Just Cruizin On Bluemoon

2006/12/20   2006/4/20

 

It was the 4th of March 2006 and we were on our way to a long awaited adventure... and we were already running late!
Hubby John, and myself, Jenny, had spoken about sailing for quite a few years, as well as having signed up for a monthly sailing magazine for the same time period! Yet neither one of us ever sailed.
Yea, we�d been on a cruise ship a few times, and having three kids, Justine (14), Jessica (13), and Jonathan (12) we have tried water skiing, wake boarding, everything else except sailing!
We read up on a lot of logs on different cruisers and their stories, and felt like we had been on some amazing adventures! Yet it was now time to make it our reality...

We were late! Yet excited! We thought that by doing the sailing course, it would give us a better idea on how we would work together as a team, how we would handle each other being in a small space, and if we thought we could take our dream further...
The reality - Better than we expected! It was great - and just so exhilarating! The best part was, we felt like we had cracked the sailing code - We felt like we were now one of them - We could now talk the talk! (Yea right!) John did two courses while the kids and I did one, yet our enthusiasm did not stop there.
John brought charts and started to teach us the navigation which was his second course, keeping in mind that we never even had a boat yet! Talk about being optimistic!

Having started our own business a good few years ago, and working ourselves almost till exhaustion, we had also been home-schooling our three children for four years (built a class room in our factory) when we had to start assessing our lives...
Quantity without quality of life... we made some firm decisions.

Still only talking about the sailing / cruising life. We decided we were going to Canada - our long term goal. So we restructured our business, sold off all our machinery, which was quite a painful exercise! Rented our factories, and finely came home to reflect on life and look at what we as a family wanted to do.
Having spent the last 7 years renovating our house in Warner Beach, Durban, South Africa, we were almost ready to put it on the market.
Jonathan, during his pottery lesson, made a clay catamaran, and the rest of the family had the privilege of painting it... We spent a good few weeks coming up with a name that suited our personality, our characters as we all wanted to have a piece of ourselves in the name and logo; Which turned out to be a winner for all of us, and our boat�s name, the one we still hadn�t got was named in faith �JUST CRUIZIN� with a perfect picture of a dolphin having a cocktail in a hammock on an Island with palm trees and a bright sun shining on.

We turned Jonathan�s miniature (pottery) catamaran into the real McCoy dream, with the sail and logo! Considering that we had finely decided to go cruising for a few years. We were looking at three makes of boats, which we were considering for sailing.
As it so happens, we waited in anticipation for a few months only to find that in this field, finding the right boat is just not as easy as one thought! Well, now the lists start of what to look out for, what to do, how to prioritise, how to access... my Gosh! What a new learning experience!
Next thing you know, I may be selling boats! After seeing a good amount of boats it all became a total blur for me! Though what I did learn is that no matter how pretty or how unappealing the interior is that means actually very little in retrospect to the three main things of importance... The hulls, the motors and the sails!
Those are the most important - the rest can be fixed. Also a water-maker is just as important!
With a lot of investigation and research, we finely found a boat that we wanted to negotiate on....
Now I am not sure about all of you, but I somehow have a thing about names, and was very weary about this un-kept, mouldy boat! I was far from thrilled, yet as John saw it, it was a diamond in the rough. He was just so tired of looking at boats, and desperately wanted one to work on!! Yet, funny how I somehow just couldn�t find the diamond, yet, we hoped things would work out the way they were meant to... The deal fell through and we were back to looking at boats.
Then came the day we found our pearl! She is a St. Francis 44 catamaran named Bluemoon. Now the dilemma about changing her name?
We loved her name, yet loved our Just Cruizin! Somehow I was sure it would all work out being a win- win. And so, the excitement grew. We went to have an inspection and had her anti fouled, did the sea trial and were very happy to have found our boat. The safety was comforting as well as her being spacious!
With 5 of us, we needed more space and so we were pleased, and so went ahead with the deal, which had it�s drawbacks! A lesson on its own! And so we decided to get someone to teach us on our boat, as it is a little different to a monohull.
Only now do I understand why it is called half a boat! (Laugh Out Loud!)
Well, the lessons were far from what we expected. We were back to a classroom from 8:30 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon! We broke only for lunch! What a shock to ones system! The kids were handling the navigation just fine as they were studying most of it in their maths! And we had done some with John when he got his day skippers...
This was just fantastic for them as they were not doing schooling while we were training. I was expecting to be hitting the high seas to learn all that needed to be learnt.... yet, we were now in a classroom doing navigation... What can I say! We want to go sailing! So hang in there till the next log...

2007/1/16     2007/1/26

Well, we are back!
We wish you all a wonderful year ahead blessed with good friends, good memories, good health and of course... lots of laughter, bubble baths, and (JC)champaign!!
What an interesting and challenging time we have had with so many loose ends our side .. which were still here after getting back! At least we found our camera!
Stacked in a very safe place!! And our few belongings that were stashed in our garage was still here!!
Unfortunately I cannot write individual letters anymore, without having easy access to the net, so one letter will be for all! Saves me typing over 65 letters if to each of you! Haha Shows you how much fun, and valuable time I have spent on my comp! doing what I love most! I am going to miss that!!
Though just know we think of all of you! We have been blessed to have such wonderful friends and family as you! Each one of you have touched our lives in such an uplifting and positive way and we have some wonderful memories to last us a lifetime! Thank you!
We will be able to receive your mail so please keep them coming in!!
Also trying to organise a web site where you can log on and read up on our logs and see where we are on google earth! But till then, we will just continue as we are, though we will still send our mail out incase you cannot log on the net.
As promised here is some catch up news...
We arrived safely back in Durban and went to our �empty� house...

The last few days have been mad with excitement, moving onto our boat called �Just Cruizin on Bluemoon� the registered name of the boat is just bluemoon...
Hope you like the name Dirk! Hehe had to satisfy everyone especially if you have your dingy tied to the back of the boat!!
Our new rule is �You dirty it, you clean it!�So �M� now stands for mother and not maid!! Seems I am going to enjoy the whole extra days I have free!!
Saves Johns voice from breaking with the repetition of repeating what they must do! Yet the kids have been great!
They are doing everything with a new burst of energy and excitement! And though tempers have been frayed from the last couple of stressful weeks we have had, the holiday seemed to spark a new page in their life and they are keen and ready for anything!
Thanks Pippa for letting the kids horse-ride while visiting! What a great evening!
We all thoroughly enjoyed it!!. Hopefully we can do it again sometime!

