Bertie Reed is no more...

[Wynand N]

Bertie "Biltong" Reed quietly passed away at his home in Cape Town this morning. He was 63 years young.

Bertie was probably South Africa's greatest ambassador and who will ever forget his adventures during the 70's aboard the yacht "Voortrekker" which he sailed for many years, and "Voortrekker 2" later on. He was the master of the BOC, Vendee/globe, other around the world alone or trans Atlantic races. The Cape to Rio races come to mind.
He had a professional sailing career spanning over 40 years.

Bertie showed his steel without even worrying about his own safety when he heroically saved his fellow countryman, John Martin when his yacht "Allied Bank" sunk after hitting a submerged object in bad gale conditions at Cape Horn during the 80's in a BOC solo around the world race. This deed possibly cost him the race.

A lesser known fact of Bertie was that he could not swim at all....

May he have calm seas and following winds wherever his soul may be.

[MikeJohns]

Wynand

He was well known in Australia, as is Voortrekker.
A man who earned his celebrity status.
Sad to see him die so young.

[SailDesign]

Damn, Wynand, that inhales.
I was involved in the design of his Open60 "Grinaker" while with Rodger Martin, and came to know Bertie reasonably well. He'll be missed.
Steve

[timgoz]

Wynand,

I am sorry to hear of the loss of such a great sailing countryman of yours.

May all else be good for your holidays.

Take care.

TGoz

[Trevlyns]

Being from South Africa originally, I also greatly admired Bertie. It was his reputation that first got me into this yachting thing back in the 80's.
What a colourful character - he'll surely be missed