Sailing Magazine
By Richard Crockett
Many yachties from yesteryear lament the demise of the Double Cape Race, which in its heydays was a tough and unrelenting race which sorted the men from the boys.
Back in 1996 a large newspaper spread on the race said this in their opening blurb: In the Double Cape Yacht Race, held last weekend, 59 yachts competed for line honours round Cape Point and back. Reporter Jet Van Eeghen from The Netherlands sailed with them in the wake of ancestral explorers, and met with a gentle Cape of Storms.
The author opened his report with these words: “Warm pairs of socks, jerseys, wellies and a good supply of anti-seasickness pills are on the top of my packing list. Although favourable weather had been forecast, freak storms noted in the journals of Dutch sailors heading for the East Indies some 350 years ago warn me never to take the Cape for granted.”
Wise words indeed!
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE: 1996 10 04 – S&A – 875