The kids have been spending a great deal of time catching fish off the boat and from the jetty, after their chores. Hopefully, they will even catch some keepers that we can fillet for lunch or supper!
Welcome to the sailing world is not as fun sounding when you imagine cleaning your heads!(Toilets) It has been a rough time tackling the head, as it is a pretty smelly job too, considering we have hardly used it! And the more people on the boat to get the job done, the better!! Hehe
Sailing is going to bring a new reality on some tasks! Rather think about sipping a peach colada or JC with a stunning sunset with dolphins swimming around the bow!
Yet, as one of the cruises from �Shanon� said to me, while watching a boat sink! �You will need to grow some hair on your teeth�! OoOoh!!
Things are almost in place, and once we get the batteries, which should be in a couple of days, and all is charged up, then we are all systems to go.
Having our RNYC membership and busy with our SAMSA and, and, and..., we should be ready to take our first trip by the 15th January!!
My big �40" is on the 16th so we are gonna have a blast! We both are going to train up for our Coastal certificate. We should have it end of Feb, so we will need to do at least 4 or 5 trips to Richards bay for milage, training and as our shakedown to see what needs to be sorted on the boat before heading off into the big ocean!! Yikes!!!
What excitement that cannot be put into words runs through our veins!!! I am not sure when all of this will hit us that we are not on vacation and that this is our life!.
Last night`s sunset was just so amazing that I felt that I was experiencing heaven on earth. And although we have not started yet, we have noticed that there is just so much beauty all around us, and we need to stop once in a �bluemoon� to witness it!
Somehow, I doubt if our so-called unemployment is ever going to be felt! Hehehe. John and kids went fishing yesterday 10/01/07 and finely brought home a great catch!
We were all in our element as we were gonna go down and get some food if they never brought home a catch - so we were all delighted with the best tasting fish in town!
Well, guess you cannot rely on fishing as a sole source as we all tried our hand at fishing, but, sorry to say the weather had strong gales and so we came home empty handed and so, went and bought fish!!
Not quite the same hey! Still early days though! The best is yet to come!
Thanks Carlene for all your help with that burn gel sponge! It has made such a major difference and there is no more burning!! My arm is on the way to a full recovery, and it looks as though it may not leave a nasty scar... want to come sailing with us?
Well, signing off for now yet will keep you updated.
Love Always John, Jenny, Justine, Jessica and Jonathan xxx

