Sailing Magazine
By Richard Crockett
Many may have forgotten the days when John Martin raced ‘Tuna Marine Voortrekker II’ with distinction in single-handed ocean races.
Well today, some 38 years ago now, Martin took his trusty steed to victory in the final leg of the BOC solo round-the-world race.
The Argus ran today’s feature on its front page and opened the report as follows: “Cape Town yachtsman John Martin put on a spectacular display of sailing for the hundreds of spectators who cheered him across the finish-line here (Newport) as he won the final leg of the BOC solo round-the-world race.
“Martin, 32, repeated his record-breaking first-leg win from Newport to Cape Town by roaring in at midday yesterday (local time), well ahead of the 16 survivors in the race, as he completed the 8 528km leg from Brazil.
“There’s one very proud South African right here,” Martin told reporters after ‘Tuna Marine’ had been towed to a jetty in this historic harbour town.
READ MORE ABOUT HIS HEROIC PASSAGE HERE: 1987 05 08 – argus – S&A – 004957 – OCR
