Historical

by Richard Crockett On each occasion I share material on ‘Stormvogel’, the response is off the charts, which is why I am very happy to share the report of her maiden voyage as written by her owner and skipper Kees Bruynzeel. ‘Stormvogel’, in spite of inevitable teething troubles, achieved a passage from the Cape to Dartmouth unequalled by any yacht, in spite of stops at St. Helena, Ascension and the Azores. These are a few of his opening paragraphs: “All …

By Richard Crockett Some weeks ago now I shared a feature on Jim Crawford’s ‘Dirigo II’, and am able to share an update today. As a bonus there are also two pages of “Letters to the Editor”, which make interesting reading especially as one reader suggested the RCOD be named the “Doodkis Class”! Why? You’ll have to read why from the link below. As for ‘Dirigo II’, this is how the feature was introduced: “When Jim Crawford took on board …

by Richard Crockett One thing I am absolutely certain of is that yacht designers in days of yore really had an eye for beauty, and designed yachts for their beautiful lines and aesthetic appeal. No so today I am afraid. Which is why I am happy to share Frank Robb’s story of ‘Verona’ – a real and delightful beauty judging by the photo of her sailing. Robb wrote: “The news of the untimely death of Mrs. Mary Rogers, of Somerset …

By Richard Crockett Most yachties have heard of the Loch Fyne dinghy and all its virtues. And at just 10-feet it packs a lot of punch. It was revealed in the May/June issue of SA Yachting Magazine in 1961, and in 1962 an advert for Maitland Sheet Metal Works advertised this dinghy, in fibreglass complete and ready to sail with rowlocks and all fittings (no oars) for the princely sum of R198.00. This is what the magazine said about her: …

By Richard Crockett The yacht building industry has advanced in leaps and bounds, especially in terms of material and building methods, with the quest always appearing to be on lightness, stiffness and weight-saving generally. A far cry from days of yore! I was attracted to this feature as this subject is always one debated at length, but also because of the reference to the Dragon built for Justice Caney of Durban – and the brief mention of the Lipton Cup …

By Richard Crockett As a country we have a few yachts that were built locally that we can be immensely proud of. ‘Stormvogel’ is one of them. Her launching was obviously something special as she attracted a large crowd, while SA Yachting magazine devoted 4 pages to the occasion, including a double page spread of photos. This is what was said: “‘Stormvogel’ simply had to get to sea by the beginning of May to reach Amsterdam and Cowes in time …

By Richard Crockett The Extra dinghy, featured today, was first revealed in the May/June issue of SA Yachting magazine way back in 1961 – and is still an active Class today, especially on Zeekoevlei. This plywood boat is a development of the 10 ft. Billy-Oh (featured here on 21 September 2023 at this link: (https://sailing.co.za/wp-admin/post.php?post=51312&action=edit) has proved such an excellent training craft for youngsters. It is 12 ft. overall and only 8 in. wider, but it looks and feels much …

by Richard Crockett The humble Royal Cape One-Design (RCOD) is an institution in this country – and so it should be. Few though know how it came about – so today’s feature from the May/June issue of SA Yachting magazine in 1961, sheds light on the subject. Jerrold Salamon tells the story which went like this: “We shall have to promote a one-design keel boat class for the Club” . . . “l think you are dead right, let’s give …

by Richard Crockett Once frowned upon, today multihulls are a fact of life and generally live alongside monohulls in harmony. Plus, the fastest sail-powered machines on the water today are all multihulls! “The story of Nimble’s 1960 trans-Atlantic voyage is largely an exercise in Nature’s complete indifference to man’s plans and aspirations. “Although we voyaged 3,800 miles without one bit of weather favourable to a hoped-for quick passage, we at least had ample opportunity to evaluate our new boat in …

By Richard Crockett Today is a mixed bag which includes a report on Cariad, and some “Picture News” from the March/April issue of SA Yachting magazine in 1961. ‘Cariad I’, the 129-ton Durban-based ketch, is believed to have established a sailing craft record on February 14 when she arrived at the entrance to Delagoa Bay, off Lourenco Marques – 36 ½ hours after leaving Durban. On the “Picture News” page is this reference: “This figurehead is a handsome addition to …

by Richard Crockett I’ll be honest up front. Today’s offering is not “woke” in today’s society, and as a teaser said, it’s not for the squeamish, but it’s a darn good yarn as told by Frank Robb. This paragraph gives an insight: “He actually has some good points; he is a hard old bastard, but one commodity he is not short of is guts, and this episode I am determined to relate has some bearing on his intestinal fortitude. It’s …

By Richard Crockett Today, Jim Crawford, skipper of the round-the-world schooner ‘Dirigo II’, describes part of the last leg home to Florida with his crew of three South Africans, whom he decided to give a grounding in his hard-sailing methods. They averaged about 1000 miles a week, in moderate Trade winds, calling at St. Helena, Ascension, Fernando de Noronha , Antigua, St. Thomas and then Miami – fast sailing for pleasure without heroics, as all good voyages should be. The …

by Richard Crockett I am very well aware that the Finn Class is staging its nationals soon, thanks to the active Whatsapp group, so hopefully this will be a fillip to all “Finnites” to dust of their boats and compete after reading this report from the 1961 January/February issue of SA Yachting magazine. “A Finn regatta can now be regarded as an established fixture on the South African yachting calendar. Finn owners who attended the Glinane Finn Trophy week in …

by Richard Crockett ‘Stormvogel’ is a yacht that many offshore sailors talk about with reverence and awe as she was just one of those very special racing yachts which was to some degree ahead of her time. Today I am able to share a glimpse of “her luxurious living quarters” as the January/February issue of SA Yachting in 1961 said in the headline. As a bonus there is also a quiz for “would-be old salts”. This is what was said …

Above. With some of the silverware – Basil Lindhorst and lvor Jamison, of ‘Parergon Ill’ and (centre) the winning skipper, Fred Smithers. Below. Active’s crew fill the bottom picture, left to right. Gordon Phillips, Stompie McDonald, from PE , John Bayliss, Bill Perry, skipper Jack Nosworthy, John Dalgleish, Basil Joyce, Gordon Burn Wood and joint owner, Monie Salamon.By Richard Crockett The 1961 January/February issue of SA Yachting magazine has this to say about the race from Simonstown to Mossel Bay. …