My name is storm de klerk and I'm 22 years old.  I have been a regular sailor at RCYC for roughly 3 years now.  I first started sailing on Zebra (X33) owned by Connie Pappagoerge which was quite a successful endeavor with the boat being increasingly competitive in local sailing events.  I then reluctantly changed vessels and sailed on 8 seconds (leisure 42) skippered by Brian Kennedy and have recently joined the crew of Lobelia (IMX 40), skippered by Gordon Kling where I am set to stay and have been given a fine welcome.  I am currently working the foredeck but have experience in the cockpit on halyards, trimming and on main.

The reason I am writing this email is because I am dead keen on racing the Cape to Salvador in january 2009.  I was set to race on '8 seconds' but due to unforeseen circumstances and a feud between manager and owner the boat has pulled out of the race leaving me stranded.

I am just about to complete my 3rd year of medical school and in fact finish exams on the 12th november.  After a lengthy bout of persuasion earlier in the year UCT eventually granted me leave of absence in 2009 to follow a dream and compete in the race on the grounds that I complete a 1 month bout of "catch up" work at Jooster hospital in Khayelitsha in my holidays, which I assure you are becoming scarcer by the day.  I would of course do anything to enable me to race.  This however was before I became aware that my prospects on '8 seconds' had disintegrated.  I am thus sitting in a position where I have fought for leave from the university, have been granted it, desperate to do it and now potentially cannot race after all.  

I am asking you if you could help me find a new vessel to race on so as to reach Brazil.  If I am to race, I start working at Jooster hospital on 17th november.  The last thing I want to do is complete an entire month of work in my much needed vacation and not race in january.  I know my request is late, but any form of help as soon as possible would be fantastic.

I am smart, a fast learner, easy to get along with, eager for adventure and hard working.  I am sure that my medical knowledge and access to medical supplies, even though I am only "half a doctor" may well come in handy during unfortunate times of need too. 

Kind Regards,
Storm de klerk