A jumbo surprise during the Team Shosholoza unveiling
by Team Shosholoza 1 Apr 2007 21:54 BST
Team Shosholoza produced a jumbo of an unveiling spectacle in the Port America’s Cup in Valencia, yesterday. Traditional African and Spanish songs, graphics of leaping cheetahs, models body painted as zebra cum-cheetahs and a real life elephant, symbolising the power and strength of Africa delighted a crowd of about 500 guests who erupted into spontaneous applause when Shosholoza RSA 83’s covering skirt was finally unveiled to reveal her newly modified hull and keel.
Streaking across the new bulb was a super-realistic graphic of a cheetah, the fastest animal on the African continent and a symbol of Team Shosholoza’s intentions in the upcoming 2007 America’s Cup racing season opening on Tuesday (3 April).
The dropping of RSA 83’s covering skirt – which also featured a leaping cheetah with the Zulu words “inzingwe azigxumele…kuma semi-finals” which loosely translates: “We will leap into the semi finals” was orchestrated by Mrs Sandra Sarno, wife of team managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno.
Welcoming the guests to the South African base Captain Sarno said Shosholoza was an African dream, a dream started four years ago with the purpose of showing the world the new face of South Africa after 10 years of non-racial democracy. “When I called a meeting of sailors in 2004 and asked them to join me in this dream I explained we had no money and that we would have to work very hard but by 2007 we would be racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup and that one day our President Thabo Mbeki would tell them our country is proud of them, “Here we are. It is 2007. We will be racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup and we have received a letter from Mr. Mbeki saying that although he is not able to come to Valencia and personally shake their hands he is proud of us and thanks us for flying the South African flag high.”
The South African ambassador Mr Koloane said it was up to Team Shosholoza to make sure that South African successful sporting history since 1994 was repeated at the America’s Cup. “When we participated at the African Cup of Nations in 1994 we won, in 1995 we won the Rugby World Cup and our cricketers did us proud at the Cricket World Cup. We are extremely proud of our team and honoured that a visionary like Capt Sarno is showcasing our country at this prestigious event. “Victory or no victory we will have made our mark and sent a positive message to the world as representatives of not only South Africa but all of Africa,” said Mr Koloane.
Captain Sarno presented the Team Shosholoza sailing, design and build teams and personally thanked each of them. “What you see here is a boat completely different from the original. We have made the maximum modifications allowed and we have added the best professional sailors to our original crew. Now we are ready to start.”