Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
I am scanning and archiving press cuttings I have accumulated and which I guestimate run into tens of thousands! A daunting task which I believe to be necessary as for many years I have been concerned about the lack of interest Clubs, Classes and other sailing related organisations give to preserving their history.
This is my personal crusade to save the rich history of our sport, and to share it in the hope that you will enjoy reminiscing, and learning more.
To read the full reports, click on the LINK following the headline.
1985. “Bad Luck Dogs Race Fleet; Radio Reception in Howard Davis Poor”. Three yachts have been forced to retire from the 1985 South Atlantic race and there is still an almost complete blackout on positions as the depleted fleet of 33 heads for Uruguay.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1985 01 09 320 104
1987. “Australia IV Left High and Dry After Disqualification”. Australia IV was yesterday disqualified from its victory over Kookaburra III, leaving its place in the America’s Cup defender final hanging on yet other international yacht jury decision.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1987 01 09 10_Redacted
1990. “Poupon Lauds Bertie for Decision to Quit”. A bitterly disappointed Bertie Reed confirmed yesterday that, after a night of agonising, he had finally decided to retire from the Globe Challenge round-the-world race “because I do not want to put other people’s lives at risk”.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1990 01 09 383 6
1992. “No Money, No Glory for SA Sailors”. Crippling financial costs have ended the Olympic dreams of top South African catamaran sailors – including the World Hobie 16 Champions, David Kruyt and Michelle van der Merwe – just two weeks before the team trials in Durban.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1992 01 09 415 12
1993. “Cape to Rio Battles to Stay Afloat”. Sponsorships for yachts competing in the Rothmans Cape To Rio race have plummeted to less than 30 percent compared to the average of between 60 percent and 70 percent in other yacht races held in recent years, says Cape Royal Yacht Club commodore David Abromowitz.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1993 01 09 372
1993. “Yachtsmen Get Ready for Start of Race to Rio”. Top yachtsmen in the Rothman’s Cape-to-Rio race have been working against the clock to be ready for today’s start of the 3 600 mile race – and disappointed they were unable to see the sights of Cape Town.
To read the full report, Click on the following LINK: 1993 01 09 374
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 8500 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
