Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
Another Agulhas Race, and more accounts of strong headwinds, exhilarating downwind sleigh-rides, tough conditions generally and fine seamanship.
And least we forget the RCOD ‘Spray’ with her remarkable 25-hour dash from Mossel Bay to the finish line in False Bay. Now that must have been the ride of a lifetime!
Sadly there is little mention of the time allowance given to Dieter Mielke’s ‘Inshallah’ for standing by a dismasted competitor, suffice to say it appears to have been badly handled. Mielke was awarded first spot, then had it taken away after what, reading between the lines, was a protest. The race was awarded to Jerry Whitehead’s ‘Bootlicker’. Irrespective, both men are highly regarded as fine seamen and gentlemen, so no doubt the “incident” was downplayed by both. Mielke was finally third overall and winner on handicap of Class II.
READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE: Pages from 1978 02 – SA Yachting – OCR
