Welcome to the South African Coastal Rowing Team — a growing force of athletes who train with grit, race with heart, and embody the spirit of the ocean. From juniors to elite competitors, these athletes are pioneering a new era of coastal rowing in South Africa, chasing excellence across Africa and onto the world stage. Here, we celebrate their journey, their passion, and the power of resilience in every wave.
LUNGA MCETYWA
EAST LONDON
Lunga Mcetywa is a passionate coastal rower and former manager at Nemato Change a Life, where he dedicated his career to empowering young athletes through sport. He has represented South Africa at the World Championships in Italy on two occasions. Lunga made his mark by placing 3rd in the Men’s Double event at the African Beach Sprints Championships, showcasing his commitment, resilience, and deep love for the sport.
MURRAY BALES-SMITH
PRETORIA
Murray competed for South Africa as a lightweight rower in several international competitions, including the 2022 and 2023 World Rowing Championships and a World Cup event. In October 2024, Bales-Smith raced in the mixed quad (CMix4x) at the 2nd African Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia, where they finished 2nd overall.
LISAKHANYA MQALO
EAST LONDON
Lisakhanya Mqalo is a two-time University of Fort Hare Rowing Team Captain (2023–2025). In 2025, he led the UFH men’s crew to a Top 5 finish at the USSA-R Boat Race. He was also the first UFH rower to place in the Top 5 in a Coastal Rowing event and was selected for the South African National Coastal Rowing Squad in 2025.
TANNA DIPLOCK
PRETORIA
Tanna is a South African rower with seven years of competitive experience. She won two South African University Boat Race gold medals with the University of Pretoria women’s eight. In 2024, she made her international debut for South Africa in Beach Sprints in the mixed quad at the African Championships, earning a silver medal.
ALEXA KNEALE
CAPE TOWN
Rower by day and carbon market specialist by night. Alexa will be competing at the African Beach Sprint Championship in the mixed and women’s double and at the World Beach Sprint Championship in the mixed double and quad. A stalwart of rowing she rowed fine boats throughout school and university and was also a head coach at PGRC. She began coastal rowing at CCRC in 2024 and soon after discovered the thrill on beach sprints.
VIOLANTE LAMA
ITALY
Violante is an Italian-born coastal rower representing South Africa. A former Italian Junior National Team athlete and European medalist, she returned to elite rowing after becoming a mother of two. She competes for the South African National Team in Beach Sprints and raced at the 2024 World Beach Sprint Championships. In 2025, she and her 14-year-old daughter finished ninth at the European Coastal Endurance Championships — a rare mother–daughter achievement on the international stage.
ISSABELLA BRUCE
STELLENBOSCH
Isabella is currently a student at the University of Stellenbosch, where she decided to join Maties rowing during her first year in 2024.
Trying out coastal rowing in April of 2025, Isabella progressed throughout the weekend and secured a 2nd place for the mixed doubles and 1st place in the mixed quad. For Isabella, this is just the beginning of an exciting journey filled with new opportunities.
MACKENZIE LAMOND
CAPE TOWN
Mackenzie is currently a first-year student at the University of Cape Town, where she has been appointed Women’s Rowing Captain for 2026. After seven years of rowing at St Andrew’s School for Girls in Johannesburg, Mackenzie began her first season of coastal rowing in July 2025 where she proceeded to place third in the Women’s Single. This achievement marks the start of an exciting new chapter in her rowing journey in Cape Town.
MATTHYS DU PLOOY
CAPE TOWN
Matthys is a first-year UCT student who competed in all three local beach sprint regattas held this year. He raced in the Men’s Solo event, achieving two 2nd place finishes and one 3rd place finish. Having done both rowing and sprinting competitively, Matthys is able to draw on both disciplines and apply them to Coastal Rowing.
GEORGE DU PLOOY
CAPE TOWN
George is affiliated with UCT (University of Cape Town), where he was part of the UCT Men's First Rowing Team which won University Boat Race in 2023 and 2024, and served as Rowing President. In 2022, he was part of the first South African team to compete internationally in coastal rowing, where he finished 4th in the men's solo event. Since then he has represented South Africa at multiple World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. He came in third at African Championships last year and rowed in the double with Violante that year as well.
INGA BOVU
EAST LONDON
Inga rowing journey began in February 2025, participating in the USSA Sprints in April as part of the Men’s B 8+ crew, before moving up to the Men’s A 8+ crew for the South African Universities Boat Race. Inga’s journey is fuelled by ambition and resilience, as he now works toward competing at national level and inspiring others to chase their dreams through the power of rowing.
EDWARD GODFREY
CAPE TOWN
Ed grew up in East London, and currently lives in Cape Town. He affiliates with Hout Bay Coastal Rowing and Buffalo Rowing Club. Ed has been rowing since the age of 7, started coastal rowing in the UK in July 2024. In his own words: "Frothing to see what the new experience brings and how big the waves get."
RACHEL WHITFIELD
DURBAN
Rachel began fine rowing in 2022, representing both her club and Durban Girls’ High School at competitions such as VLC and SA Championships. Her first experience with coastal rowing was the Durban Coastal Regatta in July, where she earned gold, silver, and bronze medals. Following that success, she was invited to attend the national selection camp and went on to earn a place on the South African national team. Rachel is a first-year student at Newbridge Graduate Institute
FRANCES HILL
CAPE TOWN
Frances’s love for rowing started at a Peninsula Girls Rowing Club (PGRC) and continued at the University of Cape Town Rowing Club (UCTRC). When she is not rowing, coaching or officiating she’s working on her Marine Biology Thesis. Combine the rowing and the marine and Coastal Rowing was the obvious next move. Frances competed at the 2024 African Beach Sprint Champs and will be competing at the 2025 African Beach Sprint Champs, World Beach Sprint Finals and the Commonwealth Beach Sprints.
JUNIOR ATHLETES
PHOEBE LEIGH COLEMAN
EAST LONDON
Born: 25 May 2009 (16yo)
MZOVUKILE MOFU
DUNCAN VILLAGE
Born: 11 January 2011 (14yo)
ANGANATHI WAPHI
DUNCAN VILLAGE
Born: 2 January 2009 (16yo)
AYDEN CLEMENTS
EAST LONDON
Born: 17 May 2008 (17yo)
JAUNNIEL MOSS
EAST LONDON
Born: 21 August 2009 (16yo)
CHELSEA RENNIE
EAST LONDON
Born: 28 January 2009 (16yo)
ALARA HENN
EAST LONDON
Born: 3 October 2009 (16yo)
NICHOLAS BRITS
CAPE TOWN
Born: 21 April 2010 (15yo)