A Coke, burger and chips were the first meal for extreme adventurer Zirk Botha, who rowed from Cape Town to Brazil. The ex-naval officer completed his solo transatlantic ocean crossing on his boat “Ratel”, from SA to Brazil in a record 70 days, covering a total distance of 7,200km. After leaving Cape Town on December 19, Botha rowed into the small bay of Buzios, just north of Rio de Janeiro, at 3.45am on Saturday, SA time. After recuperating in Buzios on Saturday, he rowed on to Cabo Frio on Sunday to receive a welcome at the original Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club. In completing the south transatlantic crossing, he has set world records as the first person to row the route alone and unsupported by any safety craft, and for the fastest row on the Cape to Rio route.

Source: Daily Nation February 28, 2021 12:22 UTC