[12:27:58 PM] CLEWLESS: Cap’n. Nearly time !! Looks like a decent sailing breeze from the west for Sat.!
[12:28:32 PM] SMEE: what temperature is the breeze Sir?
[12:29:09 PM] CLEWLESS: nothing too bad. down to 5deg overnight. 17-18 on Sat but a bit chillier on Sunday at 15deg.
[12:29:48 PM] SMEE: forewarned is forearmed I guess!
[12:29:53 PM] CLEWLESS: it’s s/westerly during the night at 4-5knots, so am thinking Narrows bay might be better than Fish Eagle
[12:30:12 PM] CLEWLESS: just past the p/station to the right as you go thru the narrows
[12:30:39 PM] SMEE: I’m easy! I don’t mind a short night cruise either … could do Tombstones :)
[12:31:14 PM] CLEWLESS: ok. or Powerline Bay as another option – about the same distance as Tombestones.
[12:32:18 PM] SMEE: yes … that will make a nice change … good idea! But can we choose one that avoids beating too much … [12:33:20 PM] CLEWLESS: yip. also, don’t want to stretch it too far. I’m only going to get away from home about 14h30, so won’t be sailing much before 16h30 I guess.
[12:34:01 PM] SMEE: Should I clean SS for you?
[12:34:57 PM] CLEWLESS: ha ha. should be fine. was there on Tuesday and have 1/2 a cover on. sheets are bent on, anchor is out. All I need to is clean the cockpit and I’m away. Thanks for the offer tho’.
[12:35:30 PM] CLEWLESS: consistent s/w’ly at 5 knos forecast. need a nice south facing bay if we’re going to sleep properly!
[12:36:11 PM] CLEWLESS: strong 20knots forecast 14h00 sat afternoon, dying to about5 or 6 late afternoon.
[12:37:23 PM] SMEE: sounds very nice indeed! good play time followed by good sleep time :)
[12:37:49 PM] CLEWLESS: powerlines then ?
[12:38:04 PM] SMEE: Yip!
[12:38:36 PM] CLEWLESS: cool. you check with TINCUP if that’s OK. [can't seem to find him on skype]
[12:39:00 PM] SMEE: windfinder also says cloud on sun … maybe the cold front is slowing down
[12:39:25 PM] SMEE: I’ll let him know … hes wandering around somewhere at the moment
[12:45:24 PM] CLEWLESS: cool!
[12:52:43 PM] SMEE: Chatted to him! All good to go!

BRING ON THE WEEKEND !!!!!

 

Well, that’s it – almost. One last long weekend before the long, hard slog of several months of 2-day weekends. I hear some of you are headed for Oranjeville. I hear some of you are staying on the mooring. I hear yet others are spending time ashore, looking lovingly down on their yachts as they float in the bay

Well, whatever you’ve decided to do with this weekend, enjoy it and remember to give the boat a hug at least. You’ll not get another chance like this for a good couple of months !

[posted from the saloon of s/v Sole sUrchin, somewhere on the Vaal, Thursday 19h54]

 

**** NEWS-FLASH ****

Villiers Cruise planned – 6 – 9 April 2012

All boats welcome ! See forum thread or text Russell – 082 881 9072 for details

**** NEWS-FLASH ****

 

I don’t have much nice to say! I wish curses and “non-starting” frustration to anyone who ends up with my stolen 5 hp Yamaha !! [Man! That was a good motor. Was drowned twice and never failed to start for me! I'm seriously sour!]

But, at least, the Vaal Marina SAPS was friendly and efficient! Thanks Warrant Officer de Oliveira for the prompt and efficient statement taking and making me laugh…….!        “Sir. I know it’s a stupid question, but I have to ask. Did you give anyone permission to enter your property and steal your posessions?”

And, at least the perps were very considerate. They put back the kicked-in wash board so the rain and the pigeons couldn’t gain entry. Thanks!

 

 

We all know about the Somali piracy issue and, although most of us have probably forgotten, about the two South Africans taken just north of Madagascar a while back.

15 months ago, to be exact.

I was in the car on the way to work this morning and the local breakfast show had an insert on the issue, with a interview with Bruno’s sister. Heart-rending, emotional stuff.

