News

by Richard Crockett Last week I shared the feature on Don Ord’s newly imported FD, which had the old salts salivating about their FD days. Thanks to Dudley Thomson, I have images of that boat still sailing today at the Benoni Sailing Club. It is now owned by Des Geraghty and is named ‘Campari’. Enjoy these images of an FD which is now 60 years old and still racing! In case you missed the Blog last week, READ IT HERE: …

  by Richard Crockett Now here’s a report to get you teeth into as virtually the entire February issue of SA Yachting was dedicated to this regatta that happened 59 years ago. It was described “as a national not soon to be forgotten”. Nearly 300 boats, 21 social events and hundreds of yachties jostling for position on the hard and in the car parks as there were on the start lines! There are 14 pages in this report and many, …

By Richard Crockett I am always quite surprised how some historical features I share generate more interest than others. The most popular tend to be when names are mentioned which bring back memories. So the Class News today covers the following classes: • Finns • Spearhead-Goodricke • Tempo • FD • RCOD • Sprog • OK Dinghy • Sharpie • Andy • Enterprise • Extra • GP 14 READ ALL ABOUT THEM HERE:  1967 01 – SA Yachting – class …

by Richard Crockett It’s such a pity that the FD is hardly seen on local waters any longer as it was such a graceful looking speedster, especially in full flight. It’s also spoken about with superlatives that only true-blue FD sailors can! Way back when in 1967 Don Ord imported a state-of-the-art fibreglass FD into this country, and it was written about in SA Yachting Magazine in awe. This is what was said: “Called the Plastrend Flying Dutchman Hull, the …

by Richard Crockett SA Yachting magazine had a Durban correspondent who loved to capture the round-the-worlders when they arrived in Durban, and always wrote about the people, their boats and the passages they had undertaken. Bianca Lavies was an extraordinary talent. Today there are just two pages of news, but they are crammed full with photos and news. Heading the pack was the departure of Robin Knox-Johnston’s ‘Suhaili’ from Durban for the UK. A pic with a lengthy caption is …

By Richard Crockett The fact that this feature was researched and written in the mid-1960s when many hardened sailors were pretty darn steadfast on the fact that multihulls were unsafe, makes the feature worthy of an unbiased read, especially as marinas around the world are flooded with multihulls today. The author is Brookes Heywood, an experienced old salt and prolific writer who opened the feature as follows: “Criticism and doubt about multihulls in South Africa has come mainly from those …

by Richard Crockett Reminiscing about past sailing exploits is something most yachties like to do, especially from their formative years when still wet behind the ears and eager to make a mark for themselves. That’s why I found today’s opening feature on the Point Yacht Club Cadet Week so interesting as there are so many names that I recognise, many of whom still actively sail today. And who would have known that there was an initiation ceremony for newcomers to …

By Richard Crockett The photos on the opening page of “Class News” caught my attention as they showed a huge amount of Dabchick class activity as a record entry of 60 boats were on the water for the annual inter-schools regatta on Zeekoe Vlei. There was even a girls team from Herschel who were represented by Lindsay White; “Pip” Broadbent and Perry-Anne Johnson. The Following Classes Are Covered Today: • Dabchick • Spearhead-Goodricke • Finn • Tempo • Flying Dutchman …

by Richard Crockett Club Notes in particular is always popular as those intrepid sailors from days of yore enjoy the old reports and photos of themselves, friends and on-water foe! So after a month of Lipton Cupping, there’s another interesting series of Club Notes to enjoy. The Headlines Are: • Sails on the Highveld by Peter Brown • Up to 14ft At Florida – Page of “People Pics” • Transvaal Provincial Champs • Florida Small Boat Regatta • Transvaal Youth …

by Richard Crockett One of the reasons I have chosen today’s feature is that it mentions ‘Sandefjord’. I am sure we all remember her epic circumnavigation and especially the movie they made on her voyage. It is what inspired me to want to sail. Bianca Lavies wrote the following about her: “S0 much bas been written – and will still be written, and seen, when their film is ready – about ‘Sandefjord’s’ voyage round the world that I will not …

By Richard Crockett After sharing historic and current Lipton Cup news for the month of August, it’s back to covering more historical history of the sport in this country with this fascinating short editorial which happened on Sandvlei near Muizenberg. Aerohydrofoils are designed for speed on the water using the wind as motive power, and skim over the surface of the water like an ice yacht on foils which gives dynamic lift. This concept was being trialed in model form …

The very best of this inter-club challenge was kept until last as the top two Clubs tied on points after the 9th race, leaving the final race on the 6-mile windward-leeward course as the decider. The wind was from the NW and blowing about 10 knots. The defending champions, Hermanus Yacht Club (HYC) were up against the challenger of record being the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC). These two had slugged it out closely throughout the previous nine races, almost …

Two races, one in light winds, the second in a good breeze, have turned the City of Cape Town Lipton Challenge Cup leader board on its head, and will ensure that the three potential races scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) will be a shoot-out, with the best team lifting the Lipton Cup in victory. But it was not only the wind that turned the contest on its head as two protests were lodged, and three boats disqualified, one being the Royal …

Champagne sailing is what today was all about in the Lipton Challenge Cup contest sponsored by the City of Cape Town on Table Bay – with great tactical sailing too. It was nerve-wracking out there today especially in the first race as the wind took forever to settle and steady. With just 6-8 knots from the north/north west, it was a race full of decision making, sound tactics and boat speed. From the start gun the fleet spread quickly with …

With a light southerly wind maxing between 8 & 10 knots on flat water in what most pundits would call a perfect day for yacht racing, things were very tough for all competitors. The most consistent results were put in by the defending champions from the Hermanus Yacht Club who grabbed the 72nd Lipton Challenge Cup contest (sponsored by the City of Cape Town) by the cups ornate handles, sending a message to all teams that they are the ones …