Cape Point Challenge History

The Cape Point Challenge began in 1980 and initially alternated with the famous Port Elizabeth to East London surf ski race.

In 2014, Hank McGregor lowered Sean Rice’s 2010 race record of 3:40:43 by just over 50 seconds. The current full-course race record of 3:39:50 is held by Hank McGregor.

The most successful male paddler in the history of the Cape Point Challenge is Hank McGregor, with an incredible eight victories.

The most successful female paddler is Michelle Eray, with four victories.

Multiple Cape Point Challenge Winners

Men

• Hank McGregor – 8 titles
• Nick Notten – 3 titles
• Oscar Chalupsky – 3 titles
• Kenny Rice – 3 titles
• Herman Chalupsky – 2 titles
• Paul Marais – 2 titles
• Dawid Mocke – 2 titles
• Peter Creese – 2 titles

Women

• Michelle Eray – 4 titles
• Bianca Beavitt – 3 titles
• Jean Wilson – 2 titles
• Nikki Mocke – 2 titles
• Hayley Nixon – 2 titles
• Chloe Bunnet – 2 titles
• Melanie van Niekerk – 2 titles
• Kira Bester – 3 titles

Since its inception, the Cape Point Challenge has been contested 34 times. Over more than four decades, competitors have experienced everything from glassy seas and classic downwind runs to fierce north-westerly storms, powerful south-easterly winds and massive Atlantic swells. These ever-changing conditions have cemented the Cape Point Challenge’s reputation as one of the world’s premier ocean paddling races.

1980

The inaugural Cape Point Challenge was won by Peter Creese in a lifesaving-style ski in a time of 5:39:15.

1982

Tony Scott was the man of the moment, winning in 4:40:31.

1984

There were 31 entries. The wind at Soetwater was blowing 28 knots and six competitors withdrew before the start. A further 15 retired before reaching Tommy Tucker. Wind speeds of 47 knots were recorded at Cape Point, making this the year the Cape Point Challenge legend was born. Oscar Chalupsky won in 6:28:10.

1986–1993

These years produced a host of legendary winners, including Oscar Chalupsky, Peter Creese, Ian Boyd, Lee McGregor and Paul Marais.

1995

The organisers changed the course, which ran from Buffels Bay to Cape Point and back to Fish Hoek because of very strong south-easterly winds. Paul Marais claimed another victory.

1997

History was made when two women entered the race for the first time. Jean Wilson won in 5:43:13, while junior paddler Nikki (Lihou) Mocke completed the course in 6:15:18. Peter Cole won the men’s race in strong north-westerly conditions in 4:39:25.

1999–2003

The Chalupsky family dominated this period, with Oscar winning in 1999 and Herman claiming back-to-back victories in 2001 and 2003.

2005

The organisers were forced to run the course from Fish Hoek to Cape Point and back (56 km) because of high winds and heavy swell. There were 250 entrants. Dawid Mocke won his first Cape Point Challenge in 4:16:50, while Nikki Mocke claimed her second title in 4:51:20.

2006

The decision was taken to stage the event annually from 2007 onwards.

2007

Peter Cole led for most of the race before being overtaken by Durban’s Daryl Bartho just 5 km from the finish. Bartho won in 4:28:37, while Bianca Beavitt claimed the women’s title in 5:47:26.

2008

The course was changed to its current format, starting in Scarborough. The compulsory 10-minute stop at Buffels Bay was removed and paddlers rounded Cape Point before heading straight downwind with the south-easter to Fish Hoek over a distance of 50 km. Hank McGregor won his first singles title in 3:54:55, while Michelle Eray claimed her first title in 4:26:58.

2009

With a howling 30-knot south-easter blowing at Cape Point, the race started in Simon’s Town. Paddlers headed to Buffels Bay before rounding a buoy off Cape Point and returning to Fish Hoek. Dawid Mocke claimed his second title in 3:44:39, while Michelle Eray secured her second victory in 4:26:58.

2010

Flat, glassy conditions greeted the paddlers as Sean Rice took control of a star-studded field after rounding Cape Point to set a new race record of 3:40:43. Michelle Eray won the women’s race for the third time in 4:09:29.

2011

Again, conditions were picture-perfect. Hank McGregor took control after rounding Cape Point to claim his second title in 3:47:46, while Alexa Cole won the women’s race in 4:35:36.

2012

The race started as flat as a pancake, but a north-westerly built steadily throughout the morning. This produced the closest finish in the event’s history, with seven paddlers sprinting for line honours: Hank McGregor, Sean Rice, Grant van der Walt, Simon van Gysen, Jasper Mocke, Richard von Wildermann and Dawid Mocke. Only 20 seconds separated Hank McGregor in first place from Dawid Mocke in seventh. Michelle Eray claimed her fourth Cape Point Challenge title in 4:32:43.

