News

By Richard Crockett It seems like just yesterday when John Martin and Bertie Reed stole the hearts of South Africans as they raced singlehanded around the world and through some treacherous stretches of water like the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn. Well that was 37 years ago now! In today’s feature, which took up close to a newspaper page, the antics of these guys are shared in detail as written by Arnold Kirby the Argus yachting reporter. “SURVIVAL is the …

by Richard Crockett Before you get very excited about this headline, please note that this was written in 1997. It was great news worth trumpeting at every available opportunity, yet more importantly was good for the class and the sport in our country. I had forgotten that I had written this column for the Natal Mercury, so it was a surprise to see the headline this morning. However, the event never happened, and I cannot recall why! Maybe there is …

By Richard Crockett JJ Provoyeur’s name is one synonymous with top-flight competitive sailing, and a person with grit and determination in everything he does both on and off the water. His track record precedes him, with maybe his biggest regret in the sport was being relegated to second spot, by a mere whisker, in the 1980 Fireball Worlds off Durban. He was tantalisingly close to being crowned World Champion. But today I can share his giant step into the world …

By Richard Crockett Many yachties from yesteryear lament the demise of the Double Cape Race, which in its heydays was a tough and unrelenting race which sorted the men from the boys. Back in 1996 a large newspaper spread on the race said this in their opening blurb: In the Double Cape Yacht Race, held last weekend, 59 yachts competed for line honours round Cape Point and back. Reporter Jet Van Eeghen from The Netherlands sailed with them in the …

By Richard Crockett It was 18 years ago now that ‘Shosholoza’ had our yachties, and the general public too, spellbound as they performed on the world stage in Valencia during the America’s Cup. The entry of ‘Shosholoza’ presented a magnificent opportunity to showcase our local industry and the quality of our yachtsmen. Will we ever get another opportunity like this again? Despite their best efforts, they did not achieve the lofty goals people had hoped for, yet at times there …

By Richard Crockett Last week I shared an extract on Flag Etiquette written in 1932. Obviously the correct use of nautical flags was still an issue in 1938 as the subject was again re-visited in Yachting Monthly magazine. I specifically enjoyed the sub-head which read: “Flags should be worn correctly this season” – Fashion Editor! Who would have thought that a sailing mag, even then, had a “Fashion Editor”? The author opened this editorial with the following words: “It has …

by Richard Crockett I often wonder whether yachties really pay much attention to flag etiquette any longer as my gut says it has become another of those lost maritime arts? There are always smatterings of people who like to be knowledgeable about this subject, and I respect them for continuing to embrace this tradition which goes back centuries. I knew a guy who always puffed out his little chest and took great delight in pontificating on the subject and pointing …

By Richard Crockett The Mauritius to Durban yacht race, also known as the Crystic Crossing or Crystic Beachcomber Crossing, has always been a very tough race, and as this sub-head in the feature today says. “Beer and bikini cruise, it’s not”. The opening paragraph of the Daily News report read as follows: Since it’s inception in 1985, the Crystic Beachcomber Crossing race from Grand Baie to Durban – has evolved into one of the toughest ocean races on the calender. …

  Ant Steward has always been an interesting character whose sailing exploits have been challenging and interesting to watch as some of his challenges were described by many as “madcap”. Below is the opening paragraph of a newspaper report when he announced another “madcap” challenge in 1992: Durban adventurer Ant Steward, shipwrecked and chased by sharks two months ago, is set to go for another “madcap” exploit: sailing alone around treacherous Cape Horn. And he plans to do so in …

by Richard Crockett Today I am able to share this news, not for the gory detail, but simply to highlight the fact that going to sea in a small boat is tough, very tough. And also to highlight the really good work the NSRI does along our coastline. The opening paragraph of this report reads as follows: John Ross of Cape Town was towed into the city harbour by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) yesterday after both engines on …

by Richard Crockett Simon’s Town School is to become a “Model Sea school” – the first in the country to offer boarding facilities for 40 pupils and staff on board a ship, the old Cable Restorer. Principal Peter Manser, said he believed the school would be the only one in the world with a floating hostel. What a novel idea, so is there an alert follower out there who may know whether this project ever came to fruition? READ THE …

by Richard Crockett Yesterday the Billy-O was mentioned, but spelt “Bilio”, so I thought it time to highlight this forgotten little dinghy in more detail. The August 1956 “Sprog Log” had a complete write-up on the boat designed by Herbert McWilliams. In the preamble, this is what McWilliams said under the title of “Birth of a Notion”: About a year ago a happy event occurred. You may not know it but the Sprog acquired a Baby Sister/brother. A stork didn’t …

by Richard Crockett I do enjoy receiving feedback from followers of this blog, especially when they include old and rarely seen photos. As a result of correspondence with John Bowen I am departing from the norm to share his treasured memories. John wrote as follows: I just found and read your piece on ‘Stroppy’, the first Sprog. I then went on to read Herbert McWilliams’s history of the development of the class. His advice to Sprog owners on tuning and …

By Richard Crockett The 1989 Mauritius to Durban Race, or to be clinically correct in terms of its name, the Crystic Beachcomber Crossing, attracted a huge and highly competitive fleet. The L34s in particular were out in big numbers with many of those skippers looking for the overall handicap win. The start was spectacular, with ‘Corum Cape Concrete’ breaking her mast within minutes of the start. Rough Time for Crews As Race Leaders Draw Away Near gale-force winds off Mauritius …

by Richard Crockett The Mauritius to Durban yacht race has always been a tough ocean race, and as happens in ocean racing on occasions, there can be disasters and tragedy. The 2005 race was no different. The subhead in today’s newspaper feature said “Durban boat, racing for its home port, transmitted a one-second distress signal and then it vanished”. Sadly the crew were never found although the upturned hull was spotted and salvaged several months later. No Sign of Yacht …