Namibians deliver standout showing at Trans Agulhas Challenge

Boat racing
Boat racers Quinton Liebenberg and Keren Robyn Till braved South Africa’s most demanding offshore inflatable boat event.
Brian Munango
  • 3 Hours Ago

Swakopmund boat racers Quinton Liebenberg and Keren Robyn Till made a strong statement at South Africa’s demanding Trans Agulhas Challenge, competing as the only Namibian team in the race.

Known as the world’s toughest inflatable boat race, it covered nearly 700 kilometres over four intense days along South Africa’s southern coastline.

The Namibian pair’s return to elite offshore racing has been a challenging journey.

After nearly 20 years away from the sport, they made their first competitive comeback in 2024 at the Inflatable Powerboat World Championships in Gqeberha, South Africa, finishing in the top ten against strong international competition.

Their progress was interrupted when Liebenberg underwent spinal fusion surgery, followed by a hip replacement three months later.

Back in action

Refusing to be held back, Liebenberg and Till regrouped in 2025, focusing on preparation, consistency and optimising their race setup.

Their efforts earned them fourth place in the Modified Class during the Strand National Racing Series at Strand Main Beach, Western Cape, in September.

With limited preparation, the duo tackled the Trans Agulhas Challenge in December, a race infamous for its punishing conditions.

The route stretched from Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay, Stilbaai, and Struisbaai, before continuing past Uilkraalsmond, Gansbaai, Hermanus and Gordon’s Bay, finishing in Strand.

Competitors face open-ocean swells, strong currents, fatigue, mechanical issues, injuries, and navigational challenges, leading to a high rate of retirements.

For Liebenberg, this marked his sixth Trans Agulhas, while Till competed for the first time.

Racing in the Modified Class, they were the only male-female team in their category and one of just three mixed-gender crews in the entire field.

Despite a small support crew and complex logistics, the Namibians not only completed the race but secured fourth place, a significant achievement in an event where survival often matters more than speed.

Upcoming events

They will begin this season with the Theewaterskloof Season Opener this Saturday and Sunday at Theewaterskloof Dam in South Africa. They will later compete at the Inflatable Powerboat World Championships in Strand, scheduled from 28 March to 3 April.

Beyond their results, the Trans Agulhas Challenge has sparked renewed interest in inflatable boat racing in Namibia.

Plans are underway to reintroduce boats to local waters, with social and club-level races scheduled for later in the year, laying the foundation for a revitalised domestic racing calendar.
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