KEY POINTS:
SHOSHOLOZA
Country: South Africa Boat: RSA83
Syndicate head: Captain Salvatore Sarno
Skipper: Mark Sadler
Designer: Jason Ker
Estimated budget: $46 million
Boat colour: Black
Challenger ranking: 7
HISTORY
The first South African challenge was formed in Cape Town by Captain Salvatore Sarno, chairman of the Mediterranean Shipping Company. The team are named after a worksong with a long history with mine workers, and others engaged in hard, physical labour. It means "go forward".
CREW
The team were 100 per cent South African but decided to introduce a few "foreigners" to help them along. In came Italian helmsman Paolo Cian and fellow Italian Tommaso Chieffi as tactician. Sarno says: "Now we have a good team. The non-South Africans have integrated themselves perfectly into the spirit of the team."
STRENGTHS
Shosholoza made extensive modifications to RSA83 in an effort to ensure it stays competitive. The makeover appears to have done the trick.
PROSPECTS
The South Africans continue to improve. The semifinals are probably out of reach this time. But Sarno says: "Team Shosholoza has allowed people to follow their dreams - and to realise that nothing is ever impossible."
