News

by Richard Crockett The biggest news of this ‘69 series was that it was a purely Cape event as no out-of-towners entered! “For the first time in the history of the series the Lipton Cup Regatta in Table Bay last month was not an interport event, although this has been the whole basis of the contest since its inception. Only five Cape yachts turned out to do battle. “The beautiful, slender Scandinavian-designed 30 Square Metre made a brave sight, however, …

by Richard Crockett Gale-Beset ‘Lipton’ “The 1968 Lipton Challenge Contest will long be remembered by all who took part in it a one of the toughest and most challenging series of races ever sailed by Thirty Square Metre Class yachts in these or any other waters. “The weather could not have been more unkind. The first race was abandoned due to poor visibility, strong winds and high seas. On the next day (Saturday, June 8) conditions were generally the same …

by Richard Crockett I suppose that one can almost always say that the selected class of Lipton Challenge Cup boat is under threat as people from other classes aspired to compete in what is the most prestige of South African sailing regattas. In the RCOD Class news reports in SA Yachting Magazine it was clear that these owners were keen to become the Lipton Cup Class. This was highlighted indirectly by the incoming President of the 30-Square Metre class by …

by Richard Crockett I do enjoy perusing these old reports as there are so many characters whom I know, some still around, while others have shuffled off and ended their sailing careers. The opening paragraphs of this report were interesting as they brought in so many of the role players, characters and people who simply make the Lipton Cup happen. “Extra glitter was lent to the 1966 Lipton Cup series as it coincided with the granting of the Freedom of …

by Richard Crockett This series was convincingly by ‘Mariquita’ with four victories in five races, and a second. But it was the fourth race in which there was plenty of excitement. This is what the magazine report said about the race: “The course was again leeward-windward, twice up and down 3 ½ miles each leg. “The yachts started on a run. Soon after the start a sudden south-westerly buster came through and the strength of the wind increased from 15 …

By Richard Crockett The Headline in SA Yachting Read: Lipton Cup Goes Once More to ‘Mariquita’. She was sailed by Wilfred Hancock who won the final three races and had a 2 and 3 in the opening exchanges. What the headline does not reveal is that he won his races convincingly. For me though, I was more interested in Durban sailor, Dr Hamish Campbell, attempting to sail his 30-Square to Cape Town for the event. “The most remarkable feature of …

by Richard Crockett This is how John Tungay, reporting on this event, enthused about the 1963 Lipton Challenge Cup series: “The 1963 Lipton cup racing for the Blue Riband of South Africa’s deep-sea yachting waters will be written down in the records as one of the most exciting 30 square metre series ever held. With two of the five races over, who would have thought that Noel Horsfield’s ‘Rapid’, which was lying nearly last on points, was going to win …

by Richard Crockett This event has always been fascinating to follow as there are so many characters involved, plus a very diverse view on how best to sail the boats, and what sails to choose. More so in this 30-Square Metre era than in L26s and now the C31. A number of factors combined to make the 1962 contest an outstanding contribution in the 52nd year of offshore racing for Sir Thomas Lipton’s trophy – and the prime of these …

by Richard Crockett She had a few South African owners, but it was under the ownership of Krasni Sutic that she was prepared for the Rio Race – cutting her departure fine as she suffered damage in a tough storm after rounding Agulhas. But men were tough in those days and the crew, to a man, knuckled down and had her shipshape in time for the start. ‘Cariad’ was designed by A. E. Payne, with her hull constructed of teak …

Pages from 1961 – SA Yachting 07-08 – OCR   by Richard Crockett Port Elizabeth has rarely played host to this event, and in 1961 they grabbed the chance with both hands and did everyone proud by running what from all accounts was a highly enjoyable and entertaining series. The superlatives in the SA Yachting report delivered a positive message, and so wrapped up in this they hardly highlighted the results! However that is inconsequential as the winner was Clube …

by Richard Crockett The headline of the report in SA Yachting magazine very succinctly tells the story that this was an upset win as it said this: “Lipton Cup Goes to Clube Naval – ‘Rapid’ at last vindicates her name, under able handling of experienced skipper Noel Horsfield.” The opening few paragraphs also clearly indicate that Horsfield was an outsider, and went as follows: “Noel Horsfield upset all prophecies by winning the 1960 Lipton Cup series at Durban for Clube …

by Richard Crockett As the Lipton Challenge Cup will take place from 16 – 21 August in Saldanha Bay, it’s now time to ramp up coverage of the old historic events. I have already recently covered the 1958, 1993, 1994 & 1995 events, the latter three all being contested in Saldanha Bay, and these can be viewed in the SAILING Mag Blog – www.sailing.co.za I found a treasure-trove of info in my 1959 Lipton File, and especially found the “Contest” …

by Richard Crockett Following the enormously successful Crystic Holiday 23 “Worlds” at Port Owen during Easter last year, (reported on yesterday in “Talking Sailing”), and considering the fact that there are over fifty Holiday 23’s in the Transvaal, it was not surprising that an event of a similar nature was held closer to home for these Transvaal trailer-sailer enthusiasts. The “Worlds” and “Masters” are not ordinary regattas, with the aim being to provide enjoyment while experimenting with a variety of …

by Richard Crockett When I came across the reference to the 1988 Holiday 23 Worlds over the weekend while scanning SAILING Mag into my archives, it brought back many really good memories as I competed in the event with John Robertson and Jerry Caine, the builders of this magnificent little boat. I had little hesitation in accepting their offer to be the foredeck hand during the event, and still today marvel at just how exciting it was, and how so …

by Richard Crockett It seems as if there was loads of acrimony in the local sailing scene in 1984 and 1985 as yesterday I highlighted the problems at The Culemborg Spring Regatta on False Bay, and now the above headline highlights more. This time it was during Rothmans Week of 1984. The best way to open this is to quote the opening two paragraphs of the report written by John Fensham: “Like World War I, last month’s Rothman’s Week was …