Born in Khumbu and raised in Masifmelelere near Fihoek, Cape Town, Sibsso Sizatu wants to inspire underprivileged children to pursue careers in sailing and water sports.
Sizatu will be skipper for yacht ArchAngel in the Cape to Rio yacht race starting Monday (January 2nd). For the 6000km race, he joins five other crew members (four men and one woman).
Young Sibusiso grew up in Khumbu, Eastern Cape, but little did he know he would one day join and lead a South African team in elite water sports. He left his native village at the age of 10 and moved with his family to Mashihmelele, Cape Town, where he was introduced to sailing by his friends at the age of 16.
Sizatu says it wasn’t until two years later that he took the sport seriously.
“The first thing I experienced was seasickness, and the ship went deeper and deeper into the sea. You know, that alone made me terrified to go even deeper.”
The sport is expensive and the team received sponsorship six months ago. Shizatsu, a former herdsman, says he has been watching the competition since 2018.
“If I want a chance to win, I hope it takes 23 days, but I don’t know what will happen. About 3300 nautical miles. I was training when I joined in 2017. Top of the list was Cape to Rio because we have kids in the marine industry and we have to introduce them to deep sailing But we are struggling to raise funds.”
Sizatu says his longtime dream is to see more people of color in sports.