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful e-mails!
When I hear the word JC - all my attention is perked, so Pippa I will certainly be thinking of you though we are very sorry you and Andre won�t be joining us!
Jenny I want all the news of your trip to Aussie, Yvette, our precious baby and all the exciting updates! Will be waiting for us to have that good cuppa!!
Hein and Karen, also sorry you won�t be joining us, though I do know how tight your schedule is, and it is only for a season, so keep your chin up, keep focussed and you will get through it all! Will be thinking of you! Glad you are all well and having a great new year so far! Keep the news rolling!
We have had quite an exciting few days sleeping on blown up beds! Thanks Julie and Ken, the kids love you even more now!! Feels just like camping! Except no wood braai�s inside! Have started with the studies!! Yea! Theory and navigation! Thank the Lord for calculators!! Has been quite a brain strain for me, a lot of thinking which I have not been doing much of lately! John as usual has no problem! He is your straight A student in this area, and so their will be two Captains on board!! LOL!!
As we say, �we are in this together�.... ( hehehe - the captain has to sleep sometime!) All the paperwork has been registered and so by this weekend, all should be in order for us to be moving finely, onto our new home �Bluemoon�.
It has just been so amazing how smooth everything has been going for us - looks like the season in life has changed for us!! We have just a few things left to fix and sort out which has turned out to be perfect timing! All of us are busy cleaning, and finishing up and so far we have gone through almost all the rooms and so are excited at finely completing our house fully after seven years or is it eight now??!!!!
Just won�t get to fully enjoy the finished product! Bought a few travel books and have been plotting our course!! Oh Yea! Soon, soon!!
Kids have moved all their stuff into their cabins and have made it �comfortable�, so we have a miniature of our home!
Looks like a sailing gypsy with all our bright colourful decor, chimes and mobiles!! John has limited me to only a few otherwise we might sink with all the holes and extra weight. LOL
It has really been fun especially realising we only have shorts, more shorts and even more, with a lot of different t-shirts!
Our wind-breakers and of course only two pairs of sea sandals!! Now we are having a problem deciding what we are going to wear for my 40th party at the Roma, Revolving restaurant!
All of the above we have is not acceptable to their dress code so now we will go shopping! LOL Oh boy, this can really get to be fun, as we will wear our �good �clothes for all good occasions, and might have a problem when looking through the photos as to which occasion was which! Just as with you Jono, always wearing a different red shirt! Hehehe.
Yet, we will cross that bridge when we get there.
Will send some pic�s of the gypsy LOL and of all the fishing and, and, and later when we have sorted them out and captured them in the correct size.... (that could take quite some time!)
Today was a delightful day! Thanks for all the phone calls and sms�s for my birthday! Had a really great time with my family who spoilt me rotten! And on Saturday, I will be blessed to spend time with a lot of you building wonderful memories to carry me through my 40ties. Being the baby among you all, I now feel as mature as you all act!! LOL
And yea, I will learn from your example of living out the �naughty forties!!�
Well, we are finely spending our last night here at home!
Yea, the batteries have arrived!! So we will be picking up the batteries tomorrow morning, along with the last of our stuff and off to the boat we will go!!
Everything is going just perfect and the people who bought the house, along with their Boss and accountant all came today to check all was in order with the house, and are happy with the result!
They should be after we cleaned our butts off!! Though, John and I vow NEVER EVER, through the grace of God alone, to EVER deal with the Chinese EVER, AGAIN!
(They love negotiating!) Yet what fantastic people! They really are great!
Now that I have made that very clear, we are excited that the wheels are turning and soon we will be on the water and ready to go out for our training!!
March is just around the corner! So we need to be ready and qualified, so when the other yachties leave, we can piggy back and follow them to safer waters!! Heheh sounds like we need to really move on this!!
20 January 2007 - Those batteries caused quite an uproar in our family..... John packs the car to the brim with all our goods and takes Jonathan with him to help move it all onto the boat. Picks up the batteries which add to the load and stress as time keeps moving on! On arrival, there is no parking!
So you can now imagine how far they have to walk!! Coupled to that, ALL the trolleys are out which will now add to the many trips to the boat they will both have to do, and some of the goods are VERY �Heavy�!! The girls and I are cleaning and finishing up...
Keeping in mind, today is the big �40` party. And we are supposed to be moved out and onto the boat!
John took two batteries down to the boat, to connect them, only to find that they are now to big!!! They do not fit anymore!! So off to the battery shop he goes to find that the batteries are actually the same, just the casing is bigger... so John arrives back late afternoon with a car still full of all our goods!!
Odd thing is that we had to be out the house that day!! So you can see our dilemma??
Dirk, you have been such a wonderful and loyal friend for many years!! Thanks for coming to our rescue!! Taking all our stuff to your garage and giving us a place to stay for the night!! Thank you!
The one thing I have been blessed with is good friends!! Thanks to all of you for always being their for us when we have needed it the most!!
What a wonderful evening! Thanks Ken and Julie! Estelle and Herbert! Dirk senior, Jono and Lallie, Diane, Gus and Carlene, Dirk jnr and Meagen!
I have some memories to last me a life time! The prezzies were an unexpected extra adding to a stunning evening for us! Wish I could say we should do this again soon !!!!
Pippa, I had a whole bottle just for you! Then a few extra glasses because you could not be with us!! Dirk, some really great memories will stay with us, especially the fun we had sleeping at your place! Again thanks! The bakkie did the job!
Leaving early and being at the boat by eight did it! Perfect parking! All the trolleys ....We are on the boat!! Yes, batteries connected with electricity!! Pretty organised too!
Great first day on the boat! Washing went extremely well, bonus of getting just enough tan to last till tomorrow! Then time for everyone to sleep.... all went well, till about 11 pm, kids were sleeping, John went to move the car, and I decided to pop down to meet mother nature!
Well, what an unexpected turn of events! When I sat on the loo, I thought I must have really sat far down as I felt water on my but.... then to my shock, the water was filling over the sides onto the floor in floods!!
Man, I jumped off that loo with speed, heart pumping, trying to think fast without first bolting off the boat in fear that it was sinking, so I grabbed a cup holding the toothbrushes and started to scoop the water out of the bowl to stop the flood.... while scooping I heard a crackling sound!! FIRE!!
Maybe I had burned the pump out earlier in the day when I pumped a few muscles onto my biceps myself!! Here I was outside, smoking, puffing away, running back to catch the flood and feeling for heat from the fire, but no smell was to be found or flames, so I stayed outside having a smoke expecting the one side of the hull to go down with the fire and the flood, but no..... so here comes John and I calmly tell him of this problem, so here goes John springing into action like never seen before with torch in hand investigating and looking for the problem... we both were in and out the boat in a rush not really knowing what the hell we were doing... except that we were both having a cardiovascular workout!!!
Here I am outside, balancing while holding the side trying to look under the boat for flames, when this massive fish jumps unexpectedly out the water splashing everywhere - all I can say was that after that I was finished!!
Any strong drug would have been great at that moment!! So off to bed we go praying for the best! If our time is up then it�s up!! Seeing blue skies from our open hatch in the cabin on waking, we realized we had not suck or no fire took us to our end!
Turns out it is the barnacles on the bottom of the boat, under the water opening up to catch plankton!! Yea, we laugh now as did everyone when we asked about the noise and explained our situation, and as was told to us, every single skipper who buys a boat and moves on it, all experience the FIRE scenario!!
And because of the extreme we went through we got to hear the warning of the �Planet Venus� attack!! When sailing on the open waters, you will see a red light on the horizon at about dawn, and will think it a ships light, then it will turn into a bright light which will come directly towards you, and so you will alter your course to move away from the light, but the light will still come directly towards you which by this stage the �ship� will be almost on top of you!!
So between Pan, Pan Help, Help, who knows what else people in desperate situations shout out on the HAM or SSB, u will find it is only Planet Venus rising!!!
And the stories of what different people did had me in hysterics, though it would have been a different story if I faced that!! Meme is busy with our training and all is going well, still on the basic know how of all the instruments and all that kind of thing so I am still smiling and not stressing over how hard it might get.
Though for not �working� for awhile now, I am taking strain concentrating for such long periods!! And the kids are taking it even harder! Coming back from a long break, and even though they have done some of the work in their paces, they have always had a variety of exciting things happening to break up the work side, during their school day, now we all sit for a long time listening to theory!
Also start at 8:30 with a break for lunch then straight on till 5! Having air-con in the room definitely helps! And iced water! Today while packing the washing, I threw the towels down onto a basket in the passageway to tidy up and hide them, and I tell you next thing I hear a gas bottle blowing off!!! What a shock to my system! Y
et, to my delight it was actually the aerosol can of paint which went everywhere!! Guess who is cleaning that up?? LOL Today is already Friday and I have not had a chance to post this log yet....
Finished early today, at lunch time, and so had time to rush and finish some work, get what we need for our sailing exercises and had time for a good few cuppa�s and time to catch up on what�s been happening!
Well, the classes are definitely getting more technical for me and so have been quite a challenge, but am getting through it! John is an excellent instructor and so gets me ready for the next day, so I have been really working hard!!
Kids have been doing very well! So we are very impressed! They are now seeing some of the Geography come to life and some of the stuff they have done! So for them it is really good!
Trying to tell the weather with the tides and the currents, which way the highs and lows are moving, are they clockwise, anticlockwise etc... what knots the wind is blowing... so easy when you understand it! But for my little brain, it has had more than a work out!!
I feel it expanding and growing like I�ve never felt before ... with knowledge!! LOL I know it sounds crazy, but it is true!
We are expecting some visitors and so are getting ready for them! We are taking the rest of the day off and tomorrow we will get back to the studies!!
What a lot of excitement for us! We are loving it!
Waking up at about 5am then doing our washing, hanging it up then having a good cuppa while the world still sleeps around us... then time to have breakfast which is not something John and I are used to as we always only had one meal a day while working, so we feel like we are on a holiday and are enjoying it!
Cannot believe how hungry we have been!! And so we have been eating regularly and feel great!!
We are moored right at the end of the walk way and at the end of everything!! We pass around between 70 and 80 boats to get to ours!! So you can imagine how much walking we have been doing ... walking our legs to total fitness!
Our feet are swollen which we think is from the heat and sitting down most of the day while doing theory as it is so hot it is actually almost unbearable!
Well another glorious sunset!!
Till my next update, please keep the mail coming in! From us all!

