August - September 2017 (RCYC Cape Town)

As the end of yet another year barrels toward us we are finally glimpsing the end of this interminably long tunnel which has seen us almost completely refit our entire yacht.  The fibreglass dust has come to an end, we’ve almost finished drilling holes and finally we are starting to see some sailing and fun in our future.

Bolt rope channel on deck

Bolt rope channel on
the roof

The roof over the cockpit has been well and truly bolted down, neatened up and bolt ropes installed to facilitate the installing of the new canvas surrounds.  

Making template for spray dodger

Spray dodger almost complete

We were so fortunate that Steve of North Sails had time available so our surrounds were professionally manufactured in record time.  

Making template for side

Steve and his colleague Bertine have an amazing working ethic, 

Steve is an experienced sailor and seamster and Bertine is a brilliant seamster, between them and with Kevin’s input, they designed and manufactured custom functional canvas sides which totally enclose our cockpit and shelter us from wind, rain and most insects.  We couldn’t be happier!!

Kevin and TC at Nissan Yokohama

Yokohama

Gaynor teaching her blind pupil

Gaynor riding "Roo"

Kevin had to make yet another flying visit to Japan, only two weeks this time and I made a quick trip to Pretoria to catch up with the family.  

Little Renault

Even littler Renault

Kevin brought back a really nice little Renault that we can take with us on the yacht - a neat little fold up bicycle. 
 Will get another one in the near future as he could only bring one back on the plane.

Cape Point Vineyard

We also managed to squeeze in a night at Cape Point Vineyard for a catch up with Eileen, Gerry and Judy, love this place.

Cutting yet another hole in the boat

Template for new hatch

Just the job

Seeing the set of the sails and rigging when you have a fully solid fibreglass roof over the cockpit proves to be a problem, Kevin cut another big hole and we installed a sliding hatch that gives a beautiful view of the sails while sailing.

Water drains off roof
into 100lt container

Using high pressure cleaner plumbed
into the mini jojo container

100lt mini jojo container

Kevin’s design of the roof included a raised edge which allows for the capture of rainwater.  This then pours down the two drains installed in the front corners, down two custom made hose pipes which join and into whatever receptacle we decide on.  Ideally the water will flow through a filter and then into our water tanks, but with the extreme water restrictions we are experiencing in Cape Town at present, a more workable solution is a collapsible 100lt capacity water container which we then use to wash the boat.

My excitement at making new cushions, covers, rope bags, etc etc (long list) was cut short when the poor sewing machine made a dreadful crunching noise and stopped working.  A dash to sewing machine hospital, Singer agents in Wynberg, resulted in a swap for a new, heavy duty sewing machine.  The poor lady was horrified that I was putting a pretty, light duty embroidery sewing machine through the abuse of heavy duty boat materials and she had someone who would buy it from me.  So now starts a new sewing era with a much simpler, more robust machine, or at least it will when we are able to get all the little bits and pieces that come with the machine.

Old corroded gas solenoid

New gas solenoid

The push was on as we were moving to Saldanha and a couple of things had to fall into place before our departure.  Graeme once again arrived to help and did plenty of that.  

Up again

Ready to be beautified

We once again hauled out onto the hard for a weekend, cleaned the bottom and applied two coats of anti-foul and drilled one new through hull hole for the eventual installation of the first electric toilet.  The anti-foul we use was not available in red so we went with a new colour and we are pretty stoked with the result. 

Making her look pretty again

Servicing props with Dave doing his
inspection for our safety certificate

Rope and plastic found wound round
the two propellers - this harbour is so dirty 

Making another hole

Thru hull for outlet for toilet
to be converted

That ladder wasn't a heap of fun

We had Alfred and cohorts helping us with the work, which was great as we managed to get the last of the gel coat repairs complete and the yacht polished, she was looking beautiful.  The end of the weekend was a sad affair as we bade Alfred farewell, he has become an institution on MaXScene, he has put in so much work over so many weekends in helping to make her look fantastic.  

They let him take the pipe he blew in
with him

Poor Kevin got pulled over in a road block on his way to dropping the guys off, had to blow into the tube and thanks to a small gin and tonic that Graeme and I had forced on him he registered.  Although he was way under the limit, they wouldn’t let him drive himself away and Des and Jenny had to come to the rescue, so annoying but one doesn’t argue with the fuzz.

Gary and a portion of his British family came to join us for a sunset cruise.  It was pretty chilly but really beautiful, then a fun and final jaunt through the V&A Marina ended the trip off in style.

Linda gives Kevin his birthday pressie

We planned to go sailing for Kevin’s birthday but sadly as the weather was closing in the evening turning into drinks and snacks in the cockpit on our mooring, good company, food and wine still made it a memorable evening.

Last 3 old batteries - out

And Michelle gets put to work

New Lithium Ion battery - in

We pass our safety inspection and are legal to sail for another year and Michelle arrived to join us for the birthday celebrations and the passage to Saldanha.

New solar panels

Complicated work connecting batteries

Now the final preparations before we leave.  Our buddy Eugene slides in at number 99 with the stainless tube that encloses the wires, installation has to wait til Saldanha.  

The new lithium ion battery gets connected and the solar panels, cockpit lights, nav lights and aerials are wired up and we have contact, all works and is happy, including #1 and the Chief Engineer.

Someone had to do the real work

Now we are ready to go, except the Cape Town south easter in true style had its say and our planned trip to overnight at Dassen Island on the way to Saldanha had to be cancelled, instead we waited the blow out and hopped on the back of it straight up to Saldanha in 10 hours.  

Farewell Table Mountain

The sea was much like a washing machine and the swell was often large causing some fun surfing but the wind stayed pretty consistent and from behind, nice trip.  Graeme caught a nice tuna which provided yummy sushi on arrival at Yachtport.

We were joined by a huge pod of dolphins as we passed Yzerfontein and they stayed with us for ages, racing along in the bows and leaping and jumping through the waves in front of us.  There were a large amount of seals swimming and jumping as well, the swells and waves seem to be a regular water park to sea life and to top it off a superb show of breaching by three whales, awesome.

Eugene's stainless pipe installed next
morning

Champagne brekkie to celebrate a
good trip

So here we are in a little piece of paradise.  We feel like we are on permanent holiday, the water is sparklingly clear, the walkon’s are sturdy and the bathroom is mere meters away.  We have little shoals of fish swimming around our yacht, we spotted an owl last night and seashore walks are right on our doorstep.  We have a couple of things we still need to finish working on, then we get to use this yacht for the purpose we bought her, to have fun and learn whilst sailing.

So bye for now from an incredibly beautiful, rugged West Coast