2013

A very strong south-easterly and huge Atlantic swell forced another Simon’s Town start. Paddlers rounded a buoy off Cape Point before returning to Fish Hoek. Hank McGregor secured his fourth victory in 3:41:20, while Nikki Mocke won the women’s title in 4:24:43. At the prize-giving, Hank commented on the size of the surf and praised the organisers for the decision not to send the field around the Point.

2014

Massive swell lined the coast to Cape Point. Most of the field took a wide line on the Atlantic side before enjoying relatively flat conditions on the paddle home. A large lead group rounded Cape Point together, but Hank McGregor broke clear on the return leg to set a new course record of 3:39:50. Chloe Bunnet won the women’s race in 4:49:45.

2015

The dreaded north-westerly arrived. There were a few small runs to the Point before a long, hard slog back to the beach. Although not the strongest north-westerly in the event’s history, it was a demanding race. Bianca Beavitt claimed the women’s title, while Hank McGregor broke away early to secure another men’s victory.

2016

“Silky and flat” was how first-time women’s winner Hayley Nixon described the race after winning in 4:39:35. A light south-easterly provided assistance on the return leg. Hank McGregor claimed his sixth consecutive victory in 3:57:50, and his seventh overall.

2017

The 25th Cape Point Challenge delivered near-perfect conditions, with a light south-easterly building throughout the day to produce a classic Miller’s Run for the final stretch. Hayley Nixon successfully defended her title in 4:43:52, while local Fish Hoek paddler Kenny Rice claimed his first victory in 4:00:52.

2018

One of the most memorable editions of the race saw winds exceeding 30 knots. The course started at Simon’s Town Long Beach and was planned to run along the coast to Buffels Bay before heading out to Cape Point. However, the extreme conditions forced organisers to turn the field at the NSRI rescue boat in Buffels Bay before sending paddlers directly to Fish Hoek. Anyone who completed this race earned their finisher’s T-shirt with pride. Bianca Beavitt claimed her third title, spread over ten years, while Hank McGregor secured his eighth victory.

2019

For the second consecutive year, the race did not round Cape Point. A huge south-westerly swell of more than five metres, combined with strong south-westerly winds, produced another demanding race. Paddlers started at Fish Hoek Beach and paddled via Glencairn to a turning buoy off Cape Point before returning to Fish Hoek, making for a challenging 54 km course. Here, paddlers gained a true appreciation of the size of the swell striking the south-western tip of Africa. Kenny Rice and Chloe Bunnet both claimed their second Cape Point Challenge titles.

2020

For the third consecutive year, paddlers did not round Cape Point. Strong south-easterly winds of more than 30 knots resulted in a three-lap course starting in Simon’s Town, with turning buoys off Miller’s Point and Simon’s Town before a final downwind Miller’s Run to Fish Hoek. Kenny Rice won his third title in four years, while Melanie van Niekerk claimed her first women’s victory.

2021

Once again, the south-easter arrived in full force, ruling out an Atlantic start. The race followed the same format as 2020, with a lap course from Simon’s Town finishing in Fish Hoek. Nick Notten won his first Cape Point Challenge title, while Melanie van Niekerk successfully defended her women’s title.

2022

A massive swell arrived on the eve of the race, forcing organisers to keep the race inside False Bay for the fifth consecutive year. Starting at Fish Hoek, paddlers headed to Buffels Bay before rounding a buoy and continuing to a turning point just inside Cape Point, then straight back to Fish Hoek. Uli Hart and Kira Bester claimed their first Cape Point Challenge victories.

2023

For the first time since 2017, the race started at Soetwater and paddlers enjoyed what many described as the best conditions ever experienced in the event. Nick Notten successfully defended his title, while Kira Bester also retained the women’s crown.

2024

Boosted by support from the NSRI and private safety boats, the race once again started at Soetwater in perfect conditions. Although it was not required, a reserve day was introduced to allow organisers the flexibility to move the race to Sunday if Saturday’s weather proved unsuitable. Nick Notten claimed his third consecutive title, while young Briton Rosie Edwards won the women’s race.

2025

A first for the Cape Point Challenge saw the introduction of CPC Lite, a shorter race designed to introduce more paddlers to the event. The inaugural course ran from Fish Hoek Beach to Miller’s Point and back. Another first was the use of the reserve day, which delivered yet another “best-ever” race. Nick Notten and Kira Bester successfully defended their titles, with Kira narrowly missing becoming the first woman to finish in the overall top ten by just over one minute.