What an amazing storm we had!! The mother of all storms!
The lightning was almost continuous and the light was just so bright!
The rumbling under the boat was just unbelievable! It was shaking the boat and we all felt this continuous vibration!
The thunder was so loud and we were all looking to see who had the tallest mast so we felt better that we would not be hit first, yet you never really know hey!
Also met some new yachties, and I do mean new... never been on a boat before, are farmers out in the midlands and we just started to chat as they were right next to us! I gave her a few tips on what we have been told and learnt, anyhow, they got stuck in the club during the big storm!
They were so frightened that they drank themselves into total calmness and they were not even on the boat!! Hehehe
We decided to go and sleep near the end of the front of the storm, yet were so hot and could not sleep, so when we noticed the rain had stopped, we got up and went back outside where everyone was rushing back to their boats so they did not catch the second part of the storm, and when they saw us it was like a magnet!!
They all came aboard and with their own drinks!! Now that was the one tip I gave to Karen, Joss and Rory, is that you always offer water if someone is thirsty, it is acceptable, and when you visit other boats, take your own drinks with as it sets a president... . so here they come with all the drinks and they landed up giving all there booze to everyone else!!
I stuck to coffee - strong coffee! What fun talking to all these characters!
The kids landed up playing monopoly till about 3:30 that morning with all the other kids and we sat in the cockpit drenched having some real good laughs!!
As you know, I sent out sms�s to let you know we actually arrived safely in Richards Bay!! We were in gusts of up 40 knots with about 6/7 metre swells! Man were we running! It was the most exhilarating experience ever!
We were up at 4 am that morning to leave at 5, but ended up leaving at 6:10 am and till 12pm (lunch time), we had the best sail ever!! It was almost too true to believe!
Our yacht lapped at the waves and just seemed to be loving it! Crazy I know but I tell you I am convinced... Then the winds picked up... and more, then even more!
Man it was getting rough! Just like being in a washing machine! We had high waves on our stern, and then we were jolted by another wave then shooting down till we were washed up again by another wave, and move.... We were pushing up to 16.3 knots!!
We had 40 knots wind speed!!! And we peaked 19.7 knots on the log!! All of us were feeling a tad weezy - yet we coped better than expected!
And sopping wet cause the waves were crashing over the boat onto us in the cockpit!!
So, I dash down to the head, and decide to have a peek out the side hole hatch.... well I tell you! As I open the hatch a massive wave comes up side on and gushes into the head all over me! I was absolutely drenched! The head was flooded! The little bath was full!! The floor was flooded in just a second man!! And there stands John to witness it all!
He could not stop laughing, even now, he thought that was the best thing since chewing gum! LOL and at least he was able to get the hatch closed tight!
Well, our trip was one roller coaster ride which really was better than any fun fair ride ever! While catching our breath after that, we notice a massive reef right in front of us!!
Have you seen someone panic? Well, we rush to the chart to see what we missed, maybe the tide has pushed us closer to shore! Meme is in the head, and here we stand wondering if we should alter course and quickly!!
Thank goodness Meme saw the humour, as she put us all at ease with it being a moving cloud!!!!!! Yea, we can laugh now, but at that moment our hearts were in our throats ready to be swallowed!!
We arrived very pleased with ourselves, covered in bruises and cuts and grazes we never even knew happened! Shows you how we were rocked back and forth!
It took us 11 hours there which is very good! Then we came back the next day leaving at 9:10am and what a blessing to see another side to the sea!
So calm - so friendly, and oh so slow compared to the day before! Yet, we chilled out, and found ourselves in those wonderful unbelievable moments! It took us 13 hours, and we did night watch, as we got back to harbour a little past midnight - at 12:30 we cruised in. It was just so great to have done this!
Now we have moved right up to A jetty which faces the South westerlies face on!!
Though we are in a glove now, we have not been able to practice our mooring in and out of it as we just do not have enough space to maneuver an inch! There is only space for the fenders!! So now we will see what we can do!
But no worries, we take it as it comes! At least we are not on a chain mooring which means we would have to dingy in and out to the boat, so no complaints from me there! We have been out at sea doing our tacking in the wind up to Umhlanga and back, and helming.
Also we have been doing our anchoring which has been quite fun. It has given us a lot more muscle power and we do gym everyday, all day on the yacht! LOL!
We thought we walked along way on C jetty LOL!! It is just so much further to walk now, which has been so revitalising for us and just so good getting all this exercise - we can see the difference!!
No huffing and puffing! I cannot believe that we are actually fitter!
Well, we have booked for our 1st aid course which will be practical and maritime approved so we are looking forward to that first week in March (2007).
Also been learning for our radio licence! Never knew it could be so technical and so much! Just for a little radio!!
Well, guess I do need to learn it the most as when we went out to sea a day or two ago, I radio in to Durban Port Control, asking permission to leave harbour and find Meme looking at me with very big eyes!! I am supposed to radio in on channel 9 - instead I radio in on channel 16 which is ONLY used for MAYDAY or EMERGENCY CALLS!!!
The one and only channel which is forbidden to be used casually!
What can I say!! LOL
Clearly one could see I hadn�t a clue, yet they allowed me in and were ever so nice!! Everyone here who has the channel open knows someone from �Bluemoon�used the forbidden channel !!!! LOL! This place is worse than radio 5fm or Capital radio!
News spreads faster than the waves!! Hehehe

Want to make a book for all the mistakes we have made so far!
Guess we will have a series as there have been so many!! Hehehe - We do not have a shortage of laughter on this boat when we discuss the days happenings!!! It is fun!
The kids have been keeping a log of all their experiences and moments on the boat, from their perspective...

Exciting stuff! We have got our steps for the mast and John has been putting them up!
No time for fear of heights as the job must be done!! And what wonderful people!
Ron, and his friend George came to meet us and drop off the steps, and I am just so excited to be meeting such great people!!
Jono and Justine have already climbed right to the top of the mast on the steps and have taken some pictures!
Got a touch of the iby-giby�s!!! We have a wooden stair like chair which you winch up on the spinnaker halyard, and John has had quite a time dealing with all the painful muscles he never knew he had!! And here I am bragging of how fit we are!!
I think I was speaking for myself there on the fitness side!! LOL Well, I cannot believe the weeks are flying past so fast! We have had our stack-pack (Holds our main sail) fixed as the zip was bust and causing quite a problem with the reefing!
We had our last navigation lesson today!!! I cannot tell you how I am going to celebrate when this is all over!! No pain no gain!!
Somehow I am the only one living those words!!! We have finely got our window blinds on and man is it so cool inside! It had made such a big difference!! We have managed to clean out the other bilge which was �Blocked�!! John was out and so I was screaming orders to Justine, Ian, and Jonathan!! They had to open the lid and stick a broom in to clear a blockage as we had overfilled it and it was now leaking, and so with me messing with the macerator, the batteries went pap!!
So I had the engines on almost at full revs with the blowers going, so I could hear nothing!! John came back to find the lot of us running around most of the morning sorting out this pump! Well somehow there was a piece of flower arrangement foam blocking the hole!! How it got there no-one will ever know!
So it is completed! No smell from our head either!! So we are absolutely delighted that we did a job well done!! Have manage to balance the boat out by putting the spinnaker in Justine�s fore-locker! Have managed to sort out all the leaks so we are a dry boat now with no more hatch surprises!!
Have received our second tender now and it is in for repairs!!
Tried out our new 9hp motor on our other tender in the bay last night and had quite a lot of fun realizing it is not as easy as it looks!
Took the paddles with just incase as the handle got stuck and we could not turn and so went straight into the boat next to us!!! Naughty! NAUGHTY!! LoL!! We never made any marks or damages so we were okay!
Guess we will need to make a big complaint about these ski boats who come to test their motors everyday!
They get close to our boat which is second from the end and then they open up leaving a wake that reminds us of our Richards bay trip as we rock and roll totally as if out on the open waters in 80 knot winds!!!! Not too funny when you are walking up the stairs with two cups of coffee and no hands left to hold on!!
Yet it seems it is only myself who has this problem!
Today the girls and I went to get some groceries, and of course we took our back packs with, yet we did not take into account that John and Jonathan were not with us with their backpacks or their help so we had such a funny moment after packing our backpacks to the top with the heaviest goods and then landed up carrying like three packets each!
We could hardly walk as it was so heavy! We could not stop laughing looking at each other buckle and bend under the weight! Took us 45 minutes to walk like 30 steps as we were crying from laughter!
Then finely we got the trolley to push to the boat and found all our goods rolling out the side as some of the packets had torn! Guess you had to be their to find the humour in it all. And so we had such a lovely braai!
The kids met some friends from the sailing school and invited them which turned out to be quite a nice evening! We have learnt quite a bit from them so it was really fun!
Got a south westerly blowing in now at quite a speed! Looks like we ready for take off! Guess if we did leave for Richards bay we would break the record!
Good thing we are not as we won�t have a north easterly to push us home again so we will wait till the weather report is favourable. Also we cannot leave this week coming as we have our 1st aid course on the 6-8th March so it might be the week after.
Guess you will know all about it when you read my logs, which I hope is not too drawn out and boring!!.
Have been so busy with the studies, fixing of the boat, sorting and planning!
We have been so blessed by Ron, the guy we bought our mast steps from as he has sailed the world! And he found us worthy enough to give us ALL his charts for around the east coast of Africa! Yea! Yea! Yea!!! Just where we are going and it was for free!!
I feel so chuffed at that I cannot tell you how blessed we actually are as one small chart is around R 150 for 1!! And you need a few of the area!
So the amount would have been quite astronomical!! So we will buy steps from him hopefully sell them along the way. Jonathan can make himself some pocket money by putting them up! Yet, we will see how it all goes.
Well what can I say!! We have completed our 1st aid course and all have a certificate.!!
It was quite fun except for the actual testing!! Everyone was somewhat nervous as they brought in another instructor to help with the practical!! At the end everyone got mentioned and were given a key-ring with a pair of gloves and a mouth piece (CPR) EXCEPT ME!! Also another African woman who honestly seemed to understand very little was not called! So I was quite concerned when I was not called!!
Long story short... I came first in class and was the only one to get awarded a distinction and the only one to hit a score of 94%!!!
What an amazing relief of knowing I did not fail like the other woman!! First time in my life I was totally speechless!!! And last if I can help it!!
Now comes the long hard slog of studying for our Radio licence!!
Cannot believe how in-depth and technical this all is for my little brain!! And the best part is we write on Tuesday 13th March!! Just a few days! Then we do the navigation then we do the practical sailing with crew!! Yet, one step at a time otherwise this mountain gets higher and higher for me!!
I hope you are all well and am sorry I have not managed to send this log off yet, but will the minute I get some time. To all of you who have sent so many sms�s asking when the log will be sent, you will know when you are reading it!! LOL
To all you guys who have visited us �Thank You�! It is always so delightful having you guys pop in to check up on us as sometimes we do seem like we are in another planet on our own wave length! Hopefully we will touch reality soon!!
Good news is that we have been finishing up on all the little and big jobs that fill around three pages of lists!! SAMSA being the biggest headache of them all!!
Monday they will send it off so we can get international clearance for the Inhaca race!!
Not that we are going on that race, but the paperwork will get processed same time so what a stroke of luck!
Anyhow, till the next one - Keep your chins up!!
Love John, Jenny, Justine, Jessica and Jonathan

