On This Day – 2 March. A Newspaper History of Sailing

by Richard Crockett

From the overwhelming response I receive from these posts, from all over the world I may add, 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.

Should you wish to copy, forward or share material from here, PLEASE acknowledge the source as: Sourced From the SAILING Mag Archives & Historical Records.

To read the full reports, click on the LINK following each headline.

1991. “Bertie and John in Peril – Race Storm”. A swirling cold front and 120km winds are racing Springbok yachtsman Bertie Reed to Cape Horn where a Chilean Navy vessel is due to pick up shipwrecked yachtsman John Martin today. ·
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1991 03 02 261

1993. “Solo SA Sailor Puts Off Last Leg Yet Again”. Solo round-the-world yachtsman Anthony Steward was back – yet again – in Port Elizabeth yesterday, ruefully remembering his own prediction that his home waters would be the toughest part of his epic voyage.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1993 03 02 441 2

1994. “ Once Team Mates, Now Opponents”. Two years ago South Africa’s Martin Lambrecht and Durban’s Alec Lanham-Love returned home triumphant from the USA to the acclaim of the South African yachting fraternity as the World Fireball champions.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1994 03 02 343

1998. “Springbok’ Gaan Toetiste Op Vaarte Neem”. ‘n Pragtige groot seilskip kan nou weer gereeld gesien geword tussen Saldanhabaai en Hermanus wanneer die Springbok sei]jagvaarder John Martin toeriste op sy nuwe Groof Bank skoener Sean Paquito II op avontuurlike vaarte neem.
TRANSLATION: “Springbok to Take Tourists on Cruises”. A beautiful big sailing ship can now be seen regularly between Saldanha Bay and Hermanus when the Springbok sailor John Martin takes tourists on his new Grand Banks schooner Sean Paquito II on adventurous voyages.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1998 03 02 652

2005. “African Challenge for America’s Cup”. South Africa’s America’s Cup Challenge in 2007 is the first African challenge in the 153-year history of the event and will sport a totally representative crew on a new state-of-the-art racing yacht designed and built in South Africa.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  2005 03 02 767

2011. “Rio-wenner Hinkepink Kaap Toe Na Storm”. Die Kaapse skipper Gerry Hegie en sy drie-bemanningslede op die erg beskadigde seiljag After You het ‘n kwaai storm 800 seemyl van die afgelee eiland Tristan da Cunha oorleef en·hoop om binne die volgende twee weke terug in Tafelbaai te wees.
TRANSLATION: . “Rio Winner Stumbling Towards Cape After Storm”. The Cape skipper Gerry Hegie and his three crew members on the severely damaged yacht After You survived a fierce storm 800 nautical miles from the remote island of Tristan da Cunha and hope to be back in Table Bay within the next two weeks.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  2011 03 02 792

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.

Should you wish to copy, forward or share material from here, PLEASE acknowledge the source as: Sourced From the SAILING Mag Archives & Historical Records.

From the overwhelming response I receive from these posts, from all over the world I may add, 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, 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 do, 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 10 000 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

Check Also

“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Playstation’s Round Britain and Ireland Record

By Nick Leggatt The last few sailing record features I have shared have been well …