Team Granate Ready for Global Regatta Debut

An all-women South African sailing crew is set to make history this September at the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship in Rhode Island.

Representing Team Granate, the squad is the sole African entry among twenty global competitors selected from forty-eight applicants.

Led by Olympian Dominique Provoyeur and co-captain Robin Patrick, the twelve-person lineup features diverse local talent. This includes twenty-six-year-old Yonela Temela from Khayelitsha, who previously triumphed in the 2026 Cape to Rio challenge.

To guarantee a pure test of strategic skill and elite teamwork, every country will race identical IC37 yachts. Supported by naming rights partner Granate Asset Management, the campaign aims to dismantle gender barriers and establish long-term pathways for future female athletes.

The squad faces a punishing preparation schedule to conquer the challenging American waters. Beyond the competition, the sailors recognise their profound cultural responsibility.

Reflecting on the campaign’s broader generational impact, Temela remarked: “I definitely feel we have a responsibility to show that sailing is not just a sport for men.”

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