Epic Trip Sails On To Screen

In 1913 THE YACHT SANDEFJORD was launched at Risor in Norway. And since that date she has become one of the most famous small boats in modern sailing history. 

Newspapers throughout this country followed her fortunes when, last year, with South African crew on board, she completed her third circumnavigation of the world.

Now the Sandefjord saga is being told on the screen. The national premiere took place last night at Durban's Lyric Theatre.

Brothers Pat and Barry Cullen who discovered the hulk of the once famous yacht rotting in Durban harbour, restored her to former glory and recorded their adventures on 27,000 feet of film.

Edited down to 4,000 feet, which take 134 minutes to screen, the film is claimed to be one of the most exciting yachting features ever made. 

The sound track is based upon tape recordings made during the round-the-world voyage and also features a musical background recorded by South Africa's top musicians.

Johannesburg musician Sam Sklair has written and arranged the music and the 20-piece (illegible) orchestra features such names as Murray Campbell and Andy Johnson.

Narration is by radio personality Michael Mayer.

So enthusiastic is the recording team about the success of their efforts, that arrangements are now being made for the release of a long playing record taken from the film sound track.

"The sound track really brings the whole thing to life," said Pat Cullen this week. "We knew we had the material and we were quite satisfied with the photography, but until we saw a run through of the final cutting proof with the sound track synchronised on to it, we were inclined to get despondent at times.

"Then everything seemed to explode into life."

"The cutting proof had been cut in 1,400 different places. It had been walked on and smudged and scratched so badly that you could hardly see what it was all about but screening it was one of the most exciting things we have done since the whole Sandefjord adventure began over three years ago."

"We came back from the world trip with 27,000 feet of colour film. Cutting it down to 4,000 feet was just about the most heartbreaking task we have ever undertaken.

EXCITING

"You can cut away half or even two thirds. But then it becomes impossible. You have to begin cutting out and shortening some of the most exciting sequences.

Eventually we called in Rob Hinds who is probably the best film editor in this country. 

"Watching hĩm bashing into our precious film nearly made me weep. In the end, we virtually gave in to him completely. But we realised what he was doing was making sense."

"All along we had worried whether we were telling the story properly - whether we were putting over properly the material we had.

"By the time Rob had finished, the story was slick and polished. We were terribly excited.

"Every scene comes up with the precision of a heart beat. It all fits together. Well, I can't really explain the difference he has made. But you will understand when you see the film."

Asked why they decided to make a film of the voyage, Pat Cullen said that he believed every yacht voyage had to have purpose.

"We met other yachts during the voyage. Most had a purpose. But some were just sailing from one place to the next with no apparent aim.

"There was something wrong on these boats. It is difficult to explain what, but aimless voyages seem to go wrong somehow."

COST

"We decided to make a film because we wanted to sail around the world and we could not afford to do it any other way, Undoubtedly we were inspired by Ron Shanin who was here a few years ago with his film Rivers of Fire and Ice.

"Refitting Sandefjord, taking her around the world, and subsequently putting the film together, has cost us a total of R50,000. Every cent of it has been borrowed.

"But we are confident of being able to pay it all back. We have almost completed negotiations for an American tour which will mean that a minimum of 10 million people over there will see the film.

"The average price for American screenings is two dollars a head, so you can work It out for yourself.