Sailing Magazine
By Richard Crockett
Who remembers the heady days when Padda Kuttel and his predominantly local crew took on the world in the Whitbread Round the World Race? This was way back in 1985/86 when his South African built yacht ‘Atlantic Privateer’ took on the world’s best, and came close to causing an upset.
On this day in 1986 the Cape Times reported as follows: “Padda Kuttel lost “the battle of the River Plate” yesterday – but only just.
“At Punta del Este, Uruguay – at the mouth of the river Plate – his maxi ‘Atlantic Privateer’ was beaten into third place in the third leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race by pop singer Simon Le Bon’s boat , ‘Drum’, after a tense overnight battle.”
It was in this race that Kuttel was the furthest boat south at latitude 62 degrees south, when the were knocked down while setting the storm spinnaker.
READ IT ALL HERE: 1986 03 13 – cape times
