Yacht Clubs

Yacht Clubs.

Love 'em or hate 'em. But if you want to race, you got to join 'em.

Cause that's the RULE. And the rules, when it gets to racing a sailboat is a PITA. And you must belong to SA Sailing. Because another rule says so.

The family belongs to Redhouse Yacht Club. That's where I have been a member since about 1970. Except for a few years when I took a yacht club break. We've got our SA Sailing affiliation through Redhouse. That's like your personel license to race.

Then I also belong to Algoa Bay Yacht Club. Have been a member there since 1979/80. That's where Banjo is registered. You've got to be a member of an offshore sailing club to make it easier to register your offshore sailing boat. Unless you want to go it alone with the government bureaucracy to try and get safety inspections done etc. There are laws of the country that says that bit. Never mind the Constitution and freedom for all. The bit that the LAW says you must do, also goes with paying lots of money to the Government.

But my favourite yacht club is the Kromme River Mouth Yacht Club. It's not a real yacht club. There is no clubhouse, no members, no rules, no club uniform. But on the first of January at high tide, without fail for the last 52 years (without interruption) they have a yacht race on the river here at home. Anything and anyone can sail in the race. You don't need to be affiliated to anything. And there are no real rules. Except you must bring some beers to the skippers meeting at noon on 31 December.

Back to Redhouse Yacht Club.

Redhouse is some 10 kilometers up the Zwartkops River, just outside Port Elizabeth. A dinghy sailing club on the river. Or "ditch crawlers" club.

We are sailing the Governors Cup under their burgee. Redhouse is where I first shoved a sailboat off and sailed. Way-back, in an Optimist which my Dad and I had built out of marine ply. Later on I got a Sprog and also sailed Fireballs with my friend Rodney. Then came a Laser.

We also sailed the 1982 South Atlantic Race under the Redhouse burgee.

We will also fly the Algoa Bay Yacht Club burgee.

In my Port Elizabeth days, ABYC was like my second home. That's the Banjo's port of registration although the boat has only been there once for a few days to sail in Algoa Bay Week. Nice club, ABYC.

And Jeremy sails from False Bay Yacht Club, so we will fly their burgee too.

For the Governors Cup, we are gonna be a rainbow nation of yacht clubs.

Kromme River bar.

The Bar was a bit bumpy today.

We are only a day away from neap tide so there was very little water over the bar. The South Easters of the last week didn't help either. Luckily, shortly before we left, I bumped into a customer of mine who was going fishing on the other side of the River and arranged that he will check the bar out and phone me.

"Bumpy but do-able", came his report.

So Jamie and I gave it a bash. And a bash it was.

Tanya took the pictures from the sand bank at the river mouth.

The river reaches the sea. The deep water channel then takes a sharp turn left towards Jeffreys Bay. The channel runs parallel to the beach for about 400 meters with a massive sandbank between the channel and the sea. Waves wash over the sandbank, making the channel a bit of a washing machine. Then there is a set of leading marks on the sand dunes on the left. As you approach the leading marks, you can start to see where the water is smoothest, indicating the deep water pass into the bay.

So it is then a right turn to starboard, straight out with breaking waves on the sandbanks to port and starboard. The deep water channel also had breakers today, but at least you are in deep water so as long as you don't bottom out, you're okay.

I asked Jamie to do a video clip of the bit out through the waves. He was doing well until a big wave came and he ducked into the cabin and left me to take the full impact of the wave. His video clip goes from "interesting" to a black mumble jumble as he ends up filming wild scenes of the cabin, his feet, the roof and other blurry images. This happened twice, and then we were through.

The pictures show us firstly in the channel parallel to the beach, the sand bar with the waves on it, then shows us doing the sharp turn to seaward and finally punching through the waves.

Getting Banjo out of the Kromme River

Banjo completed leg ONE of the journey to St Helena.

We shoved her off the beach in front of our house at low tide, mast down to pass underneath Gallerelli Bridge. Once past the bridge, Patric and I pulled up at the Cove to step the mast. Later at high tide Jamie and I took her the short stretch down the Kromme River to the bar, through the surf and across the Bay to Port St Francis.

Sea Fever

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.




I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call an a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.




I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.




Sea Fever - John Masefield

This is Service

Great Service.

We decided to fit an additional spinnaker halyard to the mast. For that we needed a tang to take the halyard block.

So I contacted Southern Spars in Cape Town. They manufactured Banjo's mast a few years ago.

Despite being one of the world's leading mast builders they remember me. Anyway, Richard Stubbs advises a stainless steel tang and a nylon mounting pad to suite the mast profile (the details of which they have kept on "my" file.).

I ask for a quote and ask them to please include whatever fasteners I will need to attach the fitting to the mast. A few days later they advise that the parcel is on it's way to me.

