Sailing Magazine
A Blast from the Past
On this page are pics and images from our archives that we think may be of interest to readers, as they may have made it into the pages of either SAILING or SA Yachting magazines. We invite readers’ comments, information about the pics and even clarification on information we may have regarding the pics, the people and the boats featured.
All comments and contributions to: editor@sailing.co.za
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. SA’s Most Enduring Keelboat
by Richard Crockett Most people who sail in this country have heard of the Mistral keelboat. Strong in numbers on inland waterways, the Mistral was often the first taste of keelboat sailing many received. In 1971, some 53 years ago, legendary boatbuilder, Fred Raas, father of Lex, launched ‘Ponjaart’ – a wooden prototype Mistral on …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Into the Unknown
By Richard Crockett The 2017 America’s Cup report I have chosen to share today is pretty darn pertinent with the finals of the 37th cup due to start later this week. Plus, it shows just how far the “yachts” (can we really call them that?) and technology have progressed in just 7 years. Since the …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Cruising with Caprice
By Richard Crockett ‘Caprice’ was a landmark boat at RCYC before being purchased by Anthony Dancig, refitted and sailed to the Caribbean. ‘Caprice’ was built around 1930 by Louw & Halvorsen in the Cape Town docks and she may have been the oldest surviving South African-built pilot cutter. During the 1950s and 60s she was …
“Talking Sailing” from my archives. 1998/99 Volvo Youth Worlds
by Richard Crockett It’s been 25 years since this regatta when South African sailor Gareth Blanckenberg won the Laser Class on home waters, taking the Youth World title for himself. He showed great speed throughout the regatta, but really got into his stride when he won race 4. In the 11-race series he counted three …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Mid-Atlantic Rundown
By Richard Crockett Imagine being run down by a ship – and surviving that ordeal? This is exactly what happened to Tony and Terry English whose 34 foot steel yacht was run down in the dark by a Lithuanian freighter. For Tony, coming to terms with the ordeal has took time. For months he had …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Zeeslang’s 1958 Dassen Island Race
By Richard Crockett For the past three days I have shared info on ‘Zeeslang’ – a remarkable yacht which evokes many memories every time her name is mentioned. In Part 3 of her restoration series, there was mention of several races in which she specifically excelled. These are not easy to find, although I have …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. History & Restoration of Zeeslang – Part 3
by Richard Crockett We are now at the point where ‘Zeeslang’s’ restoration had been completed and the boat was ready for launching. It was fortuitous that there was a delay of a few months before this third part of the story was published as, “inevitably a touch of nostalgia creeps in with the historical. Part …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. History & Restoration of Zeeslang – Part 2
by Richard Crockett Bernard Diebold, apart from his active sailing interest and ability, had developed an interest in the history and design of yachts, with particular reference to van de Stadt. While in Amsterdam on a visit he made a research trip to the Maritime Museum, unearthing valuable information. In particular he was searching for …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. History & Restoration of Zeeslang – Part 1
By Richard Crockett I was planning to share the restoration of ‘Zeeslang’ with you today, but on researching the subject I realised that there was more to this fascinating boat than just her restoration. I also realised that in 2005, 19 years ago now, Charles Paice had written extensively on the subject for SAILING magazine. …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Zeeslang – Ahead of Her Time
By Richard Crockett Anyone who follows the history of our sport will know, or at least, has heard the name ‘Zeeslang’. She is a legendary yacht which has touched the hearts of many, and after a very tough racing career has been restored on several occasions. Today she is in pristine condition – and that’s …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. The Return of the Spray
By Richard Crockett Most followers of this Blog know the name ‘Spray’ and also that of Joshua Slocum. But how many know the name Guy Bernardin? In his day Bernardin was once the epitome of the hardened solo sailor. Since those days he has turned away from racing and returned to where it all started …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. The Evil Eye
