Dave has been sailing since the age of 8 and has racked up more than 27 Atlantic crossings over a 40-year career as a professional yachtsman. Based in Cape Town, he’s sailed everything from dinghies to maxis, skippered races from St Helena to Sydney, and delivered yachts across the globe. Born with cerebral palsy, Dave has defied expectations at every turn — both on the water and off. Now skippering Solitaire, he’s sailing to raise awareness and support for children with cerebral palsy at Vista Nova School.

Michelle began sailing in 1995 and skippered a 31ft yacht in the 1996 Cape to Rio, followed by races in the Caribbean and the UK. After 25 years focused on family and time away from sailing, she reconnected with Dave 18 months ago — and with that, rediscovered her love for the ocean. She’s now back at the helm with fresh energy and a clear purpose: to cross the Atlantic once again and raise funds for Vista Nova School, a special needs school in Cape Town. When she’s not sailing, Michelle runs a manufacturing business specialising in blinds, cushions, and yacht upholstery.

Paula started sailing aged 7 on Hobie Cats at Midmar Dam with her brother and friends. Since 2014, she’s been sailing at the Royal Cape Yacht Club — hopping between boats, learning the ropes (and sometimes unlearning them), and dreaming of ticking Cape to Rio off her bucket list. Inspired by Dave’s courage as a sailor with cerebral palsy, Paula is proud to be sailing with purpose — raising awareness for cerebral palsy and plastic-free oceans.

Originally from the UK, Johnny is a co-founder of Timbuktu, a travel company helping people explore the world on their own terms. He’s spent over a decade building companies, planning complex trips, and chasing new horizons. Having grown up sailing, surfing, and kitesurfing, he’s now crossing the Atlantic with the Solitaire crew.

Katie grew up in Scotland and spent five years managing remote safari camps in Zambia, where adventure and unpredictability came with the territory. Since then, she’s worked in the safari travel industry for over 15 years, exploring some of the wildest corners of Africa along the way. With a lifelong thirst for challenge, Cape to Rio is her latest — a bold leap from bush to blue water.

Matt has spent most of his life around the ocean — surfing, exploring the wild coastlines of Southern Africa, and working across the maritime industry, from offshore mining to exploration vessels and superyachts. With a passion for sailing and a deep respect for the sea, Cape to Rio marks his next big challenge. He’s proud to be part of a crew sailing with purpose, raising awareness for cerebral palsy and advocating for cleaner oceans.