Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
The very first Rio Race, way back in 1971, certainly galvanised those folk with an affinity for the ocean into getting a yacht for the race. And a few landlubbers too. There was lots of talk, lots of hope and a few dashed dreams along the way, but this race was certainly a catalyst in making our sport what it is today.
55 years ago today ‘Mercury’ was launched in Durban for the race.
Below is how the Mercury newspaper reported the occasion:
There’s an old saying among yachtsmen that everything aboard a yacht has to be done twice. And yesterday’s commissioning ceremony of the ocean yacht ‘Mercury’, in front of the Durban City Hall, proved the truth of that saying.
“After Mrs. Kenau Havemann, wife of the Administrator of Natal. had named and blessed the 13-metre (42ft) Rio racer, the bottle of champagne thudded against the bow without breaking.
“Before the crowd of distinguished guests could draw a breath, crew member Barry Cullen – the man who sailed the ketch ‘Sandefjord’ around the world – leaped up on to the dais, took hold of the champagne bottle and hurled it at the yacht with all his strength.”
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE: 1970 10 14 – mercury – Rio 1971 – Don Pfotenhauer Collection – 494 – OCR_Redacted
