Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
I recently saw reference to the Agulhas Race as the “Comrades Marathon of Sailing”, an interesting analogy as it is a very tough race.
However, I wonder how many would agree with that statement when coupled with the Double Cape Race? Over the years I have heard people refer to it as the toughest of all the ocean races in this country. Yet, being four legs, it could easily be likened to the Comrades Marathon and Polly Shorts, Little Polly’s, the Harrison Flats and the downhill stretch from Bothas Hill into Durban!
However you view it is really a personal matter, although when the chips are down and the wind is blowing spots off dogs, it’s a very tough race indeed.
The 1986 race saw the fleet concertina together many times in the fickle airs on the 130 mile course around four parts of the Peninsula. A notable exception was ‘Assegai’, which broke away at the start and finished some seven hours ahead of the second boat.
The report and full set of results make interesting reading as boat names and skippers from yesteryear bring back memories.
The Spring Regatta was held in False Bay over two weekends, with the SA Yachting Magazine report stating that the entry list was like a gathering of the who’s who of sailing in the Western Cape..
READ THE REPORTS HERE: Pages from 1986 11 – SA Yachting – OCR
