On This Day – 1 May. A Newspaper History of Sailing

by Richard Crockett

From the overwhelming response I receive from these posts, from all over the world I may add, the interest is cranking up rapidly and I am being connected with some wonderful people thirsty for more. Thank you all who have made contact.

Should you wish to copy, forward or share material from here, PLEASE acknowledge the source as: Sourced From the SAILING Mag Archives & Historical Records.

To read the full reports, click on the LINK following each headline.

1970. “180-ton Yacht for Rio Race”. One of the biggest surprises announced this week about the Rio Race is that there will be no maximum limit for yachts taking part. They can be as big as they come, and one of the largest entries will be Blue Leopard – a 180-ton British yacht.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1970 05 01 285

1990. “Drifting Buoy Poses Race Problem”. All results at yesterday’s Opel Algoa Bay Challenge could be nullified because of a marker buoy which drifted from its position under strong winds.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1990 05 01 387 1_Redacted

1992. “Big Storms Are All on Shore in America’s Cup Squabble”. The America’s Cup challenger series turned even more acrimonious yesterday when New Zealand asked the race committee to hold a hearing on the grounds that Italy’s II Moro di Venezia has committed a “gross breach of good manners and sportsmanship”.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1992 05 01 140

1993. “Girl, 16, Tackles Rio Yacht Race”. She’s only 16 but already has her skipper’s ticket – and will be tackling the rigging with the best of the rest in the Rothmans Cape-to-Rio race.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1993 01 05 332 2

2000. “Claim Likely After Yacht Abandoned”. The owners of a Cape Town-based fishing trawler may claim salvaging rights over an abandoned yacht which was crippled off the coast at Port Alfred at the weekend when its rudder broke.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  2000 05 01 546_Redacted

2008. “Sword Regatta Simply Awesome”. Twenty-three yachts in various classes were on the start line for this year’s popular regatta and Crocs sailed away with the prestigious Admiral’s Sword, winning the Regatta overall.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  2008 05 01 702

Comments and contributions are welcome. Email: editor@sailing.co.za

What is “On this Day” About?
I am busy archiving many boxes of press cuttings I have accumulated and which I guestimate run into tens of thousands! A daunting task which I believe to be necessary before ditching them as I have been concerned for many years about the lack of interest Clubs, Classes and other sailing related organisations give to preserving their history.

Should you wish to copy, forward or share material from here, PLEASE acknowledge the source as: Sourced From the SAILING Mag Archives & Historical Records.

From the overwhelming response I receive from these posts, from all over the world I may add, the interest is cranking up rapidly and I am being connected with some wonderful people thirsty for more. Thank you all who have made contact.

This is my personal crusade, and instead of simply archiving and keeping the contents away from prying eyes, I will share my spoils in the hope that you will enjoy reminiscing as much as I do, and continue to do as I wade through the labourious process of scanning each and every cutting in my archives.

As each scanned cutting will be searchable, I will be able to create presentation packs personally tailored to a persons exact requirements – ie. Rothmans Week, the NCS Regatta, the Rio Race, Mauritius Race, Vasco da Gama Race and more – or simply by the name of an individual (like Ant Steward and his open boat exploits) who want a record of his/her sailing career for the family archives.

I have already done this by scanning in excess of 10 000 pages of material I have on ‘Voortrekker’ – from idle chatter, to concept, to the formation of what ultimately became the South African Ocean Racing Trust (SAORT), to the fruition of the 1968 OSTAR Race in which Bruce Dalling and ‘Voortrekker’ excelled – and even beyond that.

The possibilities are endless – so watch this space.

Comments and contributions are welcome. Email: editor@sailing.co.za