Team Jalapeño, an all-female sailing crew from Gqeberha, is racing to represent South Africa at the 2025 Lipton Challenge Cup. Help them get to the starting line and make history!
South Africa (25 June 2025) – With fire in their bellies and wind in their sails, Team Jalapeño is turning heads and making waves as they set their sights on the 2025 Lipton Challenge Cup. Representing the Gqeberha Yacht Club, this all-female crew, averaging just 21 years old, is ready to take on South Africa’s most prestigious sailing event with a whole lot of spirit and one very spicy name.
They’re only the second all-female team to enter the race this year, and they’re out to prove that young women have every right to lead the fleet. Their boat, fittingly named Jalapeño, already carries a fiery legacy. She was the only boat with an all-female crew at the J22 World Championships in 2022. Now, she’s back, and the heat is on!
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The 2025 Lipton Cup uses a one-design format, meaning it’s all about skill, not flashy equipment. That’s where Team Jalapeño shines. They’ve got the drive, the talent, and the grit. What they need now is support.
From safety gear and logistics to boat repairs and launch costs, getting to the starting line takes more than just guts, it takes community. The team is calling on South Africans (and anyone who loves a good underdog story) to help get Jalapeño race-ready.
And this isn’t just about one race. Any funds raised beyond what the team needs will go toward getting more young women into the sport, because Team Jalapeño is not only sailing for glory, they’re sailing for change.
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