One Eighty Magnus

Our next crew member feature is Paul Swanepoel.
Paul (pictured here with Janet Cotton) has been the driving force behind Magnus’ refit since 2018. New to sailing, he participated in his first regatta last year, the 2024 Spring Regatta at False Bay Yacht Club. If you notice the badge on the side of the boat, it’s a Reconnaissance Commando Operator’s Badge—Paul’s, with Operator Number 22. Paul served in 1 Recce and 5 Recce for 11 years, completing several high-stakes missions with small and large teams. Paul was known affectionately as "Swart Piet".
Paul has been an incredible asset to the crew and our boat!

Now that the Cape to Helena Race is over, we thought we would have a more in depth look into the crew!
Our first one to feature is our boat owner, Dr Janet Cotton.

In Dr Cotton's own words:
"I began sailing Oppies at age 5, after being pushed off the jetty in an Oppie with the
instruction to "pull the sail in"—and I was hooked. I attended Oppie camp for many years and later sailed keelboats at False Bay Yacht Club. By 16, my competitive side emerged as I sailed with the Navy on an L26 in two Rothmans Week Regattas. In grade 10, when school sports became mandatory, I started a sailing team, training friends and competing in the Interschools Regatta on Muiras at False Bay Yacht Club. We placed third as the only all-female team. During this time, I earned my coastal water skipper's ticket, mentored by John Therwell, whose voice I still hear today.

I paused sailing to earn my engineering degree, PhD, and build my business, returning to competitive yachting in 2010. Since then, I have competed in numerous regattas
at Royal Cape and False Bay Yacht Clubs. One Eighty sponsored all-ladies regattas in 2013, 2014, and 2015, with us winning in 2015, when I was also awarded Lady Sailor of the Year by RCYC. It’s wonderful to be back on the water, realizing my dream of
competing in offshore regattas. I’m excited for what Magnus and our crew will achieve in the St Helena Race and beyond, including the Cape to Rio and other local races."

The One Eighty Magnus crew looked wonderful in our brightly coloured shirts at the Cape to St Helena Race Prizegiving!
Take a look

The Magnus crew have been sight seeing up a storm on the island!
Some images of sunset last night at yacht club with Jacobs Ladder in the distance, Napoleon’s grave, Boers POW graves and various sites from peaks on the island. What an incredible experience this amazing island is!
Cape to St Helena Race

An interview with our Skipper Evert Groenewald at Royal Cape Yacht Club before the start of the Cape to St Helena Race
We are now enjoying the island - and catching up on some rest!

🎙 On the mic with One Eighty Magnus skipper, Evert Groenewald. Magnus recently crossed the finish line yesterday at St Helena Island ⭐🎙

What an incredible feeling!
Earlier today, we crossed the Cape to St Helena Race finish line off sthelena_island and here are a few images of us crossing the finish line, arriving at our mooring and tying up while waiting for immigration and customs officers to process us for arrival and the ferry ride to the island.

🎉Congratulations to us!🎉
One Eighty Magnus, skippered by Evert Groenewald
Crew - Janet Cotton, Danie Pretorius, De Wet Nel, Edward van der Merwe, Paul Swanepoel & Jessie Giovanna
Finish Time 08 Jan 2025 10:38 SAST
Elapsed Time 10d 20h 38m 53s
Corrected Elapsed Time 10d 20h 38m 53s

🎉Congratulations 🎉
One Eighty Magnus, skippered by Evert Groenewald
Crew - Janet Cotton, Danie Pretorius, De Wet Nel, Edward van der Merwe, Paul Swanepoel & Jessie Giovanna
Finish Time 08 Jan 2025 10:38 SAST
Elapsed Time 10d 20h 38m 30s
Corrected Elapsed Time 13d 7h 48m 26s

We are approaching St Helena Island! So very exciting! We can see our destination through the mist!
Cape to St Helena Race

Sunrise in the cockpit of Magnus this morning in the Cape to St Helena Race

A message live from the team on One Eighty Magnus - with some accompanying images:

Ahoy, from the good ship 🚢 Magnus. All is well on board and the winds have turned more favourably for our course. Our position is as follows: 19 degrees 44 minutes point 780 South and 000 degrees 46 minutes point 251 East. 💯👌🏻👻 We spotted two white whales, with small dorsal fins about 390 nm from St Helena. We’ve not been able to identify these. Any info will be appreciated. The past few days saw Team Magnus doing night gybes, on board (midnight) sail repairs and sailing our own race. Well done to all teams so far, we’re in the finishing straight, so to speak. Fair winds to all, signing out. 💯👌🏻👻

Daughter and boat owner Mom, Jess and Janet, enjoying some cooking with big smiles. The morale and spirit onboard Magnus has just been incredible on this race!