News

I have a complete set of SA Yachting magazines, plus a set of SAILING mags available to give to a worthy cause, organisation, club or individual. No charge, other than they must be collected from me. Contact Richard Crockett. Email: editor@sailing.co.za

by Richard Crockett Having scanned a few Saldanha Dinghy pics into my archives in recent weeks if felt it prudent to share this 1976 editorial written by Colin Farlam. I must admit to being sympathetic to the following statement: “A far cry from the ‘ironing board’ and ‘coffin’ like sailboats of today, the Sea Scout ‘Saldanha’ dinghy is, by comparison, a real boat.” With it’s gunter rig, reef points, mild steel plates and oars it is an anachronism reminiscent of …

by Richard Crockett And now for something completely different! Today I will share the complete Yachtsman RSA magazine from November 1976 as it is crammed full of good reports and a massive spread of pics from the Minister’s Cup on the Vaal Dam. This is the content: • PYC Opening Race • It’s a Crew’s Life • Tornado Champs, Tvl. • Cobra Mk II Boat Test • Flamenca Go One Design • A Hot One From Fred Scholtz • Buying …

by Richard Crockett I cannot find reference as to why ‘Sundancer’ was an unofficial entry in the 1976 Cape to Rio race. Maybe it’s just that she was simply too big at 32 metres LOA. She was long and sleek, and in a strange way quite attractive. This is how she was described by Colin Farlam who reviewed her back in 1976. “As an unofficial’ entry in the Rio race, the visiting staysail schooner ‘Sundancer’ will start well after the …

by Richard Crockett Last week I covered the 1956 SAYRA National Regatta at Zeekoe Vlei, and today cover, in brief, the SA Interclub Regatta held at Victoria Lake Club in 1948. These events were taken very seriously then as the A5-sized brochure ran to 44 pages. Of specific interest from that brochure is the history of the South African Yacht Racing Association, and the history of the Victoria Lake Club – both reproduced below. Interesting too is the page of …

by Richard Crockett I know that 1975 was a long time ago, but there is a good pic of the SA Admiral’s Cup team plus a great pic of ‘Golden Fleece’ with “all the washing flying” – mainsail, spinnaker and blooper. Many a modern-day yachtie is unlikely to know about the blooper – so check it out in this report. The best SA yacht was ‘Frigate’ skippered by Bobby Bongers, and with her low rating she was competitive n the …

by Richard Crockett Now here’s a great selection of regatta reports from days of yore as compiled in the June 1975 issue of Yachtsman RSA (the newspaper – remember it?). The RCOD Nationals were won by Craig Middleton on ‘Schatzi’. The Soling Nationals were a humdinger with Don Ord retaining his title. The Fireballs completed a Worlds selection regatta off East London with Geoff Meek, Les Nathanson, Terry Clarence and Walter Davey being selected. Lex Raas, Steve Meek and Mike …

by Richard Crockett Multiclass National regattas have always intrigued me as I firmly believe that the camaraderie built at those events, as too the memories, last a lifetime. These used to be regular affairs with the earliest reference I have being the 1952 National Regatta on Table Bay, from 17 to 29 March when 70 boats and 14 Clubs competed. They also formed the selection regatta for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. It is interesting that SAYRA (South African Yacht Racing …

by Richard Crockett In the shared “old keelboat pics” recently, mention was made of a vessel named ‘Agbwe’, and the fact that three identical vessels were built alongside each other in Johannesburg. Today I can share that brief story, plus ‘Agbwe’s’ first cruise up the East coast of South Africa, stopping in Lourenco Marques ultimately heading for Madagascar. The three boats were, in 1966, the brainchild of three engineers, John Lomas, Robin Wardrop and one who chose to remain anonymous, …

by Richard Crockett On a few occasions in the last week ‘Mischief’ has been depicted or mention in this Blog, with Frans Loots advising that she belonged at one point to Major Bill Tilman. The name probably means little to most, yet he was an extraordinary man who was a mountaineer and explorer, renowned for his Himalayan climbs and sailing voyages. He purchased the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter ‘Mischief’ 1954, and subsequently had other pilot cutters named ‘Sea Breeze’ and …

by Richard Crockett Last week I posted several pics of keelboats from back in the day and received some good feedback from followers of this Blog, so feel that it’s now time to consolidate all those and share the info even further. My sincere thanks to all who responded. There seem to have several budding historians out there with a good knowledge of our past sailing history. “Agbwe’. Frans Loots says that ‘Agbwe’ was a steel yacht, one of two …

by Richard Crockett At a loss for where to stat the week in term of archive material I went back to our roots and have chosen several pages from the very first issue of Yachtsman RSA newspaper in 1975 as its main headline screamed “350 yachts sail in False Bay National”, plus there are reports on the Finns, Fireballs, Flying Dutchman and 505 nationals. If anything these pages are something of a “blast from the past” as so many names …

by Richard Crockett This is the last batch of old sailing keelboats for a while, so please enjoy them and feel free to REPLY, SHARE & COMMENT. Vanity. She belonged to an RCYC member and is seen sailing here in Saldanha Bay. Viking. She is seen here starting the Simonstown to Port Elizabeth Race which started on 26 December 1958. She was skippered then by Fred Smithers. Wylo. This was Frank Wightman’s yacht moored in Saldanha Bay. Zeeslang. She was …

by Richard Crockett Well the old pics from yesterday certainly brought back memories, so thanks to all those who commented online and to those who called me and have promised to send additional info. It’s all good material to get the juices working and the brain cell scratching! So another 10 today – here goes. ‘Parergon III’. All I know is that this pic shows she was mooring in Port Elizabeth having taken line honours in the race from Simonstown …

by Richard Crockett Here’s a collection of pics of old ocean going yachts to enjoy. If anyone has any info on any of these, please share it with me personally (email: editor@sailing.co.za) or use the REPLY button. ‘Abgwe’ I know nothing about. ‘Appledore’ was an international yacht which called at Durban and Cape Town during her circumnavigation. ‘Andante’, if it is indeed the same yacht, was once registered in Durban and owned by a B M McKenzie and was of …