The International Inflatable Super Series, hosted by Powerboat Racing SA (PBRSA), recently took place along the Cape coast, featuring 43 teams from South Africa, Namibia, and the USA. The competition consisted of five days of racing in surf, circuit, and endurance disciplines. A novice category was introduced to provide emerging racers with valuable international exposure. The challenging coastal conditions and demanding 120-kilometre endurance leg pushed crews to their limits, resulting in several withdrawals due to injuries.
The first two days of the competition at Strand presented two distinct challenges. Day one had small waves and minimal wind, providing relatively calm conditions for the opening battles. However, day two brought on-shore winds, transforming the surf course into a more formidable challenge. Boats attacked the waves at speed, and crews were thrown around inside their craft, with every mistake threatening to cost valuable seconds. The conditions tested not only the machinery but also the teamwork, fitness, and concentration of every competitor.
The action then moved to Gordons Bay Yacht Club, where the racing intensified. The first day of circuit racing had perfect conditions, with flat seas and virtually no wind, allowing teams to focus on speed, precision, and finding the fastest possible racing line. The following day brought another dramatic change, with the south-easter sweeping in as competitors faced the gruelling 120km endurance race. Endurance and reliability became just as important as outright speed in the punishing conditions.
The introduction of a novice class at an international event added excitement to the competition, allowing developing competitors to experience the intensity of international-level racing alongside established categories. When the final results were calculated, South African crews had strong performances across all four classes. The Modified class delivered the overall headline result, with Ruben Scholtz and JD van Niekerk taking first place.
Ruben Scholtz and JD van Niekerk powered their way to overall victory at the International Inflatable Super Series. Their performance was a fitting highlight to an event that showcased the speed, bravery, and technical skill required to compete at the highest level of inflatable powerboat racing. The event demonstrated the demanding nature of the sport, with a couple of boats forced to withdraw after crew members suffered back and rib injuries.
South African competitors completed a clean sweep across the Novice, Standard, Pro-Stock, and Modified categories. In the Novice class, Xandru Buter and Liam Basson took first place, followed by Pieter du Toit and Camilla Engelbrecht in second, and Johann Kotze and Divan Grobelaar in third. The Standard class saw Franco Cilliers and Roelof du Plessis in first place, Jonathan Badenhorst and Franco Munnik in second, and Dylan Bamberger and Carien Engelbrecht in third.
The Pro-Stock class was won by Dreyer van Niekerk and AJ Bosch, with Wehan Malan and Harry Erasmus in second, and Le Roux Neethling and William Benzin in third. The Modified class results saw Ruben Scholtz and JD van Niekerk in first place, Robert Louw and Luhann Flores in second, and Quinton Liebenberg and Keren Robyn Till in third. The event was a testament to the speed, skill, and determination of the South African teams.
Key points
- South African teams dominated the International Inflatable Super Series, claiming a clean sweep across all four classes.
- The event featured 43 teams from South Africa, Namibia, and the USA, competing in surf, circuit, and endurance disciplines.
- Ruben Scholtz and JD van Niekerk powered their way to overall victory in the Modified class.
