Durban-based financial services provider The Unlimited added another record to their books when they set a new Africa record for building 1160 sandcastles in an hour today in perfect conditions (Saturday, 15 March).
The epic build was achieved by a team of 832 people, comprising employees of The Unlimited, their families and friends. Sport celebrities including former Springbok Stefan Terblanche, cricketers Ethy Mbhalati and David Wiese from The Unlimited Titans and Sunfoil Dolphins player Cameron Delport and East Coast Radio DJ Makhosi Khoza also pulled their weight in the action-packed hour on Durban’s Bay of Plenty in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record.
Guiness World Records is very particular in the rules around this specific record breaking event. Each sandcastles had to be 600mm (w) x 600mm (l) x 600mm (h) and include 4 turrets. In addition sandcastles have to remain standing for an hour after completion. The event was documented for Guiness World Records by filming the entire process, with the record being verified by an adjudicator from the United Kingdom.
Although The Unlimited team did not crack the Guinness World Record, the international adjudicator Fortuna Burke, said this is the first time that the sandcastle record had been attempted on the African continent. She applauded The Unlimited for a well-orchestrated effort and urged them to give the current Guinness World Records title of 2230 sandcastles, set by the German town of St. Peter-Ording on 13 July, 2013 another go. At the Bay of Plenty, Fortuna Burke stated, ‘this is the very first time a Guinness World Records attempt of this kind has taken place in Africa! It’s been a great day for South Africa and very well done to Durban! The record was really well organised by The Unlimited, hundreds of families were here on the beach today and the attempt truly represents the spirit of Guinness Worlds Records’.
According to Steph Bester, CEO of The Unlimited, this world record attempt was a natural fit for the company. “Our King of the Castles has been an incredible opportunity to be a part of history in the making. This has been an awesome display of the true spirit of The Unlimited family. We have always believed that ordinary people can achieve the extraordinary and the great camaraderie and team spirit we’ve seen today has been truly inspirational. I don’t think it is something any of us will forget easily. After all, how many people can say that they hold an Africa record,” mentions Bester.
This will not be the first time that The Unlimited is helping to write a new record. The company already has an extensive track record for providing amazing experiences. It brought athletics golden girl Zola Budd back to South Africa to compete in the Comrades Marathon, sponsored two kitesurfers in their successful quest to be the first people to kitesurf from Ponta do Oura in Mozambique to Durban and also helped a Pietermaritzburg youth to be the youngest black person to walk to the South Pole.
Guinness World Records has been recognising record attempts since 1955 and the annual Guinness Book of World Records remains. The book has sold over 130-million copies and has been translated in 25 different languages.
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