On This Day – 21 June. 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.

1968. “French Yachtsman Rescued in Atlantic”. Fit and well after days after days in rough seas.
French yachtsman Joan de Kat, 27, was rescued last night in the Atlantic, the Defence Ministry reported. He had drifted alone in his dinghy since his three-hulled yacht broke up.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1968 06 21 – OSTAR 769

1968. “Current Hits Lone Voyager”. The ocean voyage of Hugo Vihlen, so close to triumphant conclusion, apparently fell prey to the swift current in the Gulf Stream last night and the sailor, almost home from the sea, went bobbing north of his destination.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1968 06 21 COMBINED573 27

1982. “Four W Cape Yachts for Lipton Cup”. Four of the eight yachts contesting the newly-revived Lipton Cup at Durban next month, have been entered by Western Cape yacht clubs.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1982 06 21 – Lipton Cup – 717

1982. “Fuel Free Off to A Scorching Start”. With champagne cascading over her bows, Fuel Free, the Point Yacht Club entry for the Lipton Cup, was launched this weekend.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1982 06 21 – Lipton Cup – 721

1988. “Easier Access to the Island”. Robben Island has recently been made more accessible to South African yachtsmen and at least 50 yachts have visited the island during the past two months.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1988 06 21 15

1990. “Martin brothers ahead, but …”. Positions of yachts racing in the two-man Transatlantic race from Plymouth to Newport are stumping the race organisers as yachtsmen fail to report their positions regularly.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1990 06 21 388 11

2001. “Keen Youngsters Sail with Fathers”. Albert Falls Yacht Club sailed their Father’s Day Fun Sail in very light winds at the weekend.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  2001 06 21 996

2010. “Gulf Coast Steamed Up Over BP Chief’s Yachting Weekend”. It could have been a turnaround week in BP’s campaign to convince the public that it is doing everything possible to contain the damage from the worst offshore oil spill in US history.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  2010 06 21 074

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 18 000 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