“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. Against the Elements, Sea is its Own Mistress

By Richard Crockett

It’s sometimes hard to believe that it’s 35 years ago since John Martin and Bertie Reed had the public at large spellbound by their singlehanded antics while racing alone around the world. And Cape Town was always a spectacular starting day.

The Weekend Argus, in a full page feature on the 1990 BOC Race start, said this:

“Huge rolling swells as far as the eye can see, a constant bowling wind whipping up spray from the chop, fog and marrow-numbing cold. That’s the Southern Ocean in December. The night is only about three hours long and it’s impossible to keep anything dry in the heavy, wet air.

“Even a modern yacht affords poor sanctuary in these conditions. And there will be 21 of them out there in December as Intrepid sailors In the BOC 1990/91 round-the-world challenge tackle the second leg of the world’s toughest yacht race.”

This is a good read which has several wonderful full colour images too.

READ MORE HERE:  1990 11 24 – argus weekend – John Martin – 005037 – OCR_Redacted