June to mid-July (Richards Bay)

Finally we are back!

Unstepping mast and maneuvering
Esmeralda in the boat yard

As is always the case in the run up to an event, everything seems to build in intensity and panic rears its ugly head often, especially when Murphy steps in.  Well the build up to the Lipton Challenge Cup and the actual competing was no exception but is finally complete.  It was fantastic to watch many of the yacht club members join in and give assistance where ever they could, either financially or physically, prompting one of the members to remark that this is like the old club that they remember.

Sirocco towing Esmeralda 

The first support boat Sirocco was already in Durban two weeks before the Lipton Cup began, they attended the Durban Boat Show and then took part in the MSC regatta, racing their 40ft mono hull by themselves, braaiing lamb chops during one race and generally having a good time.  They almost came second in one race, but unfortunately they had to retire early as Esmeralda, the ZYC Lipton race entry, had arrived.  They did the last two legs of the race and attended the prize giving and were most surprised to be awarded a prize for the best effort put in by a yacht with the least crew, they won a 3 day cruise on the MSC Opera to
Portugese Islands.  Next year Kevin and I are doing that race!!!!


We, in the meantime had visitors, the Hooles arrived on 22 June for their first ever visit to the boat and it was such fun.  It was Sandra's birthday on Monday 24th and we had a lovely day doing a bit of shopping followed by a harbor cruise with lots of wine and snacks and dolphins and a stunning sunset, so glad she chose to spend her birthday with us.  They left on 26th and on 27th Kevin and I drove to Manguzi on the Kosi Bay Border between SA and Mozambique to fetch Kylie after her outreach program there, helping out at an orphanage, humbling I think.  


Then Leanne, Grant and Kirsten arrived on Friday 28th til 2nd July.  Unfortunately they really had to bear the brunt of the last minute organisation of the Lipton Cup and the boat and Kevins work so their trip was not as peaceful and relaxing as we hoped but at least we managed to get a great days sailing in where we saw loads of whales out at sea and dolphins in the harbor on our return.

Poor Nomad (with Andrew and Virginia as crew) left twice, attempting to get to Madagascar for a research charter but weather and boat issues saw them have to turn back and eventually abort the trip.  We took the opportunity of taking Virginia with us on the trip to Durban, we needed her qualification for insurance and she needed a break.  We left on Thursday night 4 July with Dave and his friend along as crew.  We needed to have them (Dave and friend) in Durban by 2pm on Friday in order to catch the Stallion coach back to Richards Bay (it does not run on weekends) but unfortunately the wind would not play along, in fact we had next to none and were heading into 2.8m swells head on, making our motors work really hard without really achieving anything.  



We were really privileged to be in the company of many whales on the trip and eventually found the front that was predicted just off Umhlanga and with no sails up were being pushed along at over 4 knots, but that was too much too late, got there at around 5pm.  Anyway they managed to get on the Greyhound Coach early the next morning so all was not lost and we were in Durban, with our boat, in time for the opening Ceremony on Friday night :-)  The Royal Natal Yacht Club is steeped in tradition and they pulled out all the stops for this race as it is one of South Africa's biggest.  After the mixing of the waters from each represented club and a speech or two, the cannon blast had everyone jumping a couple of feet in the air!!

Racing with Soccer Stadium
in background

The weeks racing was really exciting, we were out on the water every day with Sirocco, except for Thursday when Kevin had a meeting in Johannesburg.  Our Zululand Team were the best represented and supported team there.  I am obviously not very used to being on a mono-hull anymore, on Thursday I went to sea with Sirocco and on the way back to harbor after the racing we had a slight lull and heeled over, the box I was perched on, gin & tonic in one hand and camera in the other, slid a little then stopped, well I didn't and with Alan hanging on to my ankle I came to a sudden halt against the rail, plonked down on the deck and quietly took a sip of my drink to the cheers and laughter of all on board, apparently I didn't spill a drop!!!!  We had a full boat most days, Kirsten the Commodore and his wife and various club members, Gus and Salome and little Pickle their Jack Russel and even our old neighbors from ZYC Barry and Lola and kids of Yrumoar , great to see them again.


Our team came a very respectable 17 out of 18.  Their effort daily and their attitude whilst participating made them winners all round and very popular amongst the other teams.  Unfortunately in this class of racing the boats are so closely matched that one small error leads to dropped places and lost time which are impossible to make up.  We are sure that next year they will make a huge difference and the team are really fired up for the challenge.




We held the raffle draw at the yacht club for the bottle of Bells Whiskey and the holiday at the Elephant Lake Hotel, just before we left and they were won by Fiona and Michelle.  To everyone that bought tickets, thanks a heap your contributions went a long way to helping our team and no one is more sorry than me that we didn't win that holiday!!!

Virginia & Ully looking
out for Yacht Ingrid
traveling with us

Sunrise on our way back

Our trip back to Richards Bay was fantastic, there was an airshow on at Virginia Airport on Saturday so we headed over to float around just off shore of the airport and had a brilliant first hand view of the airshow.  We had a great braai whilst watching and at 17:30 when the show was over we just kept motoring north. 
 By early morning the wind had swung behind us and we were able to switch the motors off and enjoy a good few hours of sailing, lovely.  We were closer in shore on the way back, not nearly as many whales, but we did have the company of a lovely mom and calf early Sunday morning, blowing and diving, really great.

Weber being dragged up from the depths

Before we left the crew on Isis caused us a good giggle.  Somehow bad luck seems to be dogging them right now, firstly the two young crew members Martin and Damien, in an attempt to get rid of monumental hangovers, took the Isis tender boat out around the harbor to Zululand Yacht Club, resulting in a very stressed and speedily sobered Martin running back on foot a couple of hours later - somehow the outboard motor had come loose from the tender boat and had dropped into the channel - around 5m of water, so the more sober and in charge crew members had to don dive gear and off they went to go and fish the motor out.  An almost successful operation, unfortunately the cowling of the motor did not survive being dropped on its head and departed from the motor, never to be seen again.  But good news was that after some intense treatment it worked again.  

Fresh from the ocean

The poor abused Weber

This was not the end as during the strong south wester a couple of days later their weber braai blew into the water from the walk on.  Dive gear donned again and down they went, the braai was pretty easy to retrieve, apparently the grid was a bit more tricky, but again after a good dunking in a barrel of water and some spraying it was braaiing chops and wors in no time.  Apparently this is the third time they have had to dive this same braai out of the sea and it still works, this would surely make a great advert for Weber!!

Well, as is always the case with boating we have some hard work to do.  We have discovered quite a serious leak which is going to probably test our fibreglassing skills yet again and we are now at the point where we HAVE to reseat one of our big saloon windows, was the first one replaced by outside help and done incorrectly.  We also discovered and repaired two hot water pipe leaks - never a dull moment.  Hope you are all having as much fun....