On This Day – 7 July. 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.

1990. “Henry Ellens and His Crew Win Crystic Trophy”. The Crystic Ocean Challenge raced off Durban this week again provided yachtsmen with one of the most exciting regattas on the local racing circuit.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1990 07 07 389 10

1991. “Two Records for Open-boat – Sailor Now for the Pacific”. ·The speeding supertanker was so close that Durban yachtsman Anthony Steward literally had to fend it off with his hands – and that’s just one of the numerous adventures in his epic open-boat Atlantic crossing.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1991 07 07 282

1991. “Narrow Escape in Tanker Wave”. Anthony Steward sits in the cockpit of the cockleshell yacht studying his nautical almanac, eye-stinging beads of sweat drip down his neck and bare chest.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1991 07 07 284

1992. “Close Duels As Skippers Battle for Top Places”. Light winds marred the·second day of the Crystic Week yachting regatta yesterday and resulted in the course being shortened for four classes.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1992 07 07 366

1993. “Regatta Favourites Avoid Upsets”. The NCS regatta enjoyed perfect sailing conditions yesterday with the wind filling in from the north-east allowing the fleet to get off in a steady 12 knots. ‘The wind increased after the start to 15 knots and with a slight swell, racing was magnificent, close and tactical.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1993 07 07 380

1993. “Geoff Meek Faces Acid Test”. South African champion Geoff Meek and a crack local crew on the South African built record-breaking Rio race winning maxi, Broomstick, started the New York-to-London race on Saturday in a nine-yacht fleet which also included the world ‘s most famous yachtsman, American Dennis Conner.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1993 07 07 557

1994. “Southern Suburbs Teenagers in World Yachting Tourney”. Eight South Africans, including three southern suburbs teenagers, have left to compete in the Youth World Yachting championships taking place in Greece.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK:  1994 07 07 639

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