Historical

By Richard Crockett There is some concern here as to how Voortrekker’s jury-rigged boom has stood up to Tuesdays raging Atlantic seas and wind of 32 to 38 mile an hour. Skipper Bruce Dalling. who is also having trouble with three winches, said last week he was sure that the repairs he had made to the boom would hold, so long as he didn’t have to contend with any strong winds. READ THE FULL REPORT HERE:  1968 06 13 – …

By Richard Crockett Yesterday a message was radioed to Dalling from the STAR Committee and Trustees of the ‘Voortrekker’ venture saying: “Bad luck, but carry on regardless – now good luck to you”. One wonders whether that message brought comfort to Dalling or not? It was further reported that in fact a winch had not seized, but rather the roller reefing system which attaches the boom to the mast. (See the attached diagrams). I am off on a short break …

By Richard Crockett Bruce Dalling, the South African entrant in the singlehanded transatlantic yacht race, is in trouble 300 miles out in the Atlantic after his boom broke in a high wind yesterday, reported the Cape Times on 4 June 1968. He fashioned a jury rig and was not turning back. The incident happened when he was trying to reef the mainsail in a Force 7 wind. The boom swung out and broke at the gooseneck and blew overboard, taking …

By Richard Crockett Bruce Dalling set sail from Plymouth at noon today aboard the ‘Voortrekker’ in the 3,000-mile solo yacht race across the forbidding North Atlantic to Newport, Rhode Island. Ringing in his ears was the shout of “Vrystaat” roared out by the small band of South African supporters gathered at the Millbay Docks to watch the start of the loneliest yacht race in the world. When asked for a final quote as he stepped aboard, Dalling simply said “I’ll …

by Richard Crockett Thirty-four men and a woman with her dog sailed out of Plymouth in-pouring rain today, 1 June 1968, on the third, 3200-mile single-handed transatlantic yacht race. Tabarly was the favourite to win, and he took the lead very soon after the start. While this report is short, I have chosen it today due to the photograph which shows Norma Johnson of the Hermanus Yacht Club presenting Bruce Dalling with a burgee shortly before the start. READ MORE …

By Richard Crockett The great single-handed transatlantic race starting from Plymouth today will be as much a test of a competitor’s stamina – his ability to fight off sleep, to carry on in spite of sickness and exhaustion – as of his actual sailing skill. This point was made by Sir Francis Chichester, first in the 1960 race and second in the 1964 event, when he said after a gruelling time in the latter race that “the greatest hazard was …

by Richard Crockett Over the past few weeks I have covered all the build up to the singlehanded transatlantic race, and how Voortrekker was conceived, built and sailed to the starting line. Today I am able to share a full-on review of the race, the yachts and the people as published in Yachtsman Magazine in the UK. Interestingly Bruce Dalling and Voortrekker hardly feature – something which no doubt spurred Dalling on to greater heights. READ IT ALL HERE:  1968 …

by Richard Crockett “I am a bit more nervous every day and will be more than relieved to get to the starting line” he said in Plymouth. Since Voortrekker arrived at Plymouth nearly a month ago, Dalling and his. companions, have worked from eight to 12 hours a day preparing for the race. “I do not expect people at home to realize the amount of preparation which this race has entailed,” said Dalling. “I doubt whether there is any boat …

By Richard Crockett At Plymouth, all three South Africans could barely conceal their delight and pride over the yacht’s, performance. The figures are impressive: Voortrekker averaged 158 miles a day; her best day’s run was 220 miles, the worst, 83 miles. Admittedly the weather was kind, with very little calm to slow them and not too much sailing into the wind. Their passage piqued the interest of the British public, and was roundly applauded by local South Africans as it …

by Richard Crockett Having described ‘Voortrekker’s’ 45 ½ day passage on arrival in Plymouth from Cape Town as fast, a few days later during a quiet moment Dalling found an error in his calculations. The passage had in fact taken 43 ½ days as their passage from the Azores took days and 15 hours, some two days faster than the eight to nine days originally estimated. Voortrekker had performed better than was originally thought. READ MORE HERE:  1968 04 29 …

by Richard Crockett Dalling completed the 8000nm delivery of ‘Voortrekker’ from Cape Town to Plymouth a day a head of schedule, averaging about 160nm a day. This no doubt gave him an indication, and confidence, that he had a good solid boat, prompting him to say that “if we don’t win, it won’t be from a lack of trying”. READ MORE HERE:  1968 04 26 – Western Evening Herald – Bruce Dalling Archives – S&A – 002351-1_Redacted – OCR

By Richard Crockett From St Helena Island Dalling and his crew headed to Ascension Island and later crossed the equator having completed the first 3000nm of her passage north, at an average speed of 7 knots. A highlight of the passage at one time, was surfing ‘Voortrekker’ at 20 knots. READ MORE HERE:  1968 03 26 – Mercury – Bruce Dalling Archives – S&A

By Richard Crockett Bruce Dalling and his crew of Gordon Webb and Bobby Bongers stopped at St Helena Island on their passage to the Azores and ultimately Plymouth, and missed the record for that passage by just three hours. The record of 9 days and 23 hours for that passage from Cape Town to St Helena was set three years previously by Arthur Holgate’s 75-footer ‘Lorraine. In comparison, ‘Lorraine’ had a working sail area of 5,200 square feet of canvas …

by Richard Crockett I’ll close the week with some light relief and share all 11 cartoons I have that depicted Bruce Dalling and ‘Voortrekker’ at the time of their exploits. Some are very good and very clever, with my favourite being “Do we know the Cape Town Spinnakers”. Enjoy.

by Richard Crockett From all accounts ‘Voortrekker’s’ farewell from Granger Bay was a splendid affair with thousands of well-wishers to bid him farewell. And of course there was the pomp and ceremony too. “It was sundowners on the balcony for thousands of Seapointers in Cape Town late yesterday afternoon, as flatdwellers turned out with binoculars to watch an armada of small boats accompany South Africa’s solo yacht ‘Voortrekker’ on the first leg of her 6,000-mile maiden voyage to England” said …