On the sailing front: What can I say???? We are blown away by the SSB radio test! We decided not to do just the VHF test but to include the SSB as one seems to be able to do so much more with it! And we studied!! Memorized frequencies and channels and, and, and!!! Got to class and found a lot of others �re-writing�, only their VHF test!! But not to panic just yet, we will get our result tomorrow!! Wednesday 14th March.
Guess writing that paper threw John and I just a bit as there were questions we never found in the file we were studying from!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So... like I say, we will find out tomorrow!
Have been so busy with all these different tests which are compulsory for us to sail our yacht! So we cannot wait till we have it all wrapped up and hanging laminated on our saloon walls!! Just the navigation and then the sailing practical... But I need at least a day or two to think of anything else except studies!!! I do not think my brain can fit anything extra into it right now!!!
Man was last night fun! I cannot believe I got only an hour maybe a half more of sleep last night! I jumped out of bed I do not know how many times going into each kids cabin to find out who was grinding their teeth so bad!! Only to find that it was a fender squinching on the side of the boat!!! Great to only find that out after sunrise hey!! Also thought it was a few rats! Have you seen the size of these giants! Could easily keep one and pass it off as a puppy!!
GREAT NEWS!! We passed our test!! Cannot believe it as I still have no clue how to use the SSB radio! And that is not a joke either! You learn all these channels and - and - and yet at the end of it do not know how to call out to other boats on it, though we will learn that once we are on the high seas I am sure! Though we got the big or shall I say rather little piece of paper!! Do you remember me telling you about the big boat next to us that left for Venezuela? Well, we have been expecting that boat back for the last few weeks now as they could not reach their destination as the manifold cracked, the engines came loose and they lost their steering! So here I am today finely sitting down after a busy morning, with a splitting headache, and I am kinda laying on the seating in the cockpit, dozing some what and Jess comes up with coffee and popcorn (bless her soul!!) and tells me to look at the big ship coming in.... shortly before that I noticed the �Melody� cruise boat leaving and so thought it was that, yet she was quite insistent that the big boat was getting closer, and yet again I told her not to worry, it only looked that way... well, next minute she tells me �I told you mommy! It is a big boat, it is the boat that was next to us!� The reason for panic is that John and the kids left the dingy in their mooring with the �Heavy Motor�on!! Do you have any idea how heavy that thing is to move? With water in it too from the rain! So here is this boat with all its crew turning in circles as they cannot yet come into their mooring! John has his home made key so I cannot even move it normally!! So I send Jess off to get someone to please help me lift it up into our mooring and so off she goes while I am hand signalling politely how sorry I am about this little situation! A broken boat, and exhausted crew and here I am sitting! There I sit hearing Jess YELL for help all the way down the jetty!!!!!!!!!! And as I look out of total shock! Here come all these people running down the jetty with Jess in front telling them to run faster!! Well, it was quite a task still to get this large and heavy dingy out! Though, after catching the one guy just before falling in and shouting �I can�t swim�! We managed to drag it out of the water while the boat came thundering in! We were trying to hold her back off the edge of the mooring as she was coming in, because of the angle she was scraping the starboard side!!!! I was yelling for him to abort mission and he could not even hear me among all the other panicked people!! So we managed to help them moor this humungous boat with the nasty zigzag scrape along the one side, which turned out to be just a minor!! WHEW!! Was I exhausted after that!! And did my head really pound!!!!
And what a catastrophe these people went through! So John gets back to hear of all the excitement and we congratulate Ian who has just written his navigation exam for his coastal skippers, so that reminds me of another test I am going to have to climb into!!
The steps on the mast are finely up! John has a few bruises and blood blisters around his wrists and ankles mixed with a few grazes!! The ski boats come through this wake zone as if one does not exist and you wanna see John hold on for dear life! I have made a complaint finely as it is no funny thing to be swinging 19 metres up!! But he will heal and is ever so happy to finely be able to mark it off our long list!
Jonathan had the time of his life today when he experienced having to dive into the harbour to find some keys he casually flicked in without even thinking about it! He had the keys to Ian�s boat so he could let the workers in, as Ian was writing his exam... and so while swinging them they popped off into the water!! He managed to get one of the divers to look for them, and of course I came along to see how it was all going and told him to also get into the water to check - as you can imagine... �what about the �Sharks!� he asked, so I told him I�d jump in to save him, but he still needed to get in! So he plucked up the courage, put on his snorkelling gear and braved the cold water.. He did go down about five times to the bottom and was close to hyperthermia and so had to get out! But he did it and I guess the end result was achieved by him learning a big lesson! Eventually he bargained with three divers a fee for the first one to find the keys and so the competition began and he got the keys and paid out of his own money, which was a lot cheaper than the locksmiths would have been!
Well the wind has officially picked up to 40.6 knots! What a massive storm! Cannot see much either and are so happy to be in a mooring right now! The lightening is like disco lights! It is just amazing! The thunder is rolling which makes the floor of the boat rumble!! What an amazing feeling!! This is brilliant!
The kids are all soaked as they went to the club for a soda and just missed the full force of the storm! Got Ian here too who is also gonna sleep here as he cannot leave in this! The rain is coming down so hard you cannot even see in-front of you! It is actually rather weird though, I am not sure why, but something looks different! I think we may be hallucinating but we can see all the boats on our side all the way up, which usually we cannot see as the s shape runs all the way to the entrance!! Somehow there just is no S anymore!!!!
What can I say!! The whole jetty leading to the entrance has snapped off!! It broke right off at the security room!! And it took the security room off its foundations and the brickwork is cracked right through! You cannot get in or out to land now!! LOL
Talk about excitement!! Some of the jetty sections have torn right off and a lot of us here have tied them together otherwise we all might just loose some boats!! It is so airy! As if a cyclone or hurricane hit!! The electricity boxes further up have bent right over! Pulled right out actually and they are still on! Mooring lines have been snapped right off! It was like walking uphill then downhill, uphill and downhill walking down the jetty at 2am!! Then Ian and Jonathan had to go and help �Two Straws� touching another boat, and �Pappagena�who�s bow holding chain snapped and was tossing and missing the two cats next to her! So it has been quite an exciting evening!!
Well, now that we have had some sleep and gone in our dingy to check up on how things are looking, the damage is unbelievable!! It is a crisis!! Absolutely shocking for the weather we had!! Yet it was not the wind or the rain or lightning, it was the waves!! We had breaking swells coming through the channel!!! Like we were out in the high seas!! Somehow I feel as though we have been sailing in rough seas all night!! Hehehe
A lot of boat owners came down today to find some of their boats damaged, some smaller boats underwater, and some playing kissing cousins with others!!! What a story!! The crane has been brought in to lift up the main walkway onto the jetties!! And so it goes.... expected winds again tonight, though we will see.
Well, no real strong winds that we were aware of! Got to bed by 9pm, the earliest ever and even if a hurricane did hit we would not have even known about it! Good thing because the talk today is that everyone is on high alert as high winds are expected and everyone is expecting another catastrophe! A lot are ready to sail out if anything does happen. The talk is that the dredger pulled up all the anchors and never got the divers out to reposition and reset them! So now we are all just floating on rust with bolts so strained they are ready to pop!! So we will let you know as the excitement grows!! The winds are up to 25knots and the swell is growing again!! Looks like the clouds are coming from the same angle again!! OOOOOooooh!!!! It is so exciting!!!
Well reporting back... What a night! We were all on night watch working our bananas off! The bolts were popping like gunshots! Eventually Meme came down with Mike and all were helping in making a Spanish windlass, using the halyard lines to make a brace between the cement floating fingers as Ian�s boat �Barefoot� was wedged so tight to the boat next to her that she could not be taken out! The fenders were flat against the pressure and the jetty�s were tearing away again!! We had Louis take a dive, in this 40 knot winds, while trying to wench a thick chain to hold the jetty together, he fell in! Then John and I went to get the dingy and go around to fetch Mike, against the wind, to take Barefoot�s anchor out! Well I took a nose dive into the boat and was drenched and bruised, trying to hold onto another brace we were tightening. What a tough nite! The winds went up to only 30.9 knots!! Yet, the noise was out of this world! Everyone was tense and concerned trying to hold the jetty together on our side and by the time we did all we could do, it was almost 2:30am!! The tide was coming over the breakers at one hang of a flow and the swells were continuous sprays! It was crazy here!! According to our GPS we have moved over 12 metres!! Yes, we are almost right behind Meme�s boat!!! The channel is also closed where it could take two huge Cats through, now there is not enough space for even one small monohull! You have no idea how happy I was to see the break of dawn, yet, with greater winds! It has been blowing over 40 knots the whole morning! We peaked so far at 45.4 knots. The S shaped jetty was almost a J at one time and then an L!! So, this morning at 5:30 while walking with Ian and Peter to see the damage, we saw the security guy who told us the front walkway which gave way completely two days ago has broken yet again! Everyone was freaking out! We needed the person in charge to sort this out as we could not last another day and night with a forecast of 40 knots slowing to 30 knots till tomorrow night!! So he logged in the book and phoned the guy immediately!! Off I went back to the boat to have a good cuppa and to take a deep breath of relief for the daybreak!! Well, for some reason I sparked into action and walked around with the guy to show him all the �Spanish Windlasses� we had done throughout the night, the chains we had used to hold the Jetty�s together and that we needed him to do something fast as with the strong winds and waves we were having because of this equinox, we would have a lot more issues than just jetties breaking apart. It was a great concern for us, as we have the smallest mooring for a cat on the walkway! Well, bottom line, we had more people than we have ever seen in one day working together to help put out anchors to hold the jetty together! We were helping to take out anchors, pull in chains, you name it - we were buzzing! Also Dave was coming from the airport to move Barefoot to the international jetty as she was a large baby to maneuver!! It was such an exhausting day! Yet, Praise the Lord action was taken and they put in 4 anchors!! John and I also put our own anchor out just to be sure we would not land up on the sand bank! Or on the other yachts in-front of us! Some boats were jammed together, others had been rubbed through to the gel coat!! Man it was just hectic with the winds so strong! Other jetties were popping and man did you see people hop skip and jump into action!!
Dave came and of course we were asked to help, so we ran over to the international side to help moor her on, yet when we saw her moving in 45 knots of wind, there was no way we would ever get to stop her!! So Ian throws the rope yet he throws it short, then was trying to pull it in real fast while we are just waiting, then he does throw it back, and we try to hook her on but could not hold that force, all on one rope and in such a short amount of time, so BLOOPS! She hits the jetty at such a speed, knocks a hole in her lower hull and springs back just in time for us to grab more lines to moor her on!!! We were all laughing and I think the laughing was the shock of witnessing this crash that we were sent to help prevent!!! So Dave checks the damage which surprisingly says it was not that bad! That night the winds blew so hard we couldn�t sleep!! So by morning we were absolutely exhausted as yet again we stood watch and were thrilled to see the winds had calmed slightly!! I tell you, it felt as though we had been out in the high seas, facing cyclones and massive winds, yet we could not log a single mile!!!

