It's all about the People

Our dinner guests have just left.

We had the Bagshaws down for dinner. Like a final get-together for the two families.

And Jeremy and I had a look at the weather. A light wind start. Great! That will ease me into the trip without getting seasick. But its gonna make for a tricky first night of racing. If we can do it right on Wednesday night and early Thursday, I believe one can do a big getta way on the rest. Time will tell. But I think if you mess up, you are going to be stuck in some light winds for a day while the others get off to a flying start.

It has been a peacefull few days leading up to the start. It gave me time to reflect on how we got here and why do we sail. There are lots of reasons. You can write a book on it.

But one think is for sure...............It's all about the people.

So many people out there make this wonderfull game of sailing.

Like Mike Jones.

Mike is from Falmouth in England. He has stopped in Simonstown with his family, on their way to their new home in Freemantle Australia. Their boat is a sailor's dream boat. A steel sloop by Van de Stadt, 48 foot long, and fitted out for serious ocean sailing. A chatty fellow, I met him on our arrival at False Bay Yacht Club.

Yesterday afternoon Mike comes over to the Banjo. Says he is bringing me a present. Out comes a so-called series drogue. A piece of heavy weather equipment which is towed from astern in very heavy weather. Your life can be saved by that piece of equipment.

And Mike made it up for us as a gift. A piece of safety equipment. Hopefully we will never need it, but if we do, we will think of Mike Jones from the yacht AMOK.

Thanks Mike!

It's bed time now.

Hopefully Tanya will post something here while we are at sea.

Please follow our progress on www.thegovernorscup.co.za

We had tracking devises fitted today so our tracks will be on the race website.

Thanks for all the calls over the last few days.

Andre de Jager,

William Brooks who called and offered a lot of help.

Oom Ampie,

Kerri Smith,

Con Meyer,

My Mom,

Jana,

Hannes,

the Pennypinchers guys who are comming out to the start.

And, and and...............