And I now start to worry about where on earth in Humansdorp or Jeffreys Bay will I be able to buy a tap for cutting the thread into the aluminium mast. I envisage driving to a gazilion places looking for a tap. And how will I know what size drill bit to use?

I just see my valuable spare time going to waste driving from one shop to the next.

The parcel arrives.

Now what I had ordered, is in the top picture.

What Southern Spars sent me, is in the bottom picture.

The first thing to catch my eye when I opened the parcel, was the drill bit. I couldn't believe my luck. And then, after getting all the stuff out, the last item out of the packet...............A TAP! A tap for cutting the threads for taking the four machine screws. I was ecstatic!

Now if that is not service, I don't know.

Well done Southern Spars. I think we can all learn from you.

The Boat is Afloat

The Boat is Afloat.

Banjo is afloat again!

Patrick, Tanya's butler and I manuavered Banjo out of the driveway stern first, a sharp turn right, aim the bows down the road, get the car onto the other send, hook everything up and down the road we went.

All went well until one of the launching dolley wheels went off the road and got stuck on the Italian's lawn. Vas!

This is St Francis Bay. The town of thatch roofed houses. Thatch is roofed onto poles. There will ALWAYS be an abandoned pole in sight somewhere close by in this town. So we scanned the surrounds and spotted a pole. Under the dolley went the pole. Got the car to the other end of the boat and in two ticks we're back on the road again.

Then down the slip, unfold the boat and motor to the front of the house. But only after realising that I had left the kill switch for the engine at home. So home first (200 meters down the road), then hop onboard and motor to the beach in front of the house.

Tanya waiting for me, heels tapping, shower, change of cloathes and back to Humansdorp with Jamie to attend a welcomming function at the high school he will be attending next year.

I hope the weather plays along so we can step the mast and get the boat out the river on Saturday/ Sunday.

Oh, Yes. Jerry and I have set our sights on getting involved with some guys making a documentary on the Race. Hopefully more about that soon.

Cheers!

Cheers!



My co-skipper and navigator/ weather router and race strategist (that's one person!), Jeremy Bagshaw and I toasting the future success of our voyage. That rock in the background isn't just any old rock by the way. It is THE ROCK. That rock is Cabo de Hornos. Cape Horn.



As the winning skipper of the previous Governors Cup race, Jeremy comes with a degree of celebrity status. Our objective...........to have a good fast passage and to be first boat in at St Helena.
Jeremy is talking about beating the mailship there................That means a 9 day trip. Can be done. But it is sailing. All depends on the weather.




Way back in 1985 the two of us were part of Rod van der Wheele's crew onboard Wings in the South Atlantic Race to Punta del Este, Uruguay. That was a great voyage and afterwards the two of us remained behind to sail Wings back to Port Elizabeth for Rod. With one other guy onboard, we tackled the hard slog back to South Africa on the 10 meter long Wings.
To this day, that voyage stands out as the hardest trip I have ever done on a yacht. The weather was atrocious. It was cold. We had no autopilot. It was just a relentless bash.



We had strong headwinds, we had storms, we hove-to more than once just to get some rest and to get out of the cold. We had hailstorms, but we also had some incredible runs under kite approaching Cape Town.



The fact that we are still on speaking terms after that sail means that the hop to St Helena should be a walk in the park for us.



Back to the present.



In 4 weeks time we leave St Francis Bay to sail Banjo down to Simonstown for our 1st December start.



I hope to put the boat back into the canals outside our home tomorrow afternoon after work. Depending on the weather and the state of the river mouth this coming Saturday or Sunday, we will get the boat through under the bridge in the St Francis Bay canals and step the mast. Then through the surf at the river bar and back to our berth in Port St Francis.




Once back in the harbour I will relax a bit.



This evening I got the job list out. Not much left to do. Small jobs like wash the sailcover, measure the running rigging for the spinnaker, make Jeremy's cockpit shade and make Jeremy's deck chairs................these rockstars want everything.



Back at the business I am working my butt off. The "while I'm gone" file is just about complete. The new pole yard is coming on well and should be done by Friday. We have a paint tinting machine coming into our St Francis Bay store by the end of the month. I have to throw a staff party and long service awards evening in early November.



We are just about ready to leave!

Wrapping Up

Wrapping Up.

I have four weeks left at the shop!

The 14 th, 15th November is the date we have set as earliest date of departure for Simonstown. That will leave us less than 12 days for final preparation in Simonstown. So all of a sudden the heat is on.

The boat is ready to go back into the water, any high tide this week.

The engine is back from the engine guys. The solar panels have been tested and is working fine. The autopilot has been dropped from my study upstairs, to the dining room downstairs. It seems to have survived. I gave it a checkout and it is working. Time will tell.

The leaky cabin windows have been reseated and is keeping out the rain. Tanya has washed the ropes and lines and halyards! Yes, Tanya. Jamie and I have fitted the chafe protection strips onto the mainsail. That's to stop the spreader tips working their way through the sail on the run up to St Helena.

