Shosho's Nankin Back Onboard

Welcome news today about Shosholoza's Charles Nankin, who was seriously injured on the last day of the German Sailing Grand Priz at Kiel in August, on the South Africa's SuperSport website....

Team Shosholoza mastman Charles Nankin was back on board yacht Shosholoza RSA 83 - albeit in the non-participant role of 18th man - for the first time on Wednesday since seriously fracturing his back in a freak sailing accident in August this year.

"I was excited to say the least! It's still too early to return to my position as mastman but now I'm happy and confident that I'm on the right track.

"I'll be back with the team in January and ready for the challenge," said a beaming Nankin, 28, of Zeekoevlei, Cape Town, who was sailing with the team during a practice session in Mediterranean waters off Valencia, Spain.

Nankin, a key player in the team, has been recuperating in Valencia - host city for the 2007 America's Cup and 'home' base in Europe for the past two years for Team Shosholoza and the 11 other teams from around the world entered for the event.

He returns to South Africa early next week with the rest of Team Shosholoza's sailing crew.

But while most of the team will be enjoying a short Christmas break he will spend time at Cape Town's Sport Science Institute replicating sailing situations through sport-specific fitness training.

Nankin's sail on Wednesday was exactly 100 days since his freak accident occurred while racing in the German Sailing Grand Prix in Kiel.

At the time he was on foredeck pulling in the spinnaker while rounding a leeward mark.

He was flung overboard by the foresail, which hit him unexpectedly as it came across the bow.

He was then sucked under the boat as it turned, hit in the back by the rudder and trapped underwater for 24 seconds.

Diagnosed with a full vertebral fracture, he immediately underwent a three-hour operation at a specialist hospital affiliated to the University of Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel and a titanium plate was inserted to stabilise the thoracolumbar region.

Two weeks later he was flown back to Valencia where he spent a few days in a rehabilitation clinic before returning to his Valencia home on August 30.

Nankin's teammates were pleasantly surprised to see him back on deck so soon.

"We're all convinced that Charles will be back in his regular position very soon," said grinder Shaun Pammenter, who has been back-up mastman since Nankin has been off the boat.

Boat captain Tim Kröger also commented: "A speedy return to the boat is good after such a serious accident, we're all happy and relieved."

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