In 1913 Sandefjord was launched at Risör, Norway, the 28th ketch built for the Norwegian Lifeboat Society. These sturdy wooden sailing craft, designed by the legendary Colin Archer, were built to put to sea at the first sign of a storm and to assist vessels in distress. During her 22 years’ service, Sandefjord was attributed with saving 117 lives and assisting 258 vessels through fog and storm to safety.After being sold out of the lifeboat service in 1935 she was owned and sailed, first by Norwegian Erling Tambs who completed three Transatlantic passages in her and later, in the care of Tilly Penso, she sailed under the burgee of the Royal Cape Yacht Club for almost 25 years. Sold out of his estate in 1961, the ketch passed through a quick succession of owners, the last of whom all but abandoned her as a rotting hulk in Durban.It was a desperately sad shadow of the once proud and gallant Sandefjord that was found, half sunk at her moorings by the Durban brothers Barry and Patrick Cullen in 1963. The task of refitting her required almost two years of hard work before she was ready for sea. She was taken from the water, stripped of all doubtful planks and timbers and slowly restored to a state of complete seaworthiness.Finally, in February 1965, Sandefjord was ready. She was provisioned for 400 days and with her complement of five young men and a girl, she sailed from Durban on what proved to be her greatest adventure yet.Through the West Indies, Panama Canal. .. and on into the mighty Pacific. Sandefjord made her landfalls in the exotic South Seas in much the same way as Cook and other early navigators. Without exception, she was well met at all her ports of call. She made friends easily ... for herself and her crew ... as loyal and devoted a crew as any ship could ever wish to have.Sandefjord sailed 30,279 nautical miles in 21 months in this memorable circumnavigation, receiving a thrilling homecoming welcome in Durban, Tuesday, 8th November 1966.This film is dedicated to the Norwegian lifeboatmen who manned Sandefjord and her sister sailing rescue craft saving thousands of lives 1893 to 1940, to the NSRI lifeboat crews, past and present who have, so courageously saved so many, many lives off our own stormy coastline and, last but not least, the Sandefjord 65/66 round-the-world crew.
Reef wetsuit winner from Jhb boat show:
Read MoreAfter years of research, design, local boatbuilding and fundraising, the National Sea Rescue Institute's (NSRI) newest Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC), Spirit of Ubuntu, has completed her journey from Table Bay and arrived at her new home at Station 8 Hout Bay. ...
The National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) newest Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC), Spirit of Ubuntu, has completed her journey from Table Bay and arrived at her new home at NSRI Station 8 Hout Bay yesterday, 19 August 2026. ...
Congratulations to NSRI Community Programmes Instructor Mncedisi Hlalatu, who wins August’s Photo of the Month with his capture of a CPR lesson in progress. The lesson took place at KwaSokhulu Village in Mbonambi during a community programme, where Mncedisi was ...