News

by Richard Crockett The info is scarce on this day way back in 1971 when the South African Team was doing battle at the Admiral’s Cup. However there is a good story about them entitled “Like Ducks to Water” and went on to say: ‘South Africa’s three-yacht team’s performance over yesterday’s 33½·mile course around The Solent buoys near here has boosted the team’s morale. “On points, only Britain, Australia and the United States beat the Republic. Seventeen teams competed.” So …

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by Richard Crockett Thanks to Richard “Thirsty” Bertie who gave me all his sailing scrap books to scan & digitise some years ago, I am able to share news of the South African Admiral’s Cup effort in 1971. “Jakaranda Leads Boks In” blurted the headline which went on to say that “South Africa’s Admiral Cup team moved up to sixth place overall following yesterday’s second race of the four-race series sailed at Cowes”. An even bigger headline said “Jakaranda 2nd …

by Richard Crockett I agree fully with the comments Frans Loots made yesterday regarding just how big the Voortrekker OSTAR project was due to the total support of South African business and especially Dr. Anton Rupert, plus of course the SA Navy. I do believe that a project of this magnitude also requires complete impartiality from those managing it, and in this case those people selected Bruce Dalling as skipper by voting with their heads and not their hearts. He …

by Richard Crockett My sincere apologies for the rather long break, but who would have thought it would take a full month to have an iMac repaired in Cape Town, and three weeks to have a faulty NAS drive replaced under warranty! Plus a few other challenges thrown in on the way certainly did not help. Normal service has now been resumed. So as today is the first day of August, I have decided to dedicate the day to ‘Voortrekker …

by Richard Crockett Unlike in recent years I was not very close to the action in this year’s Challenge, instead relying on input from several different sources. Despite this I was able to obtain a fairly good overview. This was the second year of the ORC Trial, and from a distance it looked to me as if it may have worked in terms of providing fair and close results. But it does not, nor was it ever intended to give …

My computer crashed on me this morning leaving me stranded without access to my archives, so sincere apologies for not being able to bring you your daily fix. This is an ideal opportunity to advise followers of my SAILING Mag Blog that we are off to “New Lands” next week, and that as of Friday (23 June) I would be off the air for a few weeks until settled and my computers, scanners and backup systems are all reconnected. Please …

By Richard Crockett I am able to share news over a 33 year period today, starting with a Lipton Cup report from 1959 and ending with a report on Ant Steward and his open boat circumnavigation in 1992. 1959. Thrilling Climax to Lipton Cup:  1959 06 20 – 1959 Lipton – OCR 2 1984. The ‘Winner’ Loses Yacht Race:  1984 06 20 – Ostar – 392 1986. No Report Made by SA Yacht:  1986 06 20 – 000048 – OCR …

By Richard Crockett A new week during which we will see the winter solstice come and go! Roll on summer? And more newspaper news from yesteryear with news shared between 1968 and 1997. 1968. Atlantic Hunt for Lone Sailor:  1968 06 19 – Voortrekker 1 & Dalling – OSTAR – 776 – OCR 1970. Mercury Crew Trials Begin:  1970 06 19 – Rio ’71 – Don Pfotenhauer Collection – 468 – OCR 1987. Collision Off Cape Point:  1987 06 19 …

By Richard Crockett Today I am able to share 8 interesting news cuttings. 1987. Yacht Race on Dias’s Route:  1987 06 13 – 000204 1988. Sailors Plucked From Yacht:  1988 06 13 – 10 1990. No Sign of Two Yachtsmen Washed Overboard:  1990 06 13 – 124 1990. Sailing Martin Brothers Strike Huge Log At High Speed:  1990 06 13 – 388 5 1991. Tiny Yachts Ideal for Veranda Vikings:  1991 06 13 – 408 19 1991. SA Yacht in …

By Richard Crockett Another week has just started as the year flies past. It will be a short week for followers of this Blog as I have commitments from Tuesday onwards and will not be able to produce the daily news. Back again next week though. 1968. Dalling Silent in Rough Weather:  1968 06 12 – Voortrekker 1 & Dalling – OSTAR – 775 – OCR 1970. Boys Crew Cape Yacht:  1970 06 12 – Rio 1971 – Don Pfotenhauer …

by Richard Crockett Bringing the week to a close are 7 newspaper cuttings spanning a period of 24 years. 1968. Now Chay Blythe Sails on World Trip:  1968 06 09 – Don Pfotenhauer Collection – 000164 – OCR 1968. Mjojo Sails In:  1968 06 09 – Don Pfotenhauer Collection – 000208 – OCR 1970. Two Schoolboys Will Sail in ‘Cape to Rio’:  1970 06 09 – Rio ’71 – Don Pfotenhauer Collection – 424 – OCR 1985. Galactica Irked by …

by Richard Crockett After a lay-day yesterday it’s back to the news from yesteryear with a selection spread over four decades. Enjoy. 1968. Dalling Believes He is Leading:  1968 06 08 – Voortrekker 1 & Dalling – OSTAR – 779 – OCR 1969. Mr Irvine’s Sea Trip to the Seychelle Islands Ends Down on the Farm:  1969 06 08 606 3 – OCR 1970. Sleek?… Just Wait Till You See Her Sister!:  1970 06 08 – Rio 1971 – Don …

by Richard Crockett 1968. Tabarly Drops Out of Race:  1968 06 06 – Voortrekker 1 & Dalling – OSTAR – 778 – OCR 1976. 121 Men and Four Girls Against the Atlantic:  1976 06 06 – OSTAR front page – _Redacted 1988. Martin Leading Class in Ocean Race:  1988 06 06 – 6 1988. Solo Sailor(ess) Makes Maritime History:  1988 06 06 – 7 1991. Reed, Martin Take the Honours:  1991 06 06 – 408 13

By Richard Crockett Here are a selection of interesting news snippets from around the country. 1971. Prize-giving for Buccaneer Yachtsmen:  1971 06 05 – Billy Leisegang – 002288 – OCR 1985. SA Yacht Momentum Life Arrives in San Diego:  1985 06 05 – 467 1993. Outsailed by Vaalies:  1993 06 05 – 217 1997. Durban’s Regatta Chances Format:  1997 06 05 – 609 2008. Sailing is Pretty Much My Life:  2008 06 05 – 071