Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
Just prior to competing in the Trans-Pacific race, the Stellenbosch-built ocean racer ‘Stormvogel’ on June 26 (1967) scored one of the most notable victories of her career by beating probably the most advanced yacht in America, the aluminium sloop ‘Kialoa’, in a match-racing series.
“Her owner, the Stellenbosch industrialist Kees Bruynzeel, skippered her to her third straight victory in a five-race, boat-for-boat contest off Los Angeles, thus taking the California Cup.
They went head-to-head agin immediately after that California Cup victory, and again ‘Stormvogel’ triumphed by taking line honours in the Trans-Pacific race, relegating ‘Kialoa’ to third spot.
While this may have been gentlemanly sailing at its best when one reads in this report what the menu was on various days – roast turkey and all the trimmings including hot gravy!
Best of all is how Bruynzeel described the final hours before the finish.
“And the wind did hold! It did more. It increased from 15-20 knots up to 30 and 35 knots. And how did ‘Stormvogel’ respond! Faster and faster.
“That afternoon and evening she gave us a ride which will stay long in the memories of everybody on board. Not only those slides down big seas at speeds 16-18-20 knots, but also her response to every squall picking up extra speed, causing a big spray wave amidship and a clean flat wake astern.
“A performance of light displacement at it best. And without effort., always under full control of the helmsman.
“Only the mizzen spinnaker, flying as a big kite of 1500sq. ft. is pulling too much at the top of the mizzen mast. Taking it down in the blow the helmsman could keep control with two fingers at the wheel. It is a sensation one has to experience before it can be believed.”
This is another great read written by Kees Bruynzeel.
READ IT HERE: stormvogel 1967 08 – SA Yachting – OCR