There has been just so much going on! And it has been quite a tough time for John and I as with all the studies, we also have set a time line otherwise we will just never leave!!
Well, it is already April! And it is almost time for us to depart on our journey!! Have been so busy finishing all the lists we had and we are almost there! The SSB radio and aerial have been installed by John and all of us including Ian! And with it all done, we are so chuffed! Now we listen to all the goings on! We met Roy who is the partner of Fred from Peri Peri. That is a weather channel done voluntarily by them to all yachties all over the globe! So Fred phoned us to check and help us in doing the wiring correctly. We have met so many fantastic people! And have also met a lot of sour people! Yet, we are glad to meet them all as now we can see whom we don�t want to stick around with! LOL
We met some guys, who needed to take a Cat to Richards bay, and so Meme decides that Louis needs the miles and experience and so tells him to go with as crew. Problem is.... we have a north easterly which means you will need to beat against the wind the whole 87 Miles there!! And so with all the problems they have had with the boat, they come around to us, Bluemoon and drop off all there gear and food for the trip as we will use our dingy to drop them off at their chain mooring right out in the middle of nowhere! And we all go off to the club for supper. The excitement and partying going on at the club is rocking because it is the last Wednesday night sail of the season and so the party!! So they have a few drinks then a few more, and even a few more after that, saying that they would wait to sail in the morning, then they were sailing same night and so it went, so Louis has a drink or two thinking they would only sail in the morning, but they changed their mind around midnight after a lot more drinks, and arrived at our boat well, well over the limit!! Louis had �big�eyes when he said they were leaving right away!! John and I could only laugh as the one guy is a very loud character! Very loud and Funny!! You are in hysterics permanently! So we drop them off with the dingy and can hear them screaming at each other trying to lift the anchor, as the boat is going round, and round, and round!!!
John and I could not stop laughing, while they were still yelling at each other and did not see the humungous car carrier cruising in!! Then they see it and weave just past her! I am shocked they were not sucked in!!! We put on the SSB and hear them calling in on channel 16! Slurring!! It was so funny as when Port Control told them to go to channel 9, they confirm then says he�s going to channel 6! And so it went for close on 2 hours!!!! John and I were crying with laughter! It was absolutely fantastic! What a release! Long story short, they landed up in 50 knot winds!! Had no nav.. lights, no instruments! No compass except for the GPS we lent them. Their GPS went flat with no batteries so good thing they had ours! Their sails were shredded! They were sea sick most of the way and they arrived at 11pm the following night!!! Alive!!
My Nanan passed on, and there has been no time to actually face all that has been happening, yet we are okay as she was 85 and had quite a colourful life. Then the good news! John and I took our dogs, Jagger and Jady to Bulwer near Underberg, as they have a wonderful new home!! They are living right under the mountain, with a great amount of space for the dogs, and they wanted two dogs who were not puppies!! It is a perfect match and they are settling in so well, also let us know that he is just so happy with the outcome! So are we, even though it saddens my heart to have let them go in the first place! Yet I know they will get the best of everything they deserve!
Have been just so busy finishing off the list which somehow seems to grow! And with all our learning and sailing everyday, mooring, reefing etc, kids schooling, cleaning and, and, and! It has been quite a lot to deal with all at the same time. Yet we are getting there!
Having been blessed with some really wonderful people, John and I were spoiled by Ian, as he invited us to dinner. We shared good food, good conversation and lots of laughter! Nothing can beat that! It somehow just makes all the bad moments worth it!
We have slipped into the routine of school, which was quite a task to start with! Yet, we are in the swing of things and hopefully, all will continue to go according to plan!
Have the keyboard working now so the kids, mainly Justine gets to play some good sing along tunes! Jonathan on the guitar and we have a great band going! Not sure the other yachties find it as great as we do, as we have volume together!! LOL (Laugh Out Loud)
Have had such a wonderful time with all our friends visiting us here on the boat! I have such great and wonderful memories to last me a life time! You guys are the best!!
HAPPY EASTER!! Hope you all got lots of eggs and celebrated the fact that through this wonderful occasion, we are reminded of how �truly free�we really are!! God is just so goooooooooooood!!
Yesterday, Easter Monday, Louis was doing his coastal practical, and so John went with as crew. He passed and so off we went to celebrate at the club! It was really great seeing the relief on his face that it was all over and that he had passed as firstly, the examiner has a reputation for being a �terror!�. Secondly Louis got a 1982 exam paper which was not even on the list!!!
Now, we are really gonna have to sort out our plans about writing the navigation exam, then the practical before we leave!! Time ain�t stopping for us!! Neither is that List!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is just so exciting working out our journey! We are gonna go to Richard bay, then to Inhaca, and off to Bazaruto, then Inhambane. We will cross the Indian ocean, to Madagascar and go to Mujunga and all the way up to Nosy be, Comores, and back to Kenya, Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam, and Zanzibar. Then back to Seychelles, and over to Sri Lanka then Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Still not sure if we will head to Australia, or just go back around the other Islands up to Sri Lanka, Cambodia, then Yemen, Oman up the Red sea into the Med. Also Israel and Jerusalem! I cannot wait to travel around Turkey, Istanbul, Cypress, Greece and all the other places around there. Spain and Portugal. But before I get carried away..... and plan a loooooooooooooong journey we may not even go to, I will let you know when we have our final route, though it can and probably will change along the way. Keeping in mind that we only have a few years, yet, it seems like we will be travelling for ever if you leave me to plan the route !!! Will keep you posted!
Have met some wonderful people passing through Durban to Brazil.... Genni, who is from Hong Kong, and is actually an Australian, then Dave who is a Californian, and Conrad who is from here, Richards bay. Hopefully will pop in and visit them when in Phuket! Looking forward to meeting great and interesting folk!

