Historical

By Richard Crockett Due to the impressive response from the Rothmans Week material I have shared this week, I have decided to share seven different reports today – from the regattas in 1984; 1986; 1988; 1990; 1993; 1994 and 2000. This should slate the thirst of those who competed in these events and are enjoying calling back the past, and all those who simply life being reminded of the glory days of this event. The headlines for each report read …

By Richard Crockett One has to go back all of 51 years to 1974 to read about the very first Rothmans Week regatta off Cape Town. And what a success it turned out to be with 49 entries. Of interest, was the fact the regatta was organised by the Cruising Association of South Africa (CASA), and hosted by the Royal Cape Yacht Club. There was a good spread of representation from all keelboat classes, with Durban’s Gordon Neil taking the …

By Richard Crockett Yesterday I shared two 1989 Rothmans Week supplements, and today can share another, but this time from the 1988 regatta. This was the 15th Rothmans Week which had attracted top ocean racers skippered by some of South Africa’s top helmsmen, and quoted by the Cape Times as follows: “Dave Abromowitz, Bertie Reed, John and Ian Martin, Bobby Bongers, Peter Muzik, Hans Berker, Ted Kuttel, Molly Warr, Joe van der Westhuizen, Etienne van Cuyck, Steve and Rob Meek …

By Richard Crockett Back in the day Rothmans Week was quite simply one of those compulsory regattas for anyone serious about ocean racing. It always attracted a big fleet, and always had a good top quality competitive fleet. But what I did like about it was the fact that in those days it had a long distance race, PLUS a medium distance race too, as well as some round-the-cans races. So to be the champion one had to be good …

By Richard Crockett I always enjoyed following the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races as they were always action packed with many tales of fine seamanship being exposed. Today I am able to share a cutting from the Cape Times which covered ‘Illbruck’ winning into Sydney. The opening paragraphs went like this: “‘Illbruck’ won the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday, sailing into Sydney Harbour 73 minutes ahead of ‘SEB’ to repeat its opening stage victory from Southampton to …

By Richard Crockett I have chosen two newspaper cuttings, both from the Argus, to share today, as both were about our own home-grown Padda Kuttel and his Cape Town built steed ‘Atlantic Privateer’ which had been one of the favourites to win the race overall. This is what the first report said about Kuttel and his boat: “Kuttel, Cape Town and South Africa’s unofficial hope in the race, has set his sights on “moral victory” in the second leg. “He …

By Richard Crockett Most old sea dogs and many an old landlubber fondly remember the 1970s film made of ‘Sandefjord’s circumnavigation. Many will tell you very proudly that it inspired them to take up the sport, so today’s newspaper cutting has been chosen to simply stir those memories and emotions. This is what the Argus newspaper said 55 years ago today: “Probably the best-known sailing boat in South Africa, after Voortrekker, is ‘Sandefjord, the 57-year-old former Norwegian lifeboat now at …

By Richard Crockett The St Helena Race is one of those short, sharp and challenging races that should put some life back into ocean racing, yet it never appears to have really gripped the imagination. Why not? Maybe followers of this Blog have some thoughts on this? Some things have changed since today’s newspaper cutting was published in the Argus 21 years ago. “To this day, the island of St Helena is still only accessible by sea and the local …

by Richard Crockett I have extensive archive material on Bruce Dalling and ‘Voortrekker’, and every time I read extracts from them I realise that Dalling was a fine choice of skipper as he was charismatic, a highly competent seaman, and was quite simply passionate about what he was chosen to do. It was 58 years ago in an interview with the Rand Daily Mail that Dalling was introduced as follows: “Bruce Dalling, the 29-year-old yachtsman who has been chosen to …

By Richard Crockett I am sure that like me many a follower of the Whitbread Round the World Race thoroughly enjoyed it when the race stopped in Cape Town as one was able to see the boats up close, and even get to chat to some of the skippers and crew. The boat names of ‘Drum’, ‘Cote d’Or’, ‘Philips Innovator’, ‘UBS Switzerland’, ‘NZ Lion’ and Padda Kuttel’s ‘Portatan’ are just a few to name. And obviously one cannot forget the …

By Richard Crockett The very first Cape to Rio race was something of an unknown to most as in those days ocean races were few and far between – especially trans-ocean races. It was not surprising that the lure of Rio, adventure and quite simply fun in the sun brought together an eclectic bunch of adventurous souls, including an all-woman team who competed aboard ‘Sprinter’, one of the smallest boats in the race. With hindsight it’s not surprising that Scope …

By Richard Crockett 30 Years ago Ian Ainslie was interviewed by Peta Lee of the Sunday Times for her “Me and My Health” column. Ainslie was a household name in yachting circles back then, and still today he is remembered and his name mentioned in awe. The first few paragraphs of this interview opened with these words from Ainslie: – “Sailing small single-man Finns in the Olympics is very different from those big yachts which, with their mechanical winches, require …

by Richard Crockett It’s not often that yachties are put in a position where they are able to save a fellow seaman, but in February 1991 Bertie Reed was asked to go and rescue fellow competitor and rival, John Martin, from his sinking steed ‘Allied Bank’. Reed, the consummate professional seaman immediately rose to the challenge without hesitation, and ultimately rescued John Martin in exceptionally tough conditions. At the Presidential Guesthouse, Reed was presented with the Woltemade Cross for Bravery, …

By Richard Crockett It’s sometimes hard to believe that it’s 35 years ago since John Martin and Bertie Reed had the public at large spellbound by their singlehanded antics while racing alone around the world. And Cape Town was always a spectacular starting day. The Weekend Argus, in a full page feature on the 1990 BOC Race start, said this: “Huge rolling swells as far as the eye can see, a constant bowling wind whipping up spray from the chop, …

by Richard Crockett Yesterday’s Blog about Frank Wightman solicited a lot of comments and likes that I have decided to share some further insights into the man as what he wrote obviously struck a chord. In the very first issue of SA Yachting magazine in October/November 1957 Wightman wrote an editorial on “how he found Saldanha’s Flamingo Lagoon”. In 1970 his death was reported in the March issue of the magazine. Written by Frank Robb, it gives further insight into …