One Eighty Magnus

One Eighty Magnus About One Eighty Magnus

Magnus, a Farr 38 Mod, is no ordinary racing yacht. This transformation was no small feat.

🌊 One Eighty Magnus Sailing Team
⛵ Racing the seas on our Ajax Farr 38 Mod
🌍 Representing innovation, teamwork & passion
🏆 Competing in the St Helena Regatta 2025
⚙️ Powered by One Eighty Materials Engineering Solutions
đź“© Follow our journey Designed by the legendary Bruce Farr in 1991 and built by Ajax Yachts in 1993, she was originally commissioned for Geoff Meek and was once known as Majimoto II

. A beloved vessel within the South African sailing community, Majimoto II has touched countless lives through her storied history at the Royal Cape Yacht Club and beyond. After being acquired by Dr. Janet Cotton in 2018, she was renamed Magnus, meaning "Master of the Magical Arts," and underwent a comprehensive refit to restore her competitive edge. Under the guidance of Dr. Cotton and her team at One Eighty Materials Engineering Solutions, every detail was meticulously addressed. From innovative materials like resin filled with alumina powder to lightweight duplex stainless steel backing plates, Magnus is now a testament to the seamless integration of engineering expertise and sailing passion. The Team Behind One Eighty Magnus

The Magnus crew embodies a blend of seasoned sailors and rising stars, each bringing their own unique strengths and stories to the team. Skipper: Evert Groenewald
Evert is a seasoned sailor with extensive offshore experience, including several Vasco da Gama races, Cape to Rio crossings, and Governor’s Cup regattas. With his leadership, the crew is set for an exceptional performance in the St Helena Race. Crew Members:

Danie Pretorius: A shipwright by trade with a deep passion for sailing, Danie’s hands-on expertise and offshore experience make him a vital asset to the team. De Wet Nel: A talented sailor with a strong competitive history, De Wet has achieved podium finishes in multiple regattas and brings invaluable knowledge and skill to Magnus. Edward van der Merwe (Eddie): With decades of sailing experience, Eddie has raced extensively along the South African coastline and is excited to take part in the St Helena Race. Paul Swanepoel: The driving force behind the Magnus refit, Paul is now making his offshore racing debut, bringing unmatched determination and team spirit. Jessie Giovanna: Representing the next generation of sailors, Jessie is embarking on her first major offshore race, eager to learn and grow as a part of the Magnus crew. The Vision

Team One Eighty Magnus isn’t just about racing—it’s about pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and celebrating the synergy of technology and tradition. Every aspect of the boat and team represents a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the pursuit of adventure. As Magnus sets sail in the St Helena Race 2025, the journey is about more than the competition; it’s about honouring her legacy, forging new memories, and showcasing the passion and expertise of the One Eighty team. Follow our journey as we race towards St Helena and beyond!

Our next crew member feature is Paul Swanepoel. Paul (pictured here with Janet Cotton) has been the driving force behind...
27/01/2025

Our next crew member feature is Paul Swanepoel.
Paul (pictured here with Janet Cotton) has been the driving force behind Magnus’ refit since 2018. New to sailing, he participated in his first regatta last year, the 2024 Spring Regatta at False Bay Yacht Club. If you notice the badge on the side of the boat, it’s a Reconnaissance Commando Operator’s Badge—Paul’s, with Operator Number 22. Paul served in 1 Recce and 5 Recce for 11 years, completing several high-stakes missions with small and large teams. Paul was known affectionately as "Swart Piet".
Paul has been an incredible asset to the crew and our boat!

26/01/2025
Now that the Cape to Helena Race is over, we thought we would have a more in depth look into the crew!Our first one to f...
19/01/2025

Now that the Cape to Helena Race is over, we thought we would have a more in depth look into the crew!
Our first one to feature is our boat owner, Dr Janet Cotton.

In Dr Cotton's own words:
"I began sailing Oppies at age 5, after being pushed off the jetty in an Oppie with the
instruction to "pull the sail in"—and I was hooked. I attended Oppie camp for many years and later sailed keelboats at False Bay Yacht Club. By 16, my competitive side emerged as I sailed with the Navy on an L26 in two Rothmans Week Regattas. In grade 10, when school sports became mandatory, I started a sailing team, training friends and competing in the Interschools Regatta on Muiras at False Bay Yacht Club. We placed third as the only all-female team. During this time, I earned my coastal water skipper's ticket, mentored by John Therwell, whose voice I still hear today.

