Entry no. 1 : Moon River
St. Helena Race 2027 – Moon River
- Boat: Moon River
- Vessel Class/Design: Simonis 35
- Skipper: Réan van Niekerk
- Yacht Club: False Bay Yacht Club (FBYC)
Réan van Niekerk’s passion for sailing began more than 40 years ago during his time in the Navy, racing L26s and Bosun’s dinghies. The decades that followed were largely devoted to raising a family and building technology companies, but his love of the ocean never faded.
Now back in Simon’s Town, with more time to pursue his passions, Réan has rediscovered the joys of being on the water and the excitement of new adventures. In 2023, he purchased Moon River, a 35-foot Simonis design formerly known as MF Revé, from Mitch Blackburn, who had raced her extensively. With an impressive sailing history spanning more than 30 years, including previous voyages to St Helena and Rio, Moon River has considerably more offshore experience than her current skipper!
Combining his passions for technology, engineering, and music, Réan has enthusiastically upgraded Moon River with modern onboard systems and, naturally, a sound system capable of doing justice to his favourite music, even hundreds of miles offshore.
The 2027 Cape to St Helena Race represents an exciting milestone in Réan’s sailing journey and an opportunity to venture well beyond the familiar waters of False Bay. While he readily acknowledges that he still has much to learn about offshore racing, he looks forward to sharing the challenge with an experienced crew, drawing on their collective knowledge, and enjoying the camaraderie that makes ocean sailing so rewarding.
For Réan, the race is about far more than reaching St Helena. It is about embracing adventure, testing himself and Moon River against the elements, and continuing a lifelong journey of learning and discovery.
More than four decades after first discovering the thrill of sailing in the waters off Simon’s Town, Réan is preparing to set sail from those same shores, this time bound for a small island in the middle of the South Atlantic. In many ways, the adventure is only just beginning.
