Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
The 1980 Rothmans Week and Agulhas races brought international competitors to our shores to race in locally built yachts. Harold Cudmore and Bob Fisher were here ostensibly for Rothmans Week, while a German crew were here for the Agulhas Race.
Cudmore and Fisher were to experience sailing in this country and our legendry hospitality. Cudmore was aboard ‘Sensation’ and Fisher aboard ‘Kitara’ a Petersen 33.
Two brand new two-tonners in Dieter Mielke’s ‘Nutcracker’ and Neil Bailey’s ‘Sensation’, virtual sisterships, were launched just prior to the regatta starting. “Nutcracker’ was of aluminium construction while “Sensation’ was of a glue-lam wooden construction. She was sadly rushed to be ready for Rothmans Week where structural damage forced her to retire from the event, and Cudmore sailed aboard ‘Dirk’.
‘Nutcracker’ with Geoff Meek at the helm took the Rothmans Week honours, with Bailey’s ‘Sensation’ bouncing back during the Agulhas Race to win with Cudmore aboard.
These two top yachties were generous in their praise for sailing in Cape Town and along its coastline to Mossel Bay and back.
READ ABOUT IT HERE: Pages from 1981 02 – SA Yachting – OCR
