by Richard Crockett
“On This Day” finishes on Wednesday
For the past 12 months I have steadfastly, every single day, published “On This Day – A Newspaper History of Sailing”. Now is the time to call it quits and change the theme and content.
I have found the history contained in the newspaper cuttings I have at my disposal to have been very interesting and informative, and judging by the following this Blog has, so do you!
The new theme will continue to inform on the history of the sport, and will take information from the multiple resources I have at my disposal. These include every single copy of SA Yachting magazine which started in 1957, to the final issue of SAILING Magazine which ceased publishing in July 2017. That’s 60 years worth of history there alone. Plus I have copies of Yachtsman RSA which began life as a newspaper and ended its life as a magazine in 1984. Add in my extensive photo library, my reference library of thousands of books on sailing – and there is enough material to weave together some magical Blogs.
So please don’t abandon ship just yet, please read the new offerings with an open mind as they are published, and should you enjoy them please like and share as far and wide as possible.
I have a plea as I endeavour to collate the history of our sport in this country which sadly gets tossed in trash bins far too regularly. Please assist me by sharing with me your personal archives, pics, press cuttings and whatever, so that I can scan them, share them and preserve them. My promise is that I will treat all material sent to me with the utmost care, and get it back to you safely.
Finally, should you wish to copy, forward or share material from this Blog, PLEASE acknowledge the source as: Sourced From the SAILING Mag Archives & Historical Records (www.sailing.co.za)
To read the full reports, click on the LINK following each headline.
1985. “Durban Yacht May be Disqualified”. The lawns of the Grand Baie Yacht Club in Mauritius, hosts of the Beachcomber ocean yacht race between Mauritius and Durban, were bright with sails yesterday as the crews of the 19-strong fleet carried out final equipment checks.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1985 09 28 417
1985. “We’ll Win Round the World Race, Says Kuttel”. Yachtsman Padda Kuttel took a mouthful of the sponsor’s beer and smiled happily.
“My·greatest dread about the Round-the-World race?
“Coming second.” He paused. “But that’s unlikely. We’re going to win.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1985 09 28 417
1991. “Titsiano Flies Flag for Hout Bay Club”. Only Cinzano Titsiano prevented Royal Cape Yacht Club from sweeping the boards at last weekend’s First Bowring Double Cape Yacht race.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1991 09 28 737
1991. “French Yachts Surge Into Lead”. The Reunion Island yacht which dropped out of touch with the Crystic Beachcomber Crossing race headquarters has bounced back into the lead, making it a first and second for the French boats as the fleet closes in on Durban.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1991 09 28 739
1991. “Cruel Blow for Coldcor”. Reunion’s 12 DU DTP continued to lead the Crystic Beachcomber fleet on handicap yesterday, but her compatriot, UFA, could face a penalty up to 10 hours, and Capetonians Ian Martin on Shandrani and Greg Davis on AMC Classic Challenger are snapping at their heels.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1991 09 28 743
1991. “Crystic Crossing”. ‘Beer-and-bikini cruise, it’s not’. Since its inception in 1985, The Crystic Beachcomber Crossing race – from Grand Baie, Mauritius, to Durban – has evolved into one of the toughest ocean races on the calender.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1991 09 28 746
2004. “Shosholoza·crewman Loses Tip of Finger”. Cape Town yachtsman Sieraj Jacobs has lost the tip of a finger in an accident aboard South Africa’s America’s Cup yacht Shosholoza in Spain.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 2004 09 28 493
2004. “Yachtswoman Forced to Turn Back”. Turbulent weather at the weekend forced a record-setting Bathurst yachtswoman to make an unscheduled stop here.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 2004 09 28 495
2011. “Crew Tell of Ocean Ordeal”. “When Murphy set foot aboard, everything that could go wrong, did.”
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 2011 09 28 219
Comments, thoughts and contributions are welcome. Email: editor@sailing.co.za