An intrepid adventurer known for being the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa is set to take his family with him on a sailing trip around the globe.
Riaan Manser and his wife, Vasti, are no strangers to rowing long distances, having done so together during their honeymoon in 2016, when they rowed from California to Hawaii across the Pacific Ocean.
This past Saturday (13 May), the Manser family showed off their newly refitted Miura 31-foot sail boat named Shaka Zulu to family, friends and members of the public during an “exclusive” sneak peek at Gordon’s Bay Harbour.
“This is our business-class boat,” says Riaan proudly. “This has everything we need to complete a trip around the world.”
The Mansers are actually planning to sail around the world only in May next year, but before that they are planning on undertaking a maiden voyage with the boat in August, when they sail to Madagascar for the launch of Riaan’s second children’s book, My First Island Adventure. The book actually plays off in Madagascar and for two months the Mansers will travel to this exotic location and will be back in South Africa some time in September.
“We bought the Miura in March last year and our good friend Francois van Dyk, who is a boat builder, actually refitted the boat for us,” explained Vasti. “He turned the stripped 30-year-old boat into one we could comfortably sail around the world with. The Miura is also an extremely safe boat.”
In May next year, the Mansers are planning to depart Cape Town and aim for Brazil and the Panama Canal.
“For the next two or three years we will sail around the world before we finally head back to South Africa,” Vasti said. “It will be the perfect time to spend more time with our two sons, five-year-old James and two-year-old Samuel. We are looking forward to seeing the world with our sons and to show them that it is important to not be just alive but to live.”
Riaan has always believed that it is important to turn your planning into action. “If you don’t go over into action then nothing will happen,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to take the leap. When you start things will fall into place.”
The Mansers’ newly refitted boat has all the amenities, including a kitchen and toilet inside and a gas braaier on the outside that will be used occasionally. “We are going to miss everything and everyone in South Africa,” concludes Vasti. “We are planning on selling our house before we depart on this adventure of a lifetime. We only have one life and are going to live it to the fullest with our family alongside us.
