Team SA casts off – our sincerest thanks to all TEAM SA Sponsors!

Last night 23:25 pm … the big moment has come – Team SA casts off for the Tall Ship’s Race!

Family, friends and representatives from participating organisations gathered to wave good bye to Team SA 2008, on their way to Bergen Norway, where they embark famous Norwegian Tall Ship Christian Radich. The vibrancy of excitement and nervousness, mixed with some tears in some mum’s eyes, made the right background for a touching farewell.
Time to thank the many individuals, organisations and companies, who have come on board to sponsor Team SA 2008 and made this project possible!
We are honoured by your willingness to give and share … and we would like to congratulate you! Good choice for your investment into South Africa! Claire, Shafeeqah, Sakhekile and Valentino are four promising young leaders, working hard on their skills to face the many challenges of this country. With your support you allow team members a life-changing experience and the opportunity to further grow and give back to their communities!

WACTH THIS SPACE TO FOLLOW THEIR JOURNEY: TEAM SA WILL UPDATE THIS BLOG ON A DAILY BASIS (if there is no load shedding on the other side of this world :) )

For their generous financial support many thanks to:

Sail Training International
Anonymous sponsor from the UK
Jewish Maritime League South Africa
Pennypinchers Longbeach
Trinity Project International
Christel House SA
Judi Tucker, Peter and Lynne Tucker, Sigrun Kabutz, Bettina Kabutz, Mike de Pauw, Nicolas Theopold, Ian Gelderboom, Sanna Räisänen, Tania Vollperg, Friederike Subklev, Claudia Batschari, Richard Boom and Mr or Ms Anonymous!

For their donations in kind that helped us to keep the overall budget down many thanks to:

Alvin Kushner from Cape Rainbow Tours for the bus, petrol and driver for visiting Team SA home communities
Mike Ormrod of ORMS PRO PHOTO WAREHOUSE for partial sponsorship of a digital camera with water case
Dan Moreland, Captain of Canadian Barque Picton Castle for offering free accommodation for the last night in Den Helder
For stunning equipment for all team members, including track suits, fleece waist coasts, long sleeve sport shirts, short sleeve shirts, small sport bags, beanies and scarves for the cold nights on watch, as well as wrist watches to never be late on duty we would like to thank:

Anthony Weinberg from New Balance South Africa, Morne Strydom from First Ascent; Marlene Coetzee George and Prudence Hendricks from the Sport Science Institute & Laureus Sports Foundation; Mrs. Gaironesa Diedericks from the Diedericks Fund, Alice Sinnett (private) and Brett van Eyssen from Aquarius Embroidery.

Most of all, very special thanks to Ruben Coetzee from the Chrysalis Academy, who inspired the above people, companies and organizations to contribute to the stunning equipment for TEAM SA! What a sterling job you did! Team SA takes a deep bow and will proudly present the team wear on all occasions!