Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
“Ton-Class” yachts are retro and very much “yesteryear”, now being confined to the history books. Yet whatever size “Ton-Class” yacht one chose to compete in, the racing was from the top drawer.
Mini-Tonners were very much a Vaal Dam” or Highveld “thing”, and few were built.
Robbie van Rooyen of 505-class fame, was one who had Angelo Lavranos design him a boat which he campaigned very successfully for several years in this country, the cherry on the top being placed 5th in the Mini-Ton Worlds in 1981.
Van Rooyen and his crew of Barry Mayes and Gavin Bush dug deep to compete in this event in Germany, and while no doubt hoping for a better overall placing, their 5th place was not too shabby.
READ MORE HERE: Pages from 1981 09 – YACHTSMAN RSA – OCR
