Two Potchefstroomers, Marais and Heinrich Cloete, showed absolute determination and character when they conquered 700 kilometres of waves in the ultimate Six Gun Grill Trans Agulhas challenge, known as the world’s toughest inflatable boat race, along the coast this past December.
The dynamic duo of 22-year-old twins took on exceptionally rough water and what their coastal competitors had to offer in four gruelling, but highly enjoyable days along the coast as Team S19.
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Team S19 came close with a fourth-place finish on Day 2, but finished outside of the podium on every stage. The overall winner for the 35th Official Trans Agulhas Challenge is Eben de Bod and Gerhard Fernhout. Marais and Heinrich’s main goal was to complete the fast-paced, action-filled challenge and return home knowing that they had accomplished something truly amazing.
According to Marais, this race has been a lifelong dream for him and Heinrich since they were kids.
“We grew up knowing that this was something we wanted to achieve one day, and now that day has come. It was a really special moment to finish the race with my twin brother. We are both really passionate about the sport,” mentions Marais, who acted as the co-pilot with Heinrich as the head pilot of their Aquarius boat.
Marais has previously competed as a co-pilot in the 2022 edition with Dutchman, Jeroen Bastian. In 2023, Marais took on the heavy seas with his brother in what was an unforgettable experience.
The Trans Agulhas is a four-day race that starts at Plettenberg Bay before moving to Mossel Bay, Stilbaai, Struisbaai and then ending at Strand. Due to some bad and hazardous weather, the race was adapted to end in Struisbaai.
The huge waves, strong winds and challenging routes of the adrenaline-packed Trans Agulhas race demanded dedication, endurance and sacrifices. Each race started with a pilot briefing at 07:30 before boats could set off at 08:00.
Teams enter in pairs and take on a long haul and King of the Waves section each day. The Long Haul section tests competitors’ endurance and physical and mental fitness, whilst the King of the Waves section is a spectator favourite. In the King of the Waves, boats battle it out in a battering surf, whilst sometimes overshooting in the air. The Cloete brothers placed 9th in the Long Haul and came an excellent 4th in the King of the Waves on Day 2.
“The key going through the surf is not to hit the throttle too hard. You must let your momentum push you through the breaking waves,” explains Marais.
The race required a boat, equipment, excellent mentorship and guidance and knowledge of the conditions that couldn’t be possible without their mentor, Phil Louw, and reliant sponsorships, Reinke Irrigation and Andcore.
“Phil really helped us to understand the importance of the propellers and the overall characteristics of our boat.”
Each day has various challenges, with competitors tasked to complete various beach stops on the route, which act as checkpoints for refuelling amongst other necessary adjustments. Team S19 also had five crew members, who assisted in various ways to support them in the pounding challenge.
“Some stages were really challenging. You have to figure out why you are not up to speed or why the revs are not functioning as normal. Sometimes it’s a small mechanical adjustment. Sometimes the boat flips over, so you have to be prepared to react quickly,” stated Marais.
Marais emphasised that the race is a real mental and physical challenge and that you have to be ‘sea-fit’ to withstand the daily grind in the boat. The challenge is not all about speed and fitness but requires a lot of time, preparation and toughness to contribute to the success.
“It really challenges your forearms and your back. We have previously raced on dams, but this is a different beast entirely. You have to be super focused, but also realize that you can use the waves to your advantage. Just go with the flow.”
Even though the brothers could not finish the final stage and had to be towed out of the ocean with approximately 8 kilometres to go, as their engine mount completely broke off, they still had done enough to get the coveted finisher’s medal.
“We did not have the best of luck on the final day, but that is all part of the unpredictability of the race. The fantastic part of this sport is the tight-knit community. It is also quite expensive to compete in this race, and we are thankful to our main sponsors, Reinke Irrigation and Andcore for their support. In the future, we would love to complete more Trans-Agulhas races.”
The Cloete brothers, hail from Pretoria, but have made Potch their home since they started their studies at the NWU five years ago. Marais completed his BSc Agric degree, whilst Heinrich went the law direction with a BCom LLB degree.
Roaring with energy, they finished the famous challenge of the Trans Agulhas and are psyched and ready to take on any walls of water life has to offer.
*For more information on the sport contact Heinrich at 067 884 7751 or Jean at 083 634 1171.
