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Pages from 1973 10 – SA Yachting – OCR by Richard Crockett By now the “Buc” class had become well established and championship regattas were becoming more of the norm. It was at this regatta that the name Bertie Reed came to the fore in the class as he was referred to then as the “cock of the fleet” – as he won the event. Maybe it was his “secret rigging adjustments, as mentioned in the text, that helped him …

by Richard Crockett Well the Buccaneer posts have struck a chord with several readers. Delighted to have been able to tickle the tastebuds and awaken the brain cells! There’s lot’s more to come in the days ahead, so stay tuned as they say in the classics. Week-long regattas in those days, the very early ‘70s, were few and far between, so the organising committee took some strain getting it all together as the following paragraph from the report shows: “Tubby …

by Richard Crockett In searching the archives there are many interesting tidbits of info on the Class, like the Class President throwing his toys when the scribe mentioned in a report that the class was not happy with SAYRA and would rather be administered by CASA! What is certain is that politics played a key role in the sport way back in the ‘60s. I did discover a report on the very first W.P.S.A. champs for R.C.O.D.s and Buccaneers. Sadly …

by Richard Crockett An avid follower of my scribblings is David Staniforth who recently mentioned that I should give the Buccaneer keelboat class some coverage as he fondly remembers his time sailing them in tough conditions in False Bay. It’s easier said than done as try spelling the name Buccaneer? Not so easy as it has been written in several different ways over the years, so one has to word-search every option to drill down deep into the digital archives …

by Richard Crockett This time it was the Miura ‘Moonshine’ skippered by Tony Abbott which took the overall honours from Bobby Bonger’s ‘Impact’. As always with multiple starts, one at each of the starting clubs, conditions were naturally different, yet this is what makes the race so unique and challenging. The RCYC starters had hardly any wind at all at the start, while others enjoyed a good South Easter. READ THE SA YACHTING REPORT HERE:  Pages from 1985 11 – …

by Richard Crockett Known as a very tough race, this was a year in which Aeolus had some sympathy, and mercy, for the fleet, and provided lightish conditions. “The Table Bay starters had a raucous start under spinnaker when the maxi ‘Rampant II’ (Alan Tucker) and ‘Cherry Blossom’ (Padda Kuttel) crossed the fleet on starboard and had the smaller port starters head to wind with their spinnakers aback. Alan Tucker the skipper and owner of Rampant II flew out specially …

by Richard Crockett Another race and memories from the previous year still fresh in many memories, the threat of bad weather loomed with a south-easter and high spring tides a distinct possibility. Rob Meek said this in concluding his written report: “This year’s Dekro Double Cape Race will be remembered as a race of perfect sailing conditions and a lavish sociable prize giving”. READ THE REPORT HERE:  Pages from 1983 11 – SA Yachting – OCR  

by Richard Crockett The headline really does no justice to the brave souls who took on the Double Cape race in 1982. Yes there was a gale, but the winds gusted at 50 knots and just 9 of the 64-boat fleet managed to “double the Cape”. That’s a massive attrition rate. The best into to this race is from Yachtsman RSA magazine, written by John Fensham. It goes like this: “When they left moorings the wind was a gentle 15 …

by Richard Crockett I have heard whispered that the Double Cape Race is back again this weekend. Whispered I suppose as those competing would like to keep this fact from Aeolus – and the winds in their favour. Now this is a tough race which was founded in 1981, and is unique in that it takes in four clubs, as well as competitors having to “double” Cape Point twice, and has starting lines at all four clubs. I dug out …

by Richard Crockett Unlike some previous races which were either belters with plenty of wind, or benign with not enough, this was one of those that threw the book at the competitors and gave them a taste of everything Aeolus has to offer. 40-50 knots off Cape Point, to drifters and periods of little or no wind and several dismastings just for good measure. How wonderful ocean racing really is! John Martin took ‘Voortrekker’ to another line honours victory, while …

by Richard Crockett It certainly appear from reading these Agulhas Race reports that every alternate race is a good one – or bad way depending on how you view good and bad! The 1980 race was a pretty light affair, the 1982 one a far more boisterous affair in which John Martin and his crew pushed ‘Voortrekker II’ to the absolute limit, breaking the race record and taking line honours as well as second spot overall. Talks of 50 knot …

by Richard Crockett Ocean racing is not just about long passages, relentless upwind work and gale force wind, but about ingenuity and the ability to effect repairs effectively at sea with the materials one has aboard. Well this is how Neil Bailey’s ‘Sensation’ won the Agulhas Race. They broke their forestay shortly after the start and headed downwind to assess the situation and effect repairs. Lesser crew would have baled out there and then and gone home to drown their …

by Richard Crockett Yesterday I reported that there were some poor decisions made by the Race Committee regarding the winner of the 1978 race, but this time round Jerry Whitehead and his crew thoroughly deserved the elusive “double” victory of overall handicap and line honours wins. 34 yachts crossed the start line, and that figure would have been closer to the 40 mark had a few casualties during Rothmans Week not pulled out. As always the weather played a prominent …

by Richard Crockett Another Agulhas Race, and more accounts of strong headwinds, exhilarating downwind sleigh-rides, tough conditions generally and fine seamanship. And least we forget the RCOD ‘Spray’ with her remarkable 25-hour dash from Mossel Bay to the finish line in False Bay. Now that must have been the ride of a lifetime! Sadly there is little mention of the time allowance given to Dieter Mielke’s ‘Inshallah’ for standing by a dismasted competitor, suffice to say it appears to have …

by Richard Crockett Today most yachties look down their noses at the Miura as a dog of a boat, yet back in its day it was winning Rothmans Week and now the very tough Agulhas Race too. Talk of 29 hours of beating would put anyone off ocean racing, but this is what the crew of ‘Sundance Kid’ endured in winning the 1976 race. Going to weather is as much part of ocean racing as is downwind sailing. We all …