community weblog - [ Africans taking on sailing's elite ]

Sailing's America's Cup has traditionally been an elitist preserve reserved for rich white men.

But for the first time ever an African team has entered the sport's oldest and most-famous competition.

And as part of the BBC's Africa Season, 1Xtra went to Cape Town to find out about the team who are making waves in the world of sailing.

I spent a week with Team Shosholoza, who have recruited young black men from some of the country's toughest neighbourhoods to be trained up as professional sailors for the 2007 event.

Famous for it's elitism, the challenge attracts the richest men and top sailors.

But Team Shosholoza is a crew made up of young black and mixed race men from the streets.

Life for them, before professional sailing, meant no running water or electricity and learning how to survive in the 'hood.

At 19, Marcello Burricks is the youngest member of the team, one of seven non-white members of the 23-strong South African crew.  more...