News

by Richard Crockett Those who use PredictWind, the leader in marine weather forecasting, know just how good and accurate the system is – yet it continues to get better and offer even more features. It has now launched its innovative real-time Lightning Display Feature, using the most comprehensive and accurate lightning network worldwide. By using real-time observations, along with the forecast, you can make better decisions to stay safe on and off the water. “By utilizing our new Lightning Feature, …

by Richard Crockett It’s sad but true that the history of our sport and the preservation of its history, is simply not a priority for many today. As a result club and class history is missing, trophies, which were floating trophies, can no longer be accounted for, and much much more. The Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) who are the custodians of the Cape to Rio Race, are making a concerted effort to track and trace as many of the …

by Richard Crockett ‘Stormvogel’ was the result of the radical ideas of Cornelius Bruynzeel, a Dutch construction timber manufacturer, and a close collaboration of well-renowned designers. I suppose the skeptics amongst us would call it a “committee-designed” yacht! Maybe they are right as Bruynzeel first approached E.G. van De Stadt, but at the Zaandam drawing office time was scarce, so he turned instead to Olin Stephens, with whom he had worked before. Unsure of putting his name to such a …

By Richard Crockett This delightful feature, written by Frans Loots, has an important sub-head which is very important and reads: “. . . or, the 15 boat building tips which nobody ever gave you!” There is an unwritten rule that every man must build at least one boat in his life. And building a big boat is the male equivalent of falling pregnant and giving birth to a child. And so I became pregnant one Spring day a few years …

by Richard Crockett It’s difficult not to be inspired by the exploits of adventurers who tackle challenges that will push them to the limit – and who ultimately succeed. Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Oliver and Major Tony Lancashire of the British Royal Marines sailed, rowed and when necessary dragged their NorseBoat 17.5 across the ice in a historic 1400 mile voyage through the Arctic’s Northwest Passage – a route that has been a lure to adventurers and explorers seeking a northern …

by Richard Crockett ‘Golden Fleece’ was a name revered in sailing circles for several years after her launching, and as with many yachts decay sets in after several years, and the upkeep simply cannot keep pace. “Fleece’ was no exception until Michael Wheeler rescued her. “In challenging conditions, he sailed the boat to Cape Town in mid-December 1999 and frantically prepared her for the Cape to Rio race starting on 8 January 2000. “With five friends and family they breathlessly …

by Richard Crockett The headline is not quite correct as it should refer to the Whitbread and Volvo round the world races. I am always amazed at the rich maritime history we have, especially with these races as South Africans have managed to claw their way aboard, complete the full race, or a leg or two, and etch their names into history. Please bear in mind that this list is complete up until 2010, so there may well be more …

by Richard Crockett Racing around the world in the first Whitbread Race was, to some degree, was done by trial and error! Well that’s according to Butch Dalrymple-Smith who said this: “When we set out, we really knew little about what was in store for us. The only information available came from the Clipper ships of yesteryear, and from Sir Francis Chichester’s book about his solo navigation in 1967. “I remember telling one journalist before the start, that the race …

by Richard Crockett Something I always enjoyed was receiving correspondence from sailors out there living their dreams, yet had enough time to share their experiences with those following in their wake. “A wall of wind hit us from the port side with driving rain and blinding spray. It was 40 – 50 – 60 knots! The wind just kept on going up and up, spray was flying everywhere and there was no visibility. We were soaked. Our forward progress slowed …

by Richard Crockett I am always fascinated by those folk who take on yacht restoration projects as there is simply nothing finite in them, and more often that not gremlins which appear the more the vessel gets stripped down. I do admire the patience, tenacity and perseverance of those who undertake these projects. This is how ‘She’ was described by the author of this feature: A 35’ sloop with a beam of 9.5’ and draught of 6’, the 45’ high …

                by Richard Crockett During the inaugural Cape to Rio race in 1971, the 10-metre van der Stadt-designed sloop ‘Pionier’ sank after hitting a whale. That was on 28 January 1971 at the position 24 30’ south and 07 06’ west. Forty years later (now 53 years later) the two remaining survivors of that tragedy, Willie Schütten and Jenifer Webb remembered the sinking, and the rescue, over dinner. The five crew for the …

By Richard Crockett As a prep school kid I was fascinated by ‘Sandefjord’ and her voyage around the world. Why, I am not really sure, but that voyage may well have been the fire that lit my passion for sailing. I remember following her circumnavigation in the newspapers, and when the movie of her circumnavigation was launched, I just had to go and see it. That was in 1967, and the following year I began sailing. However, this is about …

By Richard Crockett Without checking, I am sure that I have shared this feature before, and bother not as it shows just what fine seamen we produced back in days of yore. I wrote the following intro at the time: “The following arrived in an e-mail recently and caught my eye as I remembered that in my archives I had pics of this incident, and that I had read the story in a very old copy of SA Yachting, so …

by Richard Crockett I wonder how many mad-cap schemes have been conjured up on a bar stool in a yacht Club Pub on a stonking day when it’s prudent to stay off the water? No doubt many, but are there any to top this as told by Ralph Thomas? “Standing in Charlie’s Bar at PYC one Saturday lunchtime waiting for my ‘pie and gravy’, the discussion of the Inhaca crossing (Maputo to Inhaca Island) was on the agenda. As it …

by Richard Crockett Apologies for the break last week, but I was felled by the lurgy. The ‘old salts’ amongst our followers will undoubtedly remember ‘Sandefjord’. She was found in an unseaworthy state in Durban in the 1960s and fully restored by the Cullen brothers – Patrick and Barry. She was then 53 years old, and the brothers, with some crew, circumnavigated the globe, and made a film of the voyage which later became a huge hit. She also competed …