I paused sailing to earn my engineering degree, PhD, and build my business, returning to competitive yachting in 2010. Since then, I have competed in numerous regattas
at Royal Cape and False Bay Yacht Clubs. One Eighty sponsored all-ladies regattas in 2013, 2014, and 2015, with us winning in 2015, when I was also awarded Lady Sailor of the Year by RCYC. It’s wonderful to be back on the water, realizing my dream of
competing in offshore regattas. I’m excited for what Magnus and our crew will achieve in the St Helena Race and beyond, including the Cape to Rio and other local races."

The One Eighty Magnus crew looked wonderful in our brightly coloured shirts at the Cape to St Helena Race Prizegiving! ...
13/01/2025

The One Eighty Magnus crew looked wonderful in our brightly coloured shirts at the Cape to St Helena Race Prizegiving!
Take a look

The Magnus crew have been sight seeing up a storm on the island! Some images of sunset last night at yacht club with Jac...
12/01/2025

The Magnus crew have been sight seeing up a storm on the island!
Some images of sunset last night at yacht club with Jacobs Ladder in the distance, Napoleon’s grave, Boers POW graves and various sites from peaks on the island. What an incredible experience this amazing island is!
Cape to St Helena Race

An interview with our Skipper Evert Groenewald at Royal Cape Yacht Club before the start of the Cape to St Helena RaceWe...
09/01/2025

An interview with our Skipper Evert Groenewald at Royal Cape Yacht Club before the start of the Cape to St Helena Race
We are now enjoying the island - and catching up on some rest!

What an incredible feeling! Earlier today, we crossed the Cape to St Helena Race finish line off sthelena_island and her...
08/01/2025

What an incredible feeling!
Earlier today, we crossed the Cape to St Helena Race finish line off sthelena_island and here are a few images of us crossing the finish line, arriving at our mooring and tying up while waiting for immigration and customs officers to process us for arrival and the ferry ride to the island.

🎉Congratulations to us!🎉One Eighty Magnus, skippered by Evert GroenewaldCrew - Janet Cotton, Danie Pretorius, De Wet Nel...
08/01/2025

🎉Congratulations to us!🎉
One Eighty Magnus, skippered by Evert Groenewald
Crew - Janet Cotton, Danie Pretorius, De Wet Nel, Edward van der Merwe, Paul Swanepoel & Jessie Giovanna
Finish Time 08 Jan 2025 10:38 SAST
Elapsed Time 10d 20h 38m 53s
Corrected Elapsed Time 10d 20h 38m 53s

🎉Congratulations 🎉
One Eighty Magnus, skippered by Evert Groenewald
Crew - Janet Cotton, Danie Pretorius, De Wet Nel, Edward van der Merwe, Paul Swanepoel & Jessie Giovanna
Finish Time 08 Jan 2025 10:38 SAST
Elapsed Time 10d 20h 38m 30s
Corrected Elapsed Time 13d 7h 48m 26s

We are approaching St Helena Island! So very exciting! We can see our destination through the mist! Cape to St Helena Ra...
08/01/2025

We are approaching St Helena Island! So very exciting! We can see our destination through the mist!
Cape to St Helena Race

Sunrise in the cockpit of Magnus this morning in the Cape to St Helena Race
07/01/2025

Sunrise in the cockpit of Magnus this morning in the Cape to St Helena Race

A message live from the team on One Eighty Magnus - with some accompanying images: Ahoy, from the good ship 🚢 Magnus. Al...
06/01/2025

A message live from the team on One Eighty Magnus - with some accompanying images:

Ahoy, from the good ship 🚢 Magnus. All is well on board and the winds have turned more favourably for our course. Our position is as follows: 19 degrees 44 minutes point 780 South and 000 degrees 46 minutes point 251 East. 💯👌🏻👻 We spotted two white whales, with small dorsal fins about 390 nm from St Helena. We’ve not been able to identify these. Any info will be appreciated. The past few days saw Team Magnus doing night gybes, on board (midnight) sail repairs and sailing our own race. Well done to all teams so far, we’re in the finishing straight, so to speak. Fair winds to all, signing out. 💯👌🏻👻

Daughter and boat owner Mom, Jess and Janet, enjoying some cooking with big smiles. The morale and spirit onboard Magnu...
06/01/2025

Daughter and boat owner Mom, Jess and Janet, enjoying some cooking with big smiles. The morale and spirit onboard Magnus has just been incredible on this race!

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