Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
I am scanning and archiving press cuttings I have accumulated and which I guestimate run into tens of thousands! A daunting task which I believe to be necessary as for many years I have been concerned about the lack of interest Clubs, Classes and other sailing related organisations give to preserving their history.
From the overwhelming response I have received to these posts in the past few days the interest is cranking up rapidly and I am being connected with some wonderful people thirsty for more. Thank you all who have made contact.
This is my personal crusade to save the rich history of our sport, and to share it in the hope that you will enjoy reminiscing, and learning more.
To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline.
1985. “Atlantic Racers Slowed by Calm”. Most of·the 35 ocean racers in the Cape to Uruguay found themselves becalmed early yesterday after ‘Saturday’s flying start.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1985 01 14 597
1985. “Tiny Yacht on Way Round World”. Sixty-year old Mr Dick Wallace, sailing around the world in a tiny 6,4 – metre boat, was breathing a sigh of relief in Port Elizabeth today.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1985 01 14 320 105
1986. Dirty Business Down At the Yacht Club”. Although shipping coal is a good business, it is also a dirty business for anyone who happens to have a yacht moored at the Royal Cape Yacht Club.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1986 01 14 926
1986. “177 Yachts in Natal Inter-Schools Regatta”. Excitement is running high at Midmar Dam in preparation for one of the biggest events in local dinghy sailing – the 1986 Natal InterSchools Regatta.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1986 03 14 010
1988. “Hobie Sailors Out in Force At Mossel Bay”. Hobie sailors will be out in force at the Diaz in Mossel Bay where they have combined with Standard Bank to put on what is potentially the most exciting Hobie national championship ever.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1988 01 14.
1991. “Record Entry for Round the Island Race?”. Thousands to compete in sailing’s ‘Comrades”. Excitement is mounting for the 32nd Wilbur Ellis Round the Island Race Regatta, which will take place in Deneysville no Sunday January 20.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1991 01 14 401 18_Redacted
1992. “It Takes A Model Man to Construct A Masterpiece”. The mere mention of model ships makes modellers around the world think of Bobby Lightley of Cape Town.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1992 01 14 415 20
1993. “Rio Favourites Celebrate Lead”. Champagne corks popped aboard Broomstick yesterday as the SA Navy yacht was the first to cross the Greenwich meridian in the Rothman’s Cape-to-Rio race.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1993 01 14 245
1993. “Taylor Finds His Sea Legs and Sings”. Folk singer and self-confessed sailing novice Nick Taylor found his sea legs on the high seas for the first time yesterday – and celebrated the breakthrough by composing a sailing song.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1993 01 14 pg 2 245_Redacted
2009. “Dismasted Yacht Safely Undertow to St Helena Island”. Running With Scissors, the 21-foot Governor’s Cup Race competitor that lost its mast in rough seas about 300 miles south of St-Helena late on Sunday, is safely under tow behind the Australian yacht La Boheme and heading for safe anchorage off Jamestown.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 2009 01 14 549
Comments and contributions are welcome. Email: editor@sailing.co.za
What is “On this Day” About?
I am busy archiving many boxes of press cuttings I have accumulated and which I guestimate run into tens of thousands! A daunting task which I believe to be necessary before ditching them as I have been concerned for many years about the lack of interest Clubs, Classes and other sailing related organisations give to preserving their history.
This is my personal crusade, and instead of simply archiving and keeping the contents away from prying eyes, I will share my spoils in the hope that you will enjoy reminiscing as much as I have, and continue to do as I wade through the labourious process of scanning each and every cutting in my archives.
As each scanned cutting will be searchable, I will be able to create presentation packs personally tailored to a persons exact requirements – ie. Rothmans Week, the NCS Regatta, the Rio Race, Mauritius Race, Vasco da Gama Race and more – or simply by the name of an individual (like Ant Steward and his open boat exploits) who want a record of his/her sailing career for the family archives.
I have already done this by scanning in excess of 8500 pages of material I have on ‘Voortrekker’ – from idle chatter, to concept, to the formation of what ultimately became the South African Ocean Racing Trust (SAORT), to the fruition of the 1968 OSTAR Race in which Bruce Dalling and ‘Voortrekker’ excelled – and even beyond that.
The possibilities are endless – so watch this space.
Comments and contributions are welcome. Email: editor@sailing.co.za
