Staff Member and Old Boy at Bertie Reed's monument unveiling.

While attending a National Inland and Offshore Executive Committee meeting in Cape Town on the weekend of 21 and 22 November 2009, Sailing Master at Glenwood Mr R. Pet included a visit to the V & A Waterfront where the bust of legendary South African sailor, Bertie Reed was unveiled.  'Biltong' Bertie was the first South African to complete a single-handed non-stop yacht race around the world.

He achieved world fame in the inaugural BOC Challenge single-handed race around the world in 1982/83, when he finished second across the line and first on handicap in the 14-year-old sloop Voortrekker, considered obsolete.

He is especially remembered for his heroic rescue of fellow South African John Martin, whose yacht sank after hitting a submerged iceberg in the Southern Ocean during the 1990/91 BOC Challenge.  He was awarded South Africa's highest civilian award -- at the time -- for bravery, the Wolraad Woltemade Decoration for the outstanding seamanship he displayed during Martin's rescue in extreme conditions.

He also received a presidential citation and was listed in the Civic Honours Book of the City of Cape Town.

After a number of tributes by his family, his former Navy colleagues and members of the sailing community, his bust was unveiled to take a well positioned place overlooking Table Bay, a place he loved so much.

Images: