Voortrekker (yacht)
Voortrekker is a 50-foot (15 m) racing yacht that became famous for placing first on handicap in the 1968 Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race and for placing second in the 1982/83 BOC Challenge[2] despite being 14 years old and considered obsolete.[3]
| Nation | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Sail no | SA 1[1] |
| Designer(s) | Ricus van de Stadt |
| Builder | Thesens |
| Owner(s) |  |
| Racing career | |
| Skippers | Bruce Dalling Bertie Reed |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 50 feet |
History
The Springbok Ocean Racing Trust announced that South Africa would have an entrant in the 1968 Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race and began fundraising to build a yacht.[4] A design was ordered from Ricus van de Stadt and the order to build her was placed with Thesens of Knysna. Originally designed as a ketch, she was later re-rigged as a racing sloop by Brian Lello.[5]:29 Lello was the then-editor of the SA Yachting magazine, who created a technical outline of what was needed to create a race-winner. This outline was sent to Van de Stadt who then created the design for Voortrekker.[5]:30 Thesens of Knysna won the tender and quoted R35,000 for the construction. However, no financial backers came forward so Dr Anton Rupert of the Rembrandt Group offered to guarantee payment so that construction could begin.
At the same time the Trust began looking for a skipper and Bruce Dalling was selected to be her first skipper. Dalling took Voortrekker to first place on handicap in the Observer Transatlantic Race. His success in this race led to a surge of interest in sailing in South Africa.[6]
In 1969 Voortrekker was handed over to the South African Navy Sailing Association, to be used for sail training and to take part in ocean racing for South Africa.[5]:27
1982/83 BOC Challenge
In 1982 Voortrekker (branded Altech Voortrekker to reflect its sponsorship by Altech) entered the BOC Challenge. Voortrekker was skippered by Navy Warrant Officer Bertie Reed and was 17 years old at that time, the oldest boat in the fleet.[7] Reed described her as the "fastest, most uncomfortable, prettiest 50-footer around".[7]
Due to her age and being pitted against competitors using the latest technologies and materials available at the time, Voortrekker was considered obsolete.[3] Despite this, Reed placed second across the line and first on handicap, behind the yacht Credite Agricole, which had been purpose-built for this race.[2]
Sail training
Voortrekker was later used for sail training by the South African Navy and entered in a number of Cape to Rio races with sailors from disadvantaged backgrounds in conjunction with the Izivunguvungu Sailing School. In 2009, after an absence of 14 years, Voortrekker entered the 2009 Cape to Bahia race.[8]
References
- "Sailing yacht Mercury restored to glory". Knysna Plett Herald. 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- Williams, Roger (19 December 2006). "SA skipper Bertie Reed dies at 63". IOL. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- "Remembering Bertie Reed". Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- Hocking, Anthony (1972). Yachting in Southern Africa. Purnell. p. 121. ISBN 9780360001770.
- Williams, Roger (1991). Reed in the Wind. W.J. Flesch and Partners. ISBN 9780949989536.
- Granger, Dale (19 December 1999). "Classic dame of seas to sail in Rio race". IOL. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- McCormick, Herb & Day, George. Everest of the Sea, Cruising World August 1983, p. 98
- Duthie, Lisa (17 January 2009). "Voortrekker tackles the High Seas in 2009 Heineken Cape to Bahia". Sail-World. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.