Joy as city woman makes around-the-world sailing history
| Published date | 27 April 2024 |
| Author | Mervyn Naidoo |
| Publication title | Independent on Saturday |
It was the first time in the race’s 50-year history that a women’s-only team won the event, which started in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race. The OGR began on September 10 in Southampton which also provided the race’s finish line.
Jaca also became the first black African woman to sail around the Cape Horn headland (Chile) and circumnavigate the world.
Antigua’s Junella King, 23, and Maryama Seck, 33, of France, also part of Maiden’s crew, achieved the same historical honours for their homelands.
For Jaca, the win and the outpouring of congratulations, especially on social media, from fans, family and friends in South Africa, has been an exciting experience. “It is unbelievable that I’ve sailed around the world. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m so excited about our huge achievement as an all-female crew.”
Jaca said she was honoured to be representing KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. She looks forward to returning home this week, after being away for more than a year.
Best of all was the inspiration and encouragement the win had already instilled in women facing daunting tasks, stereotypes and male dominance.
“I’ve seen social media comments. So many positive things are being said. People are fired up by our achievement.”
She said they sailed the traditional way in the “flyer class”, just as they did in Whitbread races, with no electronic devices like phones, GPS gadgets and weather routing.
“We were allowed compasses, sextants and other traditional instruments for navigation.”
Jaca said crews usually comprised men with at least one woman. “Maiden was the exception of being all girls. That’s because when Maiden did the initial race, it was with an all-female crew.”
She said Tracey Edwards MBE was the first female skipper of Maiden in the 1988/89 race and had the first all-female crew in the race.
“Tracy made history. They didn’t win overall, but won a few stages and she was named ‘yachtsman of the year’.”
Jaca said they didn’t want to disappoint Edwards and aimed to win some legs to emulate her, but secured overall honours instead.
Jaca was born in Umzinto on KZN’s South Coast, but she and her brother were still in school when they moved to KwaMashu to live with relatives after the death of their parents.
One of the subjects she did at the JG Zuma High School was nautical science, but after matric she...
To continue reading
Request your trial