Reed In The Wind

[Wynand N]

Just finished reading this fantastic book "Reed In The Wind" by Roger Williams.

It is about the South Africa's most famous sailor, racer and singlehander, Bertie (Biltong) Reed and his adventures with "Voortrekker"

This boat, designed by the Dutchman, Ricus Van De Stadt and built in 1968, competed very successfully for more than 20 years with Bertie at the helm, often beating modern, state of the art boats at their own game.

Built from cold moulded ply, 50ft LOA, weighing only 6.5 tons.

Cape to Rio, Cape to Uraguay, Ostar, BOC Challange, Globe Challenge, etc etc she have raced, many of them a few times always with her master , Bertie Reed at the helm.
For 20 plus years she took every and anything the seven seas could throw at her, despite her light weight, remained sound. She was a master piece of engineering and a testament to v/d Stadt's design ability.

What can I say of Bertie other that he is a South African Icon and well loved and respected by everyone. Who else can find someone in the dark, in the roaring 57's with the southern ocean in a foul mood during a storm, and save him. Yep, it was John Martin, fellow South African during the 1990/91 BOC Challange, who's boat,"Allied Bank" sunk after striking a growler.

I wonder if there was a more successful racing boat (time span) than Voortrekker and or combination of boat and sailor.

For those who wonder what "biltong" means. It is a South African delicacy, spiced dried meat, also known as jerky.

[Skippy]

Excellent title.

[D'ARTOIS]

We have procured a design/cutting facility with a host of designs of all kind, full designs - probably building rights paid - from police boats to patrol boats, small military craft, a few trawler yachts, expedition yachts they call the now, and a few beautiful classic designs from Rinus Van de Stadt, among them the Pacific.
Cornelis Bruynzeel was a close friend of Bertie "Biltong" (similar to Pemmican) Reed and therefore Reed ordered this beautiful Voortrekker in cold moulded ply.
Cornelis Bruynzeel himself had a beautiful (also cold moulded) ply sailingyacht called "Stormvogel" about 20 or so meters long.

The Pacific is very close to Voortrekker

( Wynand, why you did this? Tribute to I mean? You make me blushing, I am really honoured.