On the face of it, I’ve always supported the idea of no ransom money, because I firmly believe that by giving in, it perpetuates the problem. That said, one has to ask what other options there are? I certainly don’t have any faith in the South African government. The fact that they are still in captivity over a year after the incident means that there is no real political will to resolve the problem. USA, France and Britain aren’t going to help. Even they don’t necessarily always send in the special forces [as the recent reports of a British couple, the Chandlers, tell - they also spent nearly 2 years in captivity before a ransom was paid and they were released]

So, in light of the fact that I don’t believe there are any other options, I think the yachting community, local and international, should rally together behind Bruno and Debbie and their family members back home. I cannot look myself in the mirror after having listened to Bruno’s sister on the radio this morning and felt the pain and sorrow and dispair.

Lets contribute and get these people back home!!

www.sosbrunodebbie.co.za for bank details or SMS contribution line: SMS “SOS” to 38417 !!!

 

Digging out some old newspaper to clean off the braai grill last night, I stumbled on a back-issue of “Tread Magazine – Mountain Biking with Soul”. It was sufficient motivation for me to buy the latest copy this morning, stirring in me a long-dormant love for riding my bike in the wilderness. One of the things that grabbed me was how the techno-scene has moved on. 29′ers and disc brakes are now all the rage. Forget the fact that for a dualie, with 100mm of travel, if you’re short, then there’s no way you’re actually going to get a bike like that to fit! So, in the current MTB scene, I fear my [by my own standards at least] ultra-cool Silverback carbon-fibre hardtail with Rockshox Duke’s up front, boring 26″ wheels and standard friction pads on the rim is positively retro. Quaint dude!

And so too it is with IT tech gadgets. iPads are the current cool “must haves”. Forget the inconvenience of dragging around a smartphone, a PC, an iPad and a Kindle. You’ve just got to have the full electronic portfolio to be in with the cool kids. I’m not immune, however different. I’m seriously shopping for a graphics tablet add-on for the Acer to allow me writing and drawing capabilities direct into electronic format. Not a necessity, just an emotional want.

And I guess this malaise it also translates to sailboats and sailiors. There’s always something newer. cooler, more hip to buy. I’m thinking it may be an option to trade in the kids for that new Harken roller-furler, or better yet upgrade to a larger boat. After all, they do say “bigger is better” and just maybe a bigger boat will entice my non-sailing family to become regular crew? And what is all that “I must sail around Cape Horn” before I’m a proper sailor?

The only satisfaction in the new, the different, the cool is the immediate and very, very temporary rush of the purchase. It wears off all too soon and becomes yet another “thing” in the clutter bin. Something else to drain emotonal energy, cash and time.

And so, I intend to stick with my aged, yet beautiful little sailboat. Sure, she needs a bit of work, but she sails just perfectly and I get a lot of enjoyment out of her. I cruise her regularly, sometimes in company, most often alone. She’s my escape from city living, my weekend cottage, my “sanity bench”, and I don’t need a bigger, newer, flasher boat than her to fulfil all these desires.

And there are plans afoot to acquire a trailer and perform a slow and relaxed refit on the hard. Maybe while she’s out of the water, and in between weekend refurbishment, I’ll dust off that old, aged and “un-cool” mountain bike and head out to the mountains for a different kind of solitude…..!

 

It’s that time of the year again – the Round The Island Race. So here’s a shocking thought – “A perfect opportunity for a day-sail, a gentle cruise.

“You’re not racing !?” I hear the incredulous cries from all quarters. Nope! I had thought about it, but here’s the thing. I don’t personally understand the racing thing, and for me I’d much rather just gently sail the boat without the pressure of crowds, crashes and curses.

If the main event was on the Saturday I may have taken part. That way I would have sailed for LDYC on Friday evening, dropped the hook somewhere and been within striking distance of picking up crew in Deneysville and being at the start on Saturday morning. Then, once the sail was done, I’d have all of Saturday and Sunday morning to slowly make my way back home to PNYC. Having the race on Sunday changes all of that. If the wind is light, it means a late afternoon return and right now I’m not up for that. I’m looking for relaxation out on the water, not more rush!

And so, I’ll be taking a few friends out for a leisurely cruise to the Island. If we’re in time we’ll see the first of the fleet as they turn the corner. If not, there’s still plenty more sailing action to watch from anchor as the “amateur” racers continue to drift past. For my non-sailing friends it should provide an interesting and fun day out on the water. The shade cover will be up, the braai will be simmering and the day will be good! 

So if you happen to see Sole at anchor, living the good life, don’t forget to wave in the midst of the racing stress!

 

 

Relaxing after a HOT cruise to First Weir.

 

  There’s always something to be repaired or improved !

 

Doing this kind of work while afloat is definitely a little harder than being ashore with power close by. But it does have the advantage that you can keep sailing the boat in between spurts of maintenance effort.

 

…looks like a good destination for a cruise…