News

by Richard Crockett Although the forecast looked grim, the wind was better than expected across the race track for Day 1 of the China Coast Regatta. Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen managed to find a patch of westerly breeze averaging 6 knots southeast of Hong Kong’s Lamma Island. 25 boats from all IRC Racer divisions were sent on windward/leeward courses and two yachts from IRC premier Cruising division were set an islands course around Waglan and Sung Kong. A sudden southerly …

For the 2019 World Sailing annual conference in Bermuda the Finn Class has made eight submissions to try to ‘rebalance the slate’ and reinstate the Finn as Olympic equipment for 2024 and beyond. In July the class announced its ’rebalancing’ strategy, which met with a lot of support from around the world. One thing the class is confident about is that a significant number of MNAs and sailors worldwide would like to see the Finn reintroduced to the Olympic programme. …

News from the Asian Sailing Federation where the President of World Sailing Mr. Kim Andersen, the Director of the Asian Games of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr. Haider Farman and President of the International Optimist Dinghy Association, Mr. Kevin Whitcraft were present along with members of over 22 Asian MNAs took the above decision. The meeting unanimously approved a pledge to ban all single use plastic from the Sailing events in Asia and in particular at the Asian Games …

“We were very excited to be featured in an article in Seahorse Magazine. Based in the UK Seahorse is considered the best sailing magazine in the world for racing sailors, and the article focussed on how a small sailmaking company like Great Circle Sails can build sails that match the quality of the Big Brand sailmakers, and still be able to offer them at much more competitive prices. “I urge you to read the article because it explains how the …

by Richard Crockett I continue to be fascinated as to the variety of news stories our newspapers have produced on our sport – with some amusing ones today, from “Baptism of Water” to a British skipper with a fine Irish temper. Oh, and lest we forget, plastic is a no-no at sea these days! Enjoy this selection. 1967. “Baptism of water” for Dalling. Bruce Dalling will be given a baptism of water as he must sail the 50-foot craft to …

by Richard Crockett Thanks to the generosity of Ellian Perch, a crew of Cape Town yachties are competing in the China Coast Race Week in the waters south and east of Hong Kong Island, as their boat was shipped there from Cape Town. They will be sailing the Cape 31 ‘Orion DYP’ which will be skippered by Mark Sadler. In the crew are Gary Sindler, David Rae, Martin Lambrecht, Joweal Claasens, Mike Giles and Davey James. Racing takes place from …

by Richard Crockett Singlehanded sailing has become something of a ‘norm’ in the sport of ocean sailing today, but it took guts and sheer determination from the pioneers of this type of sailing to achieve their goals in the ‘60s. Today in 1967, the Daily news reported that Alec Rose was 260nm south of Cape Town. Fireball sailors of yore, especially those in KZN, will remember the well-known dinghy builder G E de Bruin who made top-class plywood Fireballs. We …

by Richard Crockett Today, way back in 1967, was the day that Bruce Dalling was announced as skipper of ‘Voortrekker’ after a tough selection process. Dalling inspired the nation by coming so close to winning the OSTAR singlehanded Transatlantic race. There is also news on the ‘Sandefjord’ movie premiere. This movie also inspired the nation and many took to the water after watching it. This movie inspired my passion for sailing way back then when I was 12 – some …

By Richard Crockett The J22 Worlds will be hosted again by the Point Yacht Club offshore in 2020. A committee is hard at work putting the event on and making sure that it is another memorable regatta. Just to whet your appetites as to how stunning sailing in winter off Durban can be, I have selected a small number of pics taken from the 2007 regatta off Durban. Enjoy! Registration Saturday 27th June 2020 – from 09h00 to 16h00 Sunday …

by Richard Crockett There is not much in my archives yet from the ‘60s and ‘70s, although I did manage to sniff out two interesting pieces from 1969. The balance are from the ‘80s and early ‘90s – and make interesting reading. 1969. Rhodesian to Skipper SA Yacht. The Daily News reported that Rhodesia’s Olympic yachtsman, David Butler, was to skipper a South African yacht in the 1971 Cape Town to Rio race. CLICK on this link to read all …

INEOS TEAM UK have officially christened their first America’s Cup race boat from their HQ in Portsmouth, naming her ‘Britannia’ in homage to one of Britain’s most famous racing yachts. The day marks a landmark moment for the British challenger; coming after eighteen months of the design, build and development of one of the most complex America’s Cup class boats in the 168-year history of the event. Team Principal and Skipper, Ben Ainslie welcomed owner Jim Ratcliffe and the wider …

1968 10 07 307 1968 10 07 807 1986 10 07 078 1986 10 07 496 1991 10 07 412 4 1992 10 07 427 13by Richard Crockett I have selected an interesting choice of cuttings today covering the full spectrum of our sport and dealing with Voortrekker on Display in Milner Park, to youth sailing, the Rothmans Cape to Rio Race – and even a snippet on the SA Navy. Enjoy. Record crowd at ‘Great Outdoors’. 1968. Bruce Dalling, …

1986 05 10 055 1986 05 10 459 1986 10 05 082 1989 10 05 377 32 1991 10 05 412 11 1991 10 05 412 5by Richard Crockett Today we have no info from the ‘60 and ‘70s, but some good stuff anyway as John Martin earned his Provincial Colours; UBS Switzerland won the Whitbread Race; The America’s Cup preliminary rounds began in NZ; enthusiastic juniors enjoyed a training camp; a call went out the Halcatters; and there are …

          The Royal Cape Yacht Club, in conjunction with St Helena Tourism, have confirmed that the next Cape to St Helena Race will start on the 26 December 2020. This is a 1700nm race with a history spanning back 24 years. Based on various discussions with, and the sentiments of, various yacht owners, it is believed that the race will muster a record number of entries. The race attracts Corinthian entries, cruising entries and the well-established …

by Richard Crockett Yesterday we had a pic of ‘Corsair II’ when she arrived in Durban. Today a brief story of cruise, plus some news on the Whitbread Race, BOC Race – and John Martin. ‘Corsair II’ Circumnavigation. 1967. Stan Jeffrey started this cruise in April 1964. She is a Bermudan ketch which won the Simonstown to Port Elizabeth race in 1962. She was built in Cape Town. Read about it HERE: 1967 10 04 Padda Kuttel. 1985. Remember Padda and …