Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
Yesterday we had a pic of ‘Corsair II’ when she arrived in Durban. Today a brief story of cruise, plus some news on the Whitbread Race, BOC Race – and John Martin.
‘Corsair II’ Circumnavigation. 1967. Stan Jeffrey started this cruise in April 1964. She is a Bermudan ketch which won the Simonstown to Port Elizabeth race in 1962. She was built in Cape Town. Read about it HERE: 1967 10 04
Padda Kuttel. 1985. Remember Padda and his Whitbread Race exploits, firstly on ‘Xargo III’ and later on ‘Apple Mac’/ ‘Portatan’ / ‘Atlantic Privateer’? Well on 4 October 1985 the EP Herald reported that he was lying 3rd on the first leg. Padda gave this country its first real taste of ocean racing in the big league, and later when he built his new boat in Cape Town. Read about it HERE: 1985 10 04 426
John Martin’s ready for rum! 1986. While just north of Tristan da Cunha, and after 34 days at sea Martin mentioned that he would be celebrating his birthday with a packet of peanuts and a miniature bottle of rum he was given in Newport. Read about it HERE: 1986 10 04 020
A Nest Egg. 1990. This report is all about sailing at Midmar and the upcoming Junior Champs. However the best part, left for last, is the fact that on hoisting their spinnaker a bird’s nest, complete with egg, descended to their foredeck! A nest egg perchance – or simply that this intrepid duo had not sailed for a long time! Read about it HERE: 1990 10 04 393
Reed Gambles As He Heads West. 1990. Bertie took a gamble as he approached the doldrums, taking a westerly course towards the South American coast. Time will tell whether this paid off. Read about it HERE: 1990 10 04 a 393
Followers Are Welcome to Comment – and Even Submit Their Own Press Cuttings for Consideration. Send To: editor@sailing.co.za
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.
