News

By Richard Crockett The 1994 BOC Around Alone Challenge will be remembered for the fact that Isabelle Autissier’s boat sank on leg 2, and she was rescued in dramatic fashion. But early in the first leg she was flying, and a real threat for a top placing as she headed the fleet as reported by Dale Granger. “South African JJ Provoyeur was still the meat in a French sandwich in the BOC Challenge singlehanded around the world yacht race yesterday …

By Richard Crockett One can only wonder why this newspaper cutting about the Lipton Cup took so long to be published as the event finished at the end of August? It’s a good read anyway and worth sharing anyway. “In spite of a determined challenge from former Shosholoza skipper Mark Sadler on the Royal Natal’s Orion Challenger, Greg Davis and team on Daly’s Insurance won the final race of South Africa’s premier regatta, the Lipton Challenge Cup, taking the trophy …

By Richard Crockett Ocean races to and from our shores always attracted immense public interest as they were something out of the norm. But, I feel that many of the NON-SAILING followers had a secret desire to go sailing, but could simply not pluck up the courage to do so. Hence they became “armchair sailors”. Irrespective, the Crystic Beachcomber Crossing from Mauritius to Durban still conjures up excitement from those who did it, and those who wish they had. Today …

By Richard Crockett I am sure that most of us remember Scope magazine – not for it’s editorials but rather for the raunchy pictures it used to publish? But on occasions they would publish a feature that had value and told a good story without being sensational. Today, I am able to share one of those rare features. It’s sub-head said simply this: “He defected from the communists to pursue the call of the sea.” The “he” is Richard Konkolski, …

By Richard Crockett The name ‘Voortrekker’ always piques the attention of yachties as Bruce Dalling followed by Bertie Reed and John Martin excelled when racing the trusty steed – especially singlehanded. Today’s headline showed a change of pace for the ageing old lady, EVEN THEN IN 1996, as she was crewed by a team of black teenagers. This is how the Cape Times reported: “Six black teenagers sailed in South Africa’s most famous racing yacht, ‘Voortrekker’, in their first ever …

by Richard Crockett I have chosen today’s newspaper cutting simply because I liked how the Cape Times, in a big bold font, shouted about how well JJ Provoyeur was doing after the start of the 1994 singlehanded around the world race. This is what the opening paragraph said: “South African JJ Provoyeur stunned the BOC Challenge fleet yesterday as he flew into second position behind Frenchwoman Isabelle Autissier, who had extended her overall lead on her radical, high-tech yacht.” Prior …

By Richard Crockett Where in the world is Marco Constant? I ask this simply as he features in today’s Blog, and was always a highly sought after, if not prized crewman in days of the Whitbread Round the World Race. And being South African he had a special place in the hearts of local followers of that round the world marathon. “I wouldn’t do it … “This I decided after spending a few minutes on board the ‘EF Language’ yacht …

By Richard Crockett The Mauritius race was always a tough one as conditions were conducive to fast and intense yacht racing, as witnessed by this report: “Near gale-force winds off Mauritius modified somewhat yesterday as the majority of the Crystic Beachcomber Crossing racing fleet continued to make record time towards Durban in rough seas. “It appears that now the most exciting tussle is the “race within the race” where the L34 Class are locked in extremely close combat. “On Sunday, …

By Richard Crockett It’s hard to believe that it’s been 31years or more since those heady days of the BOC Around Alone race. In 1994 Silke Friedrich wrote in the Sunday Times magazine as follows: “One of the world’s great endurance tests, the BOC Challenge, is under way, and top yachtsmen are vying for the honour of being the first to arrive back at Charleston. “Imagine being on a boat, 600 nautical miles south of Tasmania. The temperature is below …

by Richard Crockett Here’s a newspaper report from “loooong” ago, chosen specifically as it makes mention of many a sailor who made it to the top of the sport on the race course in a variety of classes. Just reading the results alone will bring back many memories. The report opened like this: “Juniors supplied the week-end’s most stylish and interesting sailing at Zandvlei in provincial championships raced in a brisk north-wester. “Sprogs, Extras and Dabchicks competed in a full …

by Richard Crockett Today I am able to share a full page editorial on the 1994 race from Mauritius to Durban. Despite the small fleet of just 10 boats, this is how Norman Sheriff reported on proceedings: “Grand Baie is a flurry of frantic activity today as final preparations are made on board the 10 yachts due to compete in the Point Yacht Club’s Mauritius Crossing race which gets under way at 1pm SA time tomorrow. “The fleet has been …

By Richard Crockett Few if any who competed in the Crystic Beachcomber Crossings from Mauritius to Durban in the ‘80s and ‘90s will ever forget them as the hospitality in Mauritius followed by a very tough race are memorable. The planning and logistics for the race were equally challenging as some yachts were shipped from their home ports, while others sailed, and all needed their race supplies sourced “from home”. The Daily News attempted to cover these aspects in today’s …

by Richard Crockett Today’s newspaper cutting is not about sailing, but as it of historical nautical interest I felt it worth sharing. 116 years ago the ‘Waratah’ passenger ship sunk without trace off the Transkei coast. This is how the Daily News reported on the lucky break a family had by cancelling their passage to England. “Mrs Marjorie Baillie’s annual visit to Durban has a special significance this year. It’s eighty years since 81-year-old Mrs Baillie, then a baby, missed …

By Richard Crockett Remember Rothman’s Week? It was the major end-of-year keelboat regatta in the country which always attracted the cream of offshore sailors and those who simply competed for the fun and because they had commenced their annual holiday from work. It’s sad that the event did not survive and was eventually shelved, as it was a top-flight competitive event attracting sailors from the entire country. Sadly few regattas in the country have really survived or hold the status …

by Richard Crockett Way back in 1994 when in Charlestown preparing for the BOC Around Alone Race, Dale Granger of the Cape Times reported as follows: “Single-handed city yachtsman Jean Jacques Provoyeur saw red in the US this week when confronted with the old South African flag emblazoned on BOC Challenge Around-the-World race T-shirts, brochures and magazines.” Speaking from Charleston, he said: “It’s ridiculous. We’ve had the new flag for months and we’re proud of it, but some people abroad …