colourful fanfare. And this year will be no different, albeit with the added festive bonus of the race’s 35th anniversary.
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Officially titled the Six Gun Grill Trans Agulhas Challenge powered by Iconic Mossel Bay, the race is recognised as ‘the world’s toughest inflatable boat challenge’.
As per the previous 34 occasions, contenders will set off from Hobie Beach in Plettenberg Bay for the first of four action-packed race days, before finishing at Strand Beach on 31 December – just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The six-stage 700-kilometre course leads from Plett to Mossel Bay (Stage 1 total distance: 188.5km), Mossel Bay to Stillbaai on day two (Stage 2: 86km), Stillbaai to Struisbaai on day three (Stage 3: 161km) and then on to the Strand finish line.
On day four, the total distance covered will be 223 kilometres (Stages 4 to 6) and the day’s three-tiered challenge will see boats racing via Uilkraalsmond and Gansbaai en route to Strand Beach.
First finishers are expected to arrive around noon, and then the balance of this year’s 35-odd crews will moor their ducks for a well-deserved breather and closing ceremony. Apart from stage and class winners, the overall winner of Six Gun Grill Trans Agulhas 2023 will be the crew finishing the entire race in the shortest time.
But let’s backtrack a bit to the harbour town that serves as first stop on 28 December: Iconic Mossel Bay has come on board will all guns blazing and is gearing up to welcome TAC participants, their support crews and families with arms wide open.
After leaving Plettenberg Bay at 8am that day, all boats should take about 2.5 to 3 hours of serious surf time before hitting Mossel Bay’s shores at Santos Beach. According to TAC organiser Stefan Lindeque, several fun activities are planned to entertain spectators in the run-up to the racer’s arrival.
‘We’ll have gas braais on the beach so invite Mossel Bay locals and visitors to join our Braai-off from 8:30am onwards as we await the boats’ arrival,’ says Lindeque.
‘Around noon, we will start with the King of the Waves competition – a high-speed race sure to throw up lots of sprays in the bay, and therefore an excellent spectator sport!’
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Iconic Mossel Bay will also pull out all the stops on the day, with Mossel Bay Tourism teams on the beach to welcome onlookers, a hospitality tent for VIPs and merch giveaways to make sure you’ll have something to remember the day by.
‘In fact,’ adds Lindeque, ‘many of the competitors and organisers will be based in Mossel Bay from 26 December already, having settled in at the Van Riebeeck sports grounds in preparation for registration and sundry pre-race checks.
‘Registration will officially take place on 27 December before an opening event at 1pm, when we will welcome all the teams and do the official race briefing,’ he explains. ‘Some teams will drive to Plett that evening to avoid the early trek before the 8am race starts.’
He adds that the Van Riebeeck grounds will serve as a hub for campers from 26 to 28 December, before the boats hit the surf again towards Stillbaai at 8am the next day.
But before going on their roaring way, crews and spectators will be treated to a delectable taste of Iconic Mossel Bay. Mossel Bay Tourism promoters will accompany their Trans Agulhas colleagues all the way from Plett and Nature’s Valley beaches, past Knysna, Swartvlei and Wilderness, to Glentana and Hartenbos.
At all these venues, the Mossel Bay Tourism team will encourage beachgoers to step up and spectate the boat’s arrival, and get up close and personal with crews of the most experienced kind, as well as the rookies tackling this world-toughest challenge for the first time this year.
Among them will be Wilco du Preez – a true son of Mossel Bay and skipper of a craft sponsored entirely by local businesses, and co-pilot Christiaan Stopforth.
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Picture: Supplied