By Richard Crockett In the middle of a cyclone, these are the real words exchanged between the crew of ‘Siandra’ as they battled for survival. “We’ve got to pull the storm jib off!” Rains lashed at my face as I struggled to see whether Jamie had heard. Once again I screamed through the roar: “We’re …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Ten Telling Questions
By Richard Crockett Lin and Larry Pardey were the doyens of cruising in their heydays, sailing the world in simple boats sans electronics and equipment requiring power. It was something of a gypsy lifestyle, but one which suited them, and which brought joy and answers to cruising folk the world over who read their very …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Point Wild Revisited
by Richard Crockett Most of us will have at some point in our lives read about Shackleton and ‘Endurance’? In this feature Skip Novak describes an attempt to retrace Shackleton’s voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia. His opening paragraphs read as follows: “The last 36 hours had been heavy going. The Southern Ocean storm …
“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Survivors Battle Home
By Richard Crockett Singlehanded ocean racing is tough, very tough, and is best illustrated by the feature article today of the 1996/97 Vendee Globe race when several yachts capsized and one disappeared without trace. The drama of the Du Bois and Bullimore rescues 1 400 miles south-west of Perth in early January was not matched …
June 2017 issue
by Richard Crockett
I always enjoy browsing through the SAILING Mag archives and looking at the pics of yesteryear as some bring back memories. This month a file named ‘Dragons’ caught my eye as I know they are a popular class in the UK, and knew of one here in Durban. And then close to that file was one marked ‘Enterprise’ – and having sailed one, and restored one, I though it was worth a look especially as one hardly hears about this classic class any longer, despite some top names having owned them.
Pic 1. The caption to this reads: One of South Africa’s two Dragons: **Galatea sailed by Guy Reynolds in Durban. At the next Olympics South Africa hopes to be represented in this class fro the first time.
Now this pic is undated, so can anyone give an indication of that, and the name and home club of the second Dragon in the country?
Pic 2. This is an old pic, dated 1955 – so it was taken over 60 years ago. It was taken during the 1955 Cowes Regatta. The caption says: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (right) pulls in the genoa as his yacht **Bluebottle rounds the Old Castle Buoy. Uffa Fox can be seen in front of The Duke.
Chris Talbot has advised me that this is Trio was owned by Leo Caney. He also said that he was a bailer-boy on Trio in his youth and had to keep his head below deck at all times to keep windage to a minimum. Plus, it appears that Caney had an uncanny knack of running into Enterprises and dismasting them. His crew threatened to notch the tiller for every hit!
Pic 3. A fleet of Enterprise dinghies in close contest. The caption reads: Adam French, the new Highveld champion, being closely followed by Carlo Brovelli and Maurice Hare.
Does anyone know if Adam French still sails?
Pic 4. The Enterprise was always a tough old boat to sail in a breeze. This pic, taken in 1975 at the Enterprise Highveld Champs on Florida Lake, has this caption: Brian Downham and crew hanging out well in their Enterprise whilst sailing through a gust at Florida Lake.
Brian Downham was a dab-hand in most classes he sailed.
Responses to Previous Issues
Johan Van Rooyen
April 2017 issue pic 1 pg 28
L- R are Suzette Anderson, then Kate Steward. I am not sure who the third person is. I believe it was when they sailed **Fouchini Girl in the Cape to Rio Race.
Rob Martin
April 2017 issue pg 28
Regarding the Sprog pics, the 1969 Champion at Allemanskraal Dam was John Mackay on ‘Stagalee’. I was his crew.
‘Stagalee’ was the first Sprog with Highfield levers and an adjustment at the foot of the mast including a cunningham cringle at the Jib. It was first owned by Bryan Metcalf and then purchased by the Mackay’s.
John and his brother Daniel won the Graduate National Championship in Lourenco Marques in the early Sixties. I think he was then twelve or fourteen years old. After that he competed in ‘Stagalee’.
He is the brother-in–law of the Tarboton family who sail at Midmar.
John Mackay’s swansong was the Saint Helena Race where he crewed for John Levine on a Stadt34 – the average age of the crew was in the middle sixty’s – and the old buggers showed the way!
