Richard L. Crockett

4 days ago | sailing.co.za | Richard L. Crockett

By Richard CrockettJust 300 nautical miles into the Atlantic Bruce Dalling had to deal with a broken gooseneck. The mishap occurred while he was trying to reef the mainsail. Dalling described the incident via radio-telephone to his sister Carole Chamier. “The accident happened when he was trying to get the mainsail down in a Force 7 wind (32 to 38 miles an hour) yesterday morning. The boom swung out and broke at the gooseneck (where it joins the mainmast) and blew overboard.

5 days ago | sailing.co.za | Richard L. Crockett

by Richard Crockett“With sheets of spray whipping over their foredecks and the wind at near-gale-force squalls screaming through the rigging, two of the Lipton Cup yachts – ‘Yvette’ and ‘Vanya V – ventured from their berths in the yacht harbour to-day.”How could I not share this opening paragraph from the Argus newspaper report? It conjures up great images, yet not one single photo of this scene exists to my knowledge.

6 days ago | sailing.co.za | Richard L. Crockett

By Richard Crockett57 years ago today Bruce Dalling set sail in ‘Voortrekker’ as a competitor in the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic race (OSTAR). A group of South African’s had conceived the idea and put in hours of hard work to achieve their dreams of an entry in this world class race. These men were the pioneers of the South African Ocean Racing Trust (SAORT) which still exists today. And, Bruce Dalling became the very first true idol of sailing in South Africa.

1 week ago | sailing.co.za | Richard L. Crockett

By Richard CrockettWith preparation for the first ever Lipton Cup in J22 class yachts going on feverishly behind the scenes, those who sail this class of yacht need to be very aware of the class rules and not infringe them. 33 years ago Ian Ainslie and his crew were disqualified from the J22 Nationals, immediately prior to the J22 Worlds off Durban.

1 week ago | sailing.co.za | Richard L. Crockett

By Richard CrockettI do enjoy sharing features about people who taste our sport for the very first time and instantly fall in love with it. “It’s tough discovering you are passionately addicted to sailing – 600 km from the sea.