Historical

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 …

By Richard Crockett 70 years ago today Frank Wightman, one of our prominent cruising yachtsmen at the time, penned a lengthy editorial about a night at sea. This man was legendary as he generally preferred to sail alone, irrespective of the size of yacht. This is an editorial from the heart which paints, rather vividly, what being at sea did for him. It’s a great read which should appeal to all ages who have an affinity with going to sea …

By Richard Crockett It’s been some time since I shared the exploits of our modern day dare-devil and his sailing exploits. That would of course be Ant Steward who audaciously made his mark on the sailing fraternity by circumnavigating in an open boat 34 years ago. The Daily News reported as follows: “Anthony Steward, the South African yachtsman attempting to become the first man to circumnavigate the globe in an open boat, has arrived in the New Caledonian Islands in …

By Richard Crockett Back in days of yore and long before GPS and electronic navigation replaced traditional navigation methods, the navigator was, besides the skipper, the next most important crew aboard a yacht. When the 1971 Cape to Rio Race was announced there was a mad scramble for competent navigators who could wield a sextant and plot, with precision, a position on a paper chart. So, in a shout out to old school navigators, I am sharing the story of …

By Richard Crockett 52 years ago the Argus newspaper reported on the Whitbread Round the World Race as follows: “‘Adventure’, the Royal Navy cutter leading the round-the-world yacht race on handicap, this week had her huge Big Boy spinnaker up in excellent sailing conditions as she ploughed through the Roaring Forties in the wake of ‘Great Britain 11′, now believed to be in front with ‘Pen Duick VI’, skippered by Frenchman Eric Tabarly. ‘Great Britain II’, the glamour entry skippered …

By Richard Crockett I have extensive archives on the birth of ‘Voortrekker’ as I have archive material from what ultimately became SAORT (the South African Ocean Racing Trust) and also Bruce Dalling’s archives. I found the debate amongst members of the committee to be very interesting as some wanted the yacht shipped to the start so as not to compromise it in any way, while others felt an extended sea trial, by sailing it to the start, could only be …

By Richard Crockett Recently I shared a humorous piece from John Vigor which struck a chord, so here’s another, this time about the concours d’elegance, crews union and more. Vigor was a ‘Diana K’ crewman on the 1971 Rio Race. This is what he wrote: “Well, shiver me timbers and lay me low with a marline spike! Trample me in the bilges and scrub me with holystone! So they’re going to have a little old concorde of elegance – or …

By Richard Crockett The very first Cape to Rio race in 1971 attracted a broad spectrum of yachtie from the rich and famous to the humble home builder. On this day in 1970, 55 years ago, the Daily News newspaper ran the above provocative headline, and opened the report as follows: “Robin Knox-Johnston and Leslie Williams are to ocean racing what Bob Hope and Bing Crosby are to films – an unlikely couple who make an unbeatable combination. “When they …

by Richard Crockett The Flying Fifteen Nationals are being sailed on the Vaal Dam this weekend and because of the surge of interest in the class with old boats being restored, my old sailing mate Campbell Alexander suggested it was time I dug something out from my archives on the Class. So here goes, a feature in Yachtsman RSA magazine from January 1979, and a cover pic to boot! No feature on this class would be complete without mention of …

by Richard Crockett Now here’s a light-hearted read by John Vigor who penned a humorous and sometimes useful daily column in the Mercury newspaper. He was a yachtie, a very good Mirror sailor, who graduated to keelboats and crewed for Dave Cox aboard ‘Diana K’ in the 1971 Cape to Rio Race. He ultimately bought a Morgan 31, and together with his family sailed it to the USA where they settled. He became a prolific author writing many books on …

By Richard Crockett Today’s newspaper feature was written by Michel Fascio, the Daily News representative who sailed from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town aboard the yacht ‘Stormy’ in preparation for the January 1971 Cape to Rio Race. Below are just three paragraphs from a lengthy feature: “From out to sea, Cape Town at night is an incredibly beautiful sight – countless lights nestling below the dark mass of Table Mountain. It is a sight that promises a safe haven …

by Richard Crockett The very first Rio Race, way back in 1971, certainly galvanised those folk with an affinity for the ocean into getting a yacht for the race. And a few landlubbers too. There was lots of talk, lots of hope and a few dashed dreams along the way, but this race was certainly a catalyst in making our sport what it is today. 55 years ago today ‘Mercury’ was launched in Durban for the race. Below is how …

By Richard Crockett It seemed like just yesterday that Padda Kuttel and his crew were racing around the world in ‘Xargo II’, but it was in fact 44 years ago! A favourite to win the first leg into Cape Town, windless conditions put paid to that. This is how the Argus reported on their finish: “The Cape Town yacht ‘Xargo Ill’ – the only South African entry in the Whitbread-round-the-world race – tied up at its moorings at the Royal …

By Richard Crockett 58 Years ago today Alec Rose rounded the Cape on his singlehanded circumnavigation. He was ultimately Knighted for this feat. The Daily news opened their report with this paragraph: “Round-the World yachtsman Alec Rose survived seas “like sledgehammers” smashing into his 37ft. yacht, the ‘Lively Lady’, 72 hours ago and today he was patiently waiting 260 miles south of the Cape for a breeze to drive him on his attempt to emulate Sir Francis Chichester’s epic circumnavigation …