I am still waiting for the extra spinnaker halyard bracket from the spinnaker halyard bracket guys. And waiting for the spinnaker from the spinnaker guys.

Still to go in are the two 102 amp batteries. (they are in Humansdorp.....still at the battery shop guys.) And one more solar panel. All the wiring is done. That was the big job.

Within the next week we must get the boat out of the canals in front of the house, under the bridge, step the mast, get the boat out of the river, over the bar and through the surf, and back into Port St Francis. Then I can relax a bit. Before I tackle all the house jobs.

Tanya has rented out the house for December. That is to fund the costs of the family going to St Helena on the mailship and for my trip back. Only pity is I had to pay for all that now, and we only collect the rent cheque in December. SERIOUS cashflow challenges. Meanwhile I must do some work on the house too.

To pay for our accommodation on St Helena, Tanya started to clean out the garage and all the cupboards inside the house for a huge jumble sale next to the road coming into town. Result.... The accommodation is almost paid for!

Still to find a new home is Rosie's Optimist dinghy. If that can go, we can seriously upgrade our cottage on St Helena. And there is still my marina berth for sale. That has to go badly, I need the ash to plug some other holes which the boat has made.

My study is getting crammed with boat gear. The yacht is totally empty of lose gear. All in my study. Everything which must go back on, is up here so I can check it out and decide if it has any role to play on board. WEIGHT, WEIGHT, WEIGHT.

I can just see the boat settling deeper in the water by the day.

Business Opportunities

Business opportunities.


My co-skipper/ navigator gets hold of me this morning. He says that there has been a 30% increase in the price of beer on St Helena since September last year. That's when he last visited the Island. Twice within one year. He's like a celebrity there he tells me.


Anyway, I cannot figure out why, if he is so famous, does he worry about the price of beer out there. Surely people are climbing over one another to buy him a dop.


Seems like he isn't THAT famous!


So, back to the price of beer on the Island.


He asks me how much beer can we get into the two floats of our trimaran. He's talking case loads. He reckons we can double our money by shipping some Castles over. Kinda like recover the costs of the Race. Now you have read about that Money Tree that is bearing no fruit. So I perk up a bit.


I say,"skip the case loads. Let's go big, lets do bulk. Lets just flood the two floats with beer and when we get there we rig up a hosepipe and trade on tap, so to speak".


Tanya says, "with all that beer on board you guys will be so wrecked you wouldn't care what the price of beer on the Island will be".

I say, "with all that beer on board, who says we will even find the Island".


The navigator peps up from out of his locker, "I've always wanted to go to Brazil!"

I say, "In Brazil beer is cheap, we won't need to take our own".


The discussions drift over towards hot chicks on Brazilian beaches and finding Grahams abandoned boat and whatever.



Life goes round in circles.

Checklists

The checklist is getting shorter by the day.

Hopefully we can shove the Banjo back into the water round about the 17 th/ 18 th of the month. As soon as we can tie up getting away from the business with a nice high tide to float the boat off the dolley.

Whats left to do?

The big jobs are all but done.

The solar panels are ready to plug in and test. I fitted the one onto its post and it makes the boat look like a serious offshore racer. I would have tested it today but there was no sun, not a single ray.

The boat is antifouled. Except for the two spots where the centre hull is resting in the chocks. I'll jack the boat up with a truck jack and touch the two spots up. Wait for it to dry, and lower the boat down again.

This is the kind of thing that takes time. Nothing can ever be done one-shot. There is always the little spot that needs extra time.

The bottom is now RED. Used to be blue. The red is a bit of a safety thing. In case we flip the boat, the red will hopefully makes it easier to spot us. Note, "in case we flip the boat", not "if the boat flips". Sailing the tri under kite on the open ocean with the trades pushing is gonna be a new experience for us. It is going to be so different from running downwind with a keelboat where you can push as hard as you want. The trimaran is going to require some "responsible" boathandling when the breeze kicks in.

I have also re-seated the portside cabin windows which were leaking a bit too much to my liking. It was a real pita job. Sika everywhere if you are not careful. But it is an important job. Sailing a boat with a nice dry interior is just so much better than one with leaks and drips everywhere. Except for one or two leaky bolts on the starboard side windows which I must still hunt down, I am now confident we will have a dry boat.

So what's left?

Step the mast. After getting an additional halyard tang from Sparcraft. But don't rush them!

Get the outboard back from the service agents. Now hopefully with a charger fitted. And don't rush those outboard guys either.

Buy the two batteries. At least the battery guy have them in stock and they will fit into the battery locker without any mods.

Give the boat a good scrub and polish the stainless steel.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. I must still do the co-skippers comforts list. That I'll do once the boat is afloat.