By Esther de Villiers
- The 36th Trans Agulhas Challenge ended on 31 December after covering a tough 700km route from Plettenberg Bay to Strand Beach over four days.
- Despite rough seas on the final day, race veteran Eben de Bod emerged victorious, proving TAC remains the ultimate test.
The Trans Agulhas Challenge (TAC) set off, as it has on 35 previous occasions, from Plettenberg Bay’s Hobie Beach on 28 December and finished four days and six stages later at Strand Beach in the Cape on 31 December.
From Plett, the 700km course headed to Mossel Bay (Stage 1 – 188.5km), on to Stilbaai on Day 2 (Stage 2 – 86km), Stilbaai to Struisbaai on Day 3 (Stage 3 – 161km), and finally to the Strand finish line.
On Day 4, the total distance covered was 223km (Stages 4–6), and the day’s three-tiered challenge saw boats racing via Uilkraalsmond and Gansbaai en route to Strand Beach.
“In 2023, we had to abandon one of the stages on the final day because of extreme weather off Cape Agulhas, but this year we had extra safety boats and were determined to finish on the water,” said TAC organiser Stefan Lindeque.
“This time round we had much better weather – the first three days were raced in perfect conditions. But on the last day, the sea and wind were rougher, so the guys could really show their mettle.
“A westerly wind from the front made it more difficult to navigate the 3–4 metre swells, but we chatted with all the racers and safety boat crews and decided to push through.”
Lindeque thanked NSRI stations along the way on Day 4 – including crews in Hermanus, Kleinmond and Gordon’s Bay – for being on standby.
The race started off with a record number of 40 boats. By the final day, 37 boats set off from Struisbaai, but only 23 boats crossed the finish line at Strand Beach on the last day of 2024.
“That’s why we were lucky with the weather: it was fair enough for many boats to finish most stages, but challenging enough to prove once again that it really is the toughest trial for inflatable boat racers,” said Lindeque.
Among the two-man crews that entered the challenge were Wimpie Ackerman and co-pilot Devon Henning in the Six Gun Grill title sponsor’s boat.
“Apart from the fact that no racer can compare with Wimpie’s 30-year record of TAC participation, he is also the reigning SA champ and took top spot in the Pro Stock class at the World Champs in Gqeberha last February.”
But finally taking the TAC 2024 crown was race veteran Eben de Bod, with Henco Nel as co-pilot.
“Their boat flipped when arriving at Stilbaai, and Eben, who has won the title on three previous occasions, said it may be a sign that it’s time to hand over the baton. But he’s simply in a class of his own and made up lost time over the next four stages to finish first overall at Strand Beach,” said Lindeque.
Officially titled the Six Gun Grill Trans Agulhas Challenge powered by Iconic Mossel Bay, the race again earned its reputation as ‘world’s toughest’. Visit www.trans-agulhas.com for full results.
Pictured above: Trans Agulhas racers again treated land-based onlookers along the Cape coast to spectacular racing action.
Source: trans-agulhas.com
