Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline.
This was a very low news day over many years – so short ‘n sweet today.
There is a delightful story about Hammond, the Durban ferry driver long before the walk-on marinas were in place, and when one had to either dinghy or ferry to one’s yacht.
‘Yeoman 27′ was due to arrive from the UK in Cape Town in sufficient time to prepare it for Rothmans Week.
Commodore of the day, Dave Booth, outlined the future of the Point Yacht Club to members.
1969. “Handy Hammond”. Let me introduce you to one of the true “characters” of the Durban Yacht Basin. That is, if you don’t already know him, for he is known to many – and, I’ll wager, knows far more people than they do him.
ED. This is a delightful report about a delightful character whom I knew well. Craggy faced and a big smile on occasions, he was out in all weather, day and night, driving the ferry boat long before the walk-on marinas were installed.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1969 11 22 607 2
1985. “Famous British Yacht for Cape Event”. A top British state-of-the-art yacht, the Yeoman 27 (XXVII), on which Prince Philip of England regularly sails, will arrive in Cape Town on December 3 in time to compete in this year’s Rothmans Week regatta.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1989 11 22 a 380 6
1997. “Point Yacht Club Looks to the Future”. The Commodore and general committee at Point Yacht Club held a general meeting for the members on Monday this week to explain their vision for the future of the club and what measures they are taking to ensure its long-term viability.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1997 11 22 451
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. Rathmines 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 4000 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.
Comments and contributions are welcome. Email: editor@sailing.co.za
The possibilities are endless – so watch this space.
