Historical

By Richard Crockett One way to end the week, or give followers something to read over the weekend, is with “Club Notes” which are a variety of reports from Clubs and sailing organisations country-wide. And as always there is something for everyone. A special piece today is a personality piece about Bert Taylor, a sailing judge in Durban. He tells this delightful story: “Judging is not completely without hazard . either. It was during a big regatta in 1939. In …

By Richard Crockett It’s interest to read just how many people were circumnavigating in the mid-fifties, and the different types of yachts they chose. Today we feature some of those who reached Durban at the beginning of the 1965 Indian Ocean cruising season. Written by Bianca Lavies, the feature opens like this: “South Africa, happily sits across the round-the-world route taken by deep-sea yachtsmen. Every year we are pleased to be able to welcome these tried and proved cruising men, …

By Richard Crockett Today there are 9 pages of Club Notes to read, enjoy, COMMENT on and SHARE, plus 3 pages of SA Yachting’s famous “people pics”. The Headlines Today Are: • The Cape Scene by Peter Oldroyd • Worcester Regatta • Worcester Regatta – People Pics • Durban Season Opens – People Pics • Glendee Yacht Club • Henley Midmar Yacht Club • Durban Doings by Bianca Lavies • Boskop Dam – People Pics • Bluff Yacht Club • …

By Richard Crockett Last Thursday (4 June) I shared a feature entitled “Paul Elvstrom launches the Trapez Class” and little did I know how much traction that would create as it quickly attracted worldwide attention and comment while breaking all statistical records for this Blog. Mentioned in those comments was reference to TOY, a Tony Allen design, with the name being an acronym for “Tony’s Own Yacht”. Toy features today. All the above makes today’s feature even more relevant as …

By Richard Crockett Today’s Club Notes is substantially longer than normal, running to 13 pages, all of which are liberally illustrated with photos. What better way to start the week? Headlines Today Are: • Azalea Regatta and Spearhead Weekend on Midmar • The Azalea Regatta – Page of People Pics • Midmar Opening Cruise • Glendee Yacht Club • Offshore Men Get the Fruits of Victory – Photos • People I Meet on the Water – Walter Muir • Durban …

by Richard Crockett This report from SA Yachting magazine in October 1965 shows that the RCOD class was well established and turning heads in coastal ocean races as they took the first 6 places over the finish line in a 15 boat fleet. Leading the way was ‘Zeeslang’ which finished 96 minutes ahead of her nearest rival in a beat home described as “long, wet and decidedly uncomfortable”. READ MORE HERE:  1965 10 – SA Yachting – dassen island race …

By Richard Crockett These old magazines and more in my archives do reveal some gems – today’s feature being just one of those. The great Paul Elvstrom penned this feature explaining how and why he came to design this speedster, of which there were five options as follows: I. Trapeze Senior Single-hander 2. Trapeze Senior Two-man 3. Trapeze Junior Single-hander 4. Trapeze Junior Two-man 5. Trapeze Fun-boat “I have always wanted to make a boat in which I could enjoy …

By Richard Crockett As apart of this section today there is a bonus read about the Finn Gold Cup in Poland as written by Bruce McCurrach who finished 18th with a 4 and 5 as his best two races. Headline Today Are: • Durban Doings by Bianca Lavies • Point Yacht Club • Island Sailing Club • Under Weigh … in Durban – Page of People Pics • Bluff Yacht Club • OFSSA Regatta at Allemanskraal • Henley Midmar Yacht …

by Richard Crockett This race, 2250nm long, was considered to be the longest ocean race in the world at that time, later to be displaced by the Cape to Rio race in 1971. Bruynzeel’s vivid personal report of this race is a wonderful read as it talks seamanship, speed, life on board and a constant lookout for the opposition while all the time maximising boat speed. The report tells how the final handicap result of the ocean classic paled into …

By Richard Crockett Despite having shared the report on the LM Nationals last week, there’s still more today in this Club News section – AND the a page-and-a-half of “people pics” too. Today’s Headlines Are: • Dawn Passet on the Highveld • Transvaal Yachting Personality – Harvey Blogg – Finn Champ • Highvelders Trek to LM – Photo Page • Durban Doings by Bianca Lavies • Offshore Marathon • Bluff Yacht Club • Dragons in Sweden • OK Dinghy Weekend …

By Richard Crockett Well over 200 entries competed in Lourenco Marques for this national regatta. With Delagoa Bay providing one of the best stretches of sailing water in Southern Africa, the Clube Naval its traditional and lavish hospitality and Lourenco Marques its exotic atmosphere, this year’s National was a rip-roaring success. And because these attractions were coupled with the school holidays, the Iist of entries topped all previous records. Today’s feature has 11 photos, a cover photo and the traditional …

by Richard Crockett I was remiss in missing the final two pages of “Club News” earlier in the week, so here they are now, with a bonus of two advert pages. The first is the Volvo Station Wagon advert showing the car selling for R2 700.00 – I am sure a handsome amount of money back in the day. The second is a Wilbur Ellis advert which is anything but “woke” today, but which may bring a smile anyway. Covered …

By Richard Crockett Today I am happy to share an interview with Arthur Saul of Flying Sails as while I have seen references to these sails over the years, I knew very little about them. The interview opens like this: “I suppose you could say that I got this interest in sailing from my father. Dad was a seafaring man who had sailed around the world five times before settling down,” said suntanned Arthur Saul. We were in his office …

By Richard Crockett Here’s another 4 pages crammed with good info on clubs, boats, people and cruisers, with lot’s to learn about from those who enjoyed our sport all those years ago. Today’s Headline Are: • Durban Doings by Bianca Lavies • Natal Yachting Charivaria – Page of Photos • Durban Round-up • Bluff Yacht Club • Island Sailing Club • Highveld in Pictures by Dawn Passet • Glendee Yacht Club • News From ‘Sandefjord’ • ‘Diana’s’ Shipwreck Explained • …

by Richard Crockett In the last hour a keen tussle between ‘Regardless’ and ‘CFM’ has been playing out as the two boats close the 55th Vasco da Gama Race finish line – a coastal ocean race from Durban to East London – a distance of 260 nautical miles. It’s been billed as the “closest finish ever” – but is it? Way back in 1985 Brian Tocknell’s ‘Shaya Moya’ – a 40-footer designed by Miller & Whitworth and Chris Bonnet’s ‘Spirit …