South Africa’s sailing royalty has teamed up to save the crown prince of the local sailing fleet – the historic Voortrekker racing yacht. The 15m slice of sailing history has been handed over to the Simon’s Town Submarine museum to become an open-air exhibit.
The sight of Voortrekker on the back of a flatbed truck, sailing down Main Road Simon’s Town, raised more than a few eyebrows in the deep south – a final lap of honour for a yacht credited with putting South African sailing on the world map.
More than that, the yacht is credited with inspiring a marine manufacturing sector that is a key component of the regional economy.
Voortrekker was placed first on handicap in the 1968 Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race. Fourteen years later she was placed second in the BOC Challenge, entrenching her iconic status in the annals of local sailing history.
Her story is not quite over, however, as she requires restoration work at her new museum home. Some of South Africa’s best-known sailors – including a few who sailed her – are now calling for public support to raise funds to immortalise Voortrekker for future generations. Commodore John Martin and Rear Admiral Hanno Teuteberg are leading the charge and were instrumental in securing Voortrekker’s transfer to the museum adjoining the NSRI Station 10.
“Voortrekker has now reached the end of her seagoing chapter. However, it would be a disservice to the SA yachting community and industry if the yacht is not preserved to serve as a reminder of where it all began,” the pair said in their original project proposal. “The yacht can in many ways be seen as the start of ocean-going racing in South Africa. This includes the building of the yacht, which signalled the commencement of yacht building in this country.”
Martin and Teuteberg are proposing a three-phase project to renovate both the yacht’s exterior and interior by drawing on local expertise. “As with the establishment of the submarine museum, direct financial sponsorship is kept to a minimum. This is substituted by actual services in which the individual organisations specialise.”
With the first phase already complete—the yacht is now in place outside the museum—they say the stage is set for phase two, “whereby the deck of the yacht will be partially replaced and waterproofed.”
“Phase 3 will be the renovation of the interior to allow visitors to enter the yacht for tours. As a bonus, a roof can be constructed to protect the yacht from the elements.”
“The SA Navy and ARMSCOR Dockyard have assisted greatly in getting the yacht moved to the Museum. They are also willing to assist with manpower to complete the rest of the project. However, the above organisations are not in a position to fund the materials to conduct the renovations due to budget restrictions. Funding or material contributions towards the project will therefore have to be obtained via other channels.”
Anybody willing and able to answer the call should contact SABBEX executive management.