News

By Richard Crockett After mainsail and boom problem yesterday, and many messages of support, Dalling has continued on regardless. Whether this was because of a message he received from the Voortrekker project committee or not, the message said “Bad luck, but carry on regardless – now good luck to you”. After studying the latest reports from Dalling as he headed westward in Voortrekker in the single-handed trans-atlantic race, Mr, Lello commented: “The whole picture has changed from the rather unclear …

By Richard Crockett Just 300 nautical miles into the Atlantic Bruce Dalling had to deal with a broken gooseneck. The mishap occurred while he was trying to reef the mainsail. Dalling described the incident via radio-telephone to his sister Carole Chamier. “The accident happened when he was trying to get the mainsail down in a Force 7 wind (32 to 38 miles an hour) yesterday morning. The boom swung out and broke at the gooseneck (where it joins the mainmast) …

by Richard Crockett “With sheets of spray whipping over their foredecks and the wind at near-gale-force squalls screaming through the rigging, two of the Lipton Cup yachts – ‘Yvette’ and ‘Vanya V – ventured from their berths in the yacht harbour to-day.” How could I not share this opening paragraph from the Argus newspaper report? It conjures up great images, yet not one single photo of this scene exists to my knowledge. What a pity as a 30-square metre blasting …

By Richard Crockett 57 years ago today Bruce Dalling set sail in ‘Voortrekker’ as a competitor in the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic race (OSTAR). A group of South African’s had conceived the idea and put in hours of hard work to achieve their dreams of an entry in this world class race. These men were the pioneers of the South African Ocean Racing Trust (SAORT) which still exists today. And, Bruce Dalling became the very first true idol of sailing in …

By Richard Crockett With preparation for the first ever Lipton Cup in J22 class yachts going on feverishly behind the scenes, those who sail this class of yacht need to be very aware of the class rules and not infringe them. 33 years ago Ian Ainslie and his crew were disqualified from the J22 Nationals, immediately prior to the J22 Worlds off Durban. The Sunday Tribune newspaper said this: “At the weekend Springbok yachtsman Ian Ainslie, 27, and his crew …

By Richard Crockett I do enjoy sharing features about people who taste our sport for the very first time and instantly fall in love with it. “It’s tough discovering you are passionately addicted to sailing – 600 km from the sea. “Somehow the prospect of landlocked Hartbeespoort Dam isn’t quite the same as a stiffish breeze coming straight across the Indian Ocean from Australia, white tipped waves on a deep blue sea, and the view of Durban’s Bluff receding over …

by Richard Crockett The use of trackers in yacht races is an absolute must in modern day ocean racing, and this race has for several years now used YB Tracking – the Rolls Royce of trackers. Sadly though this is not followed up with social media offering info from the boats, wind strengths, directions and changes, or simply any additional news that will allow landlubbers following on their electronic devices anything meaningful that gives some insight as to what’s actually …

By Richard Crockett I can’t remember when, even if ever, that I have mentioned the Soling Class in dispatches, so when this newspaper cutting popped up for today, I simply had to share it. The article talks about a lone Soling named ‘Jade’ being a magnificent sight as she sped on her way to line honours by a wide margin in a keeler race. She was imported from England by Guy Reynolds, and after he sold it she sat land-locked …

By Richard Crockett Due to the immense interest in the 1980 Fireball Worlds off Durban when many of yesterdays’s sailing heroes competed, here is the finale with report on the winners, the final race, a complete set of results plus a photo of the South African team. The final race was staged in conditions far from ideal. Before the final race the competition was still wide open, with David Bain of the U.K. holding the overall leading position, although any …

By Richard Crockett Dave Hudson with his crew Terry Reynolds, sailed into first place overall in the fourth race of the world Fireball championships yesterday. Conditions were almost ideal with a 10 to 12-knot north easterly blowing fairly steadily, although it did kick up a lumpy and confused sea. The lead in this race changed three times, and on the third beat, when in the lead, JJ Provoyeur led, but overstood the mark to let Hudson through and win the …

By Richard Crockett The fifth race of this world championship contest had competitors battling 25-knot north easterly winds which gusted up to more than 30 knots. This resulted in a sea with a heavy chop – typical Durban conditions. Nearly all the yachts racing capsized at least once and there were many retirements because of broken gear, mainly rudders. There are two things I personally like in today’s offering, that being the South African contingent revelled in the conditions with …

By Richard Crockett The 1990 Portnet Dias race from Cape Town to Lisbon via the Azores was a close race with Jerry Harrison snatching a narrow victory by just 84 minutes after almost 7000 nautical miles of racing. Twenty-four hours of post-race drama and tension ended when the Cruising Association of SA confirmed that Jerry Harrison and his Durban yacht ‘Jasco Spirit of St Gerard’ were the overall winners after a protest against them was dismissed. READ MORE HERE:  1990 …

By Richard Crockett In Newport, Rhode Island, 34 years ago today Bertie Reed, a “master” solo sailor, walked off with one of yachting’s top prizes at the BOC prize giving. This was an honour richly deserved after he rescued John Martin deep in the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean during the third leg of the BOC race. The argus newspaper reported said this: “Although Reed was only eighth overall after 27 000 miles in the around the world race …

By Richard Crockett It’s hard to believe that the Fireball Worlds off Durban in 1980 was 45 years ago? Regrettably Durban did not live up to it’s reputation as a “world class” sailing venue on the first day as the wind was very light allowing just one race, with the second race being abandoned when what little wind there was simply vanished. Added to the lack of decent wind, the lumpy sea did little to assist competitors. It was a …

By Richard Crockett Today’s news is somewhat off the wall as I have only chosen it because ‘Tiggy’, an Irish Terrier, competes on board when the owners are sailing. He’s, or maybe it’s a she, is a good looking mutt according to the pic! However it is also about Ruth Goodman, the only woman skipper at the Hout Bay Yacht Club, who finished in fifth position overall in the HBYC’s summer series. I wonder whether Ruth still sails? READ MORE …