Fresh off a Trans Agulhas victory, Nikki du Bois and his crew clinched the novice stock-class title at the West Coast version of the inflatable boat challenge, the Trans Atlantic Challenge, which was held last month.
Powerboat racers lined up in Velddrif and ended the race in Yzerfontein for the gruelling race. Although the event is a day shorter than its predecessor, it still requires raw guts and commitment to win, Du Bois pointed out.
“It wasn’t easy, but it was so much fun,” the Gordon’s Bay resident said. “To be crowned winners was just the cherry on top – just awesome.”
Since his victory at the Trans Agulhas at the beginning of the year, the water sport enthusiast he has not stopped training (“Water racer rides the wave to win”, DistrictMail, 3 February).
Du Bois has teamed up with new co-pilot, Ruan Louw, has attracted some sponsorships and entered multiple smaller-scale inflatable boat races. “But we want the big races,” he insisted.
He trains on the water almost daily, learns new manoeuvres on rough waters and chases victory at all costs.
Speaking of the Trans Atlantic Challenge, Du Bois recalled he was again jinxed by the motor.
“We had motor problems as soon as we started, but once we got our rhythm, there was no stopping us,” he chuckled.
“My co-pilot fell from the boat and into the water once, which was definitely a learning experience. The race was more strenuous than we expected, as the waters were incredibly rough, but we raced hard and pulled through”.
Du Bois is now accustomed to rough waters, saying without this experience, it wouldn’t be able to win podium places.
“Exposure to the sport is making us better and the victories are really motivating us to take this as far as we possibly can.”
A few weeks after their Trans Atlantic win, the duo entered the inflatable boat race of the PE Splash Festival over the Easter Weekend, testing a new boat.
They impressed here too, winning every heat as well as the finals; after two days the pair earned an overall win.
“It was a dominant performance for sure,” said Du Bois, who is cautious about not getting too ahead of himself.
“Our main focus now is to train five days a week and get the hours we need to ensure we are well prepared for the next event, the Inflatable Powerboat World Championships in Struisbaai at the end of the month.”
He has been preparing for the championships since late last year, together with a drive to share information with others to grow the sport. “I love the adrenalin of the competition, but also want to win or lose against the best,” he said. “For this reason, we need to promote the sport continuously.”V Anyone wishing to take up the sport can contact Herman van Geems, president of the South African Inflatable Racing Association, on 083 680 8527
