Background
Reed was born in Portuguese Elizabeth in 1943.
Reed was born in Portuguese Elizabeth in 1943.
He was the first South African to complete three singlehanded circumnavigations. He joined the South African Navy in 1961 and served for 21 years. He started sailing whilst in the Navy.
In the 1982/83 BOC Challenge race he placed second in the Knysna built yacht, Voortrekker.
At the time Voortrekker was 14years old and considered obsolete. He was awarded South Africa"s highest civilian award for bravery, the Wolraad Woltemade Decoration for his rescue of sailor John Martin whose yacht sank after hitting a submerged iceberg in the Southern Ocean during the 1990-1991 BOC Challenge.
In 2006 he was inducted into the Single-Handed Sailors" Hall of Fame. He received Springbok colours 5 times for sailing.
He died at his home in Gordon"s Bay from cancer.
In 2009 a bronze bust of Bertie Reed,by local Cape Town sculptor Charl Frank, was unveiled at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront by Sir Robin Knox-Johnson.