On This Day – 26 February. 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.

1970. “Seiljaggie Vir Kinders”. Die eerste seiljagwedvaart waaraan net kinders deelgeneem het, het pas op Zeekoevlei plaasgevind.
TRANSLATION: “Sailboat For Kids”. The first yacht race that only children took part in took place on Zeekoevlei.
ED. This is a wonder article, with some great pics of Dabchick sailing in 1970.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1970 02 26 dabchick 814

1986. “Kuttel Pulls Away From Fleet”. ·The Cape-based maxi Atlantic Privateer was dodging icebergs on the fringe of the “Screaming Sixties” yesterday, way ahead of the rest of the Whitbread Round-the World fleet and flying with a freezing wind, towards Cape Horn.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1986 02 26 992

1988. “ Hout Bay Havoc: Yachts Damaged”. A new tunnyboat sank, a luxury motoryacht and several other yachts were damaged and part of a floating marina was submerged during an easterly gale which hit Hout Bay on Wednesday night.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1988 02 26 710

1992. “Watersports Round-Up”. Last week’s Mykonos offshore race will be remembered as the occasion when the two heavyweight yachts of South Africa finally squared up in a winner-takes-all contest.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1992 02 26 874

1997. “Women Skippers Predict Strong Showing At Regatta”. The four women skippers competing in the first international keel boat Yachting World Championships, to be held in SA next month, said they were not fazed by the male-dominated entry list and predicted placings in the top half of the 48-strong fleet of yachts.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:   1997 02 26 448

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