Durban - When Durban yachtsman Ralf Dominick was 48, he decided that he would sail around the world when he turned 50 – and he did.
Now 53, the yachtsman has set himself another challenge: sailing to the Antarctic.
Already on his way, accompanied by two other sailors, he plans to take in the Strait of Magellan, the Chilean coast, the Panama Canal and Europe.
Awarded the title Yachtsman of the year in 2012 by the Bluff Yacht Club, he left Durban two weeks ago on his yacht Imbuvu, meaning hippopotamus.
Dominick, who began sailing in his teens, took time out as the chief executive of a software company to make his dreams come true. “I set a goal for myself and decided that at the age of 50 I would sail around the world and do what I love best, which is sailing,” Dominick said.
His yacht became the first South African vessel to pass through the Northwest Passage in Greenland.
Only 150 people have sailed through the passage, which is said to be one of the world’s most severe maritime challenges and is an area considered impassable by many sea explorers.
The months leading up to the passage crossing, and afterwards, made for the adventure of a lifetime, taking in 52 of the world’s most spectacular places.
These included destinations such as New York, Ascension Island, the Tobago Cays, Grenada and uninhabited islands.
“I undertook the voyage to explore the world on my own terms, through a journey and had no idea it would turn out to be so amazing,” he said.
His trip to the Antarctic will be hazardous as much of it is covered in ice most of the year.
“Now it is time for a new challenge, to see new places and explore, so I’ve decided to embark on a new journey.
“I’m not sure how long it will take, but I am excited about it,” Dominick said hours before he left Durban.
Through this trip, he said he hoped to raise the profile of sailing in South Africa and encourage more people to take up the sport. - Sunday Tribune