Historical

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. The chronic shortage of moorings in Durban was being addressed by the City, and was an on-going issue for decades! The crew of the Danish sloop in the Whitbread Race was reduced to 1 litre of water per day for 3 weeks, with an adjacent report about a runner and a yacht to race each other. John Martin was caching the leaders despite auto-pilot issues. …

by Richard Crockett I have been paging through a scrap book of Rio Race cuttings given to me by Thirsty Bertie. There is some really interesting material in there which will be shared soon. Thank you Thirsty. The opening feature today is from 1970 and about an acting Deputy Sheriff who is doing the Rio Race. We then fast-forward to 1991 and an article about an award for action on yachting legislation. My question though, does the RCYC still award …

by Richard Crockett Here’s a bumper read having had a busy weekend away from computers and social media! Kicking off is a race report from 1969 and the PYC Commodore winning the race, but as one reads further down, the report states how David Hudson scored a comfortable two-minute-plus win over Cecile Harris in his Sprog. The official KZN yacht in the 1971 Rio Race commanded a lot of news space as it’s “full steam ahead”. Staying with the Rio …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. In 1986 the America’s Cup and all its shenanigans was constantly in the news, even in this country. New Zealand’s glass-fibre boat was taking the event by storm. And in 1988 John Martin and ‘Voortrekker II’ led the BOC fleet out of Cape Town, while Ant Steward was about to cast off again. Moving forward to 1993 ‘Thunderchild’ led the fleet out of Cape Town …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. A perennial problem, even back in days of yore, was the lack of moorings. This issue again reared its head in Durban in 1969 – and “Tempo men get set” read the adjoining headline. Eric Tabarly announced that he was changing the keel of ‘Cot D’or’ in the Whitbread race, a leg into the race, which will mean forfeiting any chance of victory. Strong winds …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. Bruce Dalling, ‘Voortrekker’ and the first Cape to Rio race continue to dominate the headlines – and all for good reason as these were exciting times. Thesen’s dockyard was reportedly working all weekend putting the finishing touches to ‘Voortrekker’. Another headline says “Designed For Speed”, another that ‘Sandefjord’ had entered the Cape to Rio race, while there were pics of ‘Jakaranda’ and ‘Applemist’ being unloaded …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. Bruce Dalling swapped sail for power as he signed up as 3rd mate aboard a freighter, while American John Snowden sailed his 25ft. Masthead sloop single-handed into Durban three years after buying it as a weekend pleasure cruiser. The Rio Race start was brought forward by 90 minutes to start at 16h30 and not 18h00. Dennis Conner was dealt a heavy defeat by Britain’s White …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. Remember ‘Cariad’? Well on this day in 1969 it was reported that her two year restoration was almost complete, and that she would head to the West Indies to do charter work. And work of a different kind as this report tells how a world cruise for kids is just the thing to brighten up school. I would have thought that nearly two months prior …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. 10 November was a very busy day in the newspaper history of sailing, so much so that I have really battled to cull many a good story today. But what is here will hopefully tickle the tastebuds! It’s also quite heavy on build-up news to the very first Cape to Rio race – all of which is interesting. But first four more overseas yachts berthed …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. We kick off with news of offshore yachting in Durban in 1969, and immediately fast forward to 1995 and some anger in the Whitbread race. In 1999 there were claims of a US bias in the America’s Cup – who would have guessed! Jakaranda arrived by freighter in Cape Town where scores of small craft converged to get their first glimpse of her. A wonderful …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. A slight change in headline this morning to better represent the origin of this history. We open today with a delightful tale of a Sandefjord crewman who received a “broomstick whopping” It’s a wonderful read. Bruce Dalling announced that his crew of 9 would start training immediately after ‘Jakaranda’ arrived in Durban. Another delightful story about a BOC skipper and his sad tale of flags! …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. With most cruisers doing their circumnavigations from East to West, Durban was always the first South African city they stopped in after a tough passages in the Indian Ocean. The city, “back in the day”, always received high praise from these intrepid yachties. The second leg of the BOC Challenge was in countdown mode to the second leg start with John Martin and Bertie Reed …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. One aspect of our sport few give any thought to is that sailing is a sport one can participate in from a very young kid until old age. There is no better example of this, which is highlighted today, by the fact that 62-year-old Harry Mitchell, the oldest skipper in the BOC Solo race was due into Cape Town. “Cudmore’s Cunning Saves Crusader” said the …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. The weekend was filled with distractions other than sailing – and a very fine victory by the Boks. How humbling it was to see Siya raise the Web Ellis Trophy, and listen to him as journalists from around the world fired questions at him. What a great ambassador he is for our country – as well as being an inspirational captain. International cruising folk again …

by Richard Crockett To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline. There is tons of news today, so let’s get to it! International cruising folk who arrive in this country during this period continue to be enamoured with our beautiful country, and Africa as a whole. This cruising couple took off from Durban on motorbike on a trip through Africa, having sailed from New Zealand. Luderitz yachties gathered to give every possible assistance to ‘Portatan’ in …