Sailing Magazine
Richard Crockett
Upfront – apologies for the break in transmission yesterday, but Eskom was doing routine maintenance for the day in our area yesterday. We were informed that ‘the juice’ would be off from 08h00 until 16h00 – and it was – all very efficient by Eskom.
So as a bonus I will include a cutting from 1 October, and the balance for today.
Enjoy looking back at the rich history our sport has in this country, and indeed the world.
John Martin and Bertie Reed. 1 October 1990. The Daily News and the Star both reported about John Martin and Bertie Reed who were competing in the BOC Challenge. The Daily News reported that John Martin was 3rd and Bertie Reed 9th.
However the Star reported that both had ‘serious setbacks’. Read all about it HERE: 1990 10 01 – John Martin and Bertie Reed. 1 October 1990.
Indian Ocean Beachcomber Crossing. 1985. The Mercury reported that the race favourite ‘Royal Palm’, skippered by David Abromowitz, held a 30nm lead. Read all about it HERE: 1985 10 02 -Indian Ocean Beachcomber Crossing. 1985.
Point Yacht Club Results. 1986. I have included these for no other reason than there are many familiar names amongst those results. Read all about it HERE: 1986 02 10 – Point Yacht Club Results. 1986.
Patrick Holloway & Gary Farrow. 1989. The Cape Times reported on the Stannic Southstar Race to St Helena Island – and the fact that Holloway and Farrow had out-manoeuvred the fleet. Read all about it HERE: 1989 02 10 – Patrick Holloway & Gary Farrow. 1989.
Ant Steward. 1993. Oosterlig newspaper and others reported that Steward was being treated for a rare disease picked while on the final leg of his historic circumnavigation. AI have chosen the Afrikaans cutting as it is the only report that has a pic of the intrepid mariner – and more importantly his long-suffering wife! Read all about it HERE: 1993 02 10 – Ant Steward. 1993.
So What is “On This Day’ All 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. Rothmans Week, the NCS Regatta, the Rio Race, Mauritius 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.
The possibilities are endless – so watch this space.
