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The 35th Mykonos Offshore Race, one of South Africa’s most prestigious offshore ORC races, set sail on 28 February from Cape Town. 

The event, a highlight of the sailing calendar, features a demanding first-day offshore race from Cape Town to Mykonos, Langebaan, and day two consists of a Bay Race—a pursuit race of around 25 nautical miles around the bay.

A total of 92 boats lined up at the startline in Granger Bay Cape Town, each hoping to master the elements and secure the win. 

For the first time in the race’s history, a fully Ullman Sails-equipped boat claimed victory in the offshore leg. Ray of Light, a Beneteau First 44.7 skippered by Michael Kavanagh, delivered a standout performance. Thanks to the expert helmsmanship and tactical prowess of father-and-son duo Michael and Sean Kavanagh, the team finished first on handicap and secured second in line honors with a time of 10 hours, 17 minutes, and 23 seconds.

This victory was particularly special, as the crew of Ray of Light included two incredible women from the Ullman Sails Cape Town factory—Aneesa Avon and Glynnis Johnson. Both work on the floor at the factory, and before joining the Learn to Sail program offered by Ullman Sails South Africa, neither had any prior sailing experience. Their journey from the workshop to competing in one of the country’s most challenging races is a testament to their dedication and the opportunities Ullman Sails provides for its team.

Following the offshore leg, sailors had Friday night and Saturday morning to recover before the start of the Bay Race on Saturday 1 March—a pursuit race that added another layer of excitement to the weekend. With over 70 boats dashing around the bay, navigating from mark to mark and around Jutten Island, the race saw intense tactical battles and tested the endurance of every competitor.

Ray of Light continued its strong performance, finishing 8th overall and 5th in Class A—an outstanding result in a fiercely competitive fleet. Other boats equipped with Ullman Sails also delivered commendable performances, with 008 finishing just behind Ray of Light in Class A overall. Meanwhile, Nemesis, Rocket, Ullman Racing, Scarlett Sun, Yolo, and Apple Pie also made their mark, demonstrating the quality and performance of Ullman sails across diverse conditions.

photos Rachael England