Busy building a water maker which is the last thing left, and finishing the bimini with hatch covers, and then its stock up with all things nice and we are off!!

Well, today is the 29th April! And so much has happened! We have been hit with a wobbly!! Have had an abscess under my tooth which did not get detected in time and have experienced the most horrific pain - easily could have dug my own tooth right out without even feeling it!!!
The Dr unfortunately caused me such problems as I was taking up to 26 pain pills of different types a day!!!!!!!!!! Life is but a blur to me and I still need to find a dentist to do a root canal treatment and fast!! Even delayed our leaving somewhat, but will get there!

Will be making plans to try and leave within this month coming!! Will keep you posted!

Love to all and PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE keep that mail coming!!
We need to know how you all are! What news you have! The good, bad, and all!!
Let me know how the logs are, if they are not too dramatic???
I guess I have a way of giving every little detail!
Till the next log - John, Jenny, Justine, Jessica and Jonathan xxxPosted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008, 11:01 PM (UTC 2)

 

Hello all! So sorry it takes so long to get mail to you! Time seems to be rushing past at such a speed and I cannot keep up!
As you know, we have had a few delays, yet are pushing on ahead!!
Had to go on the sand bank to anti-foul and change the anodes on the props and so we set off early Saturday morning, the 5th May. Unfortunately we never left 15 mins earlier and so went aground!!
It was going to have to be the perfect spot! And so it seemed to be. The tide went down and we began the prep work and taping, and soon I was well into painting the hulls dark blue! Jonathan was helping me, to up our water line, and asked why water was running out from the boat onto him...
Only to find it was Jess who had been to the head (Loo) and was flushing!
With no water to go into, it was running out onto the sand!! Need I say more as to Jonathan's disgust!! Yet, all was great and going well. John, Ian and Jonathan were very busy with the props.
By lunch time we were finished! The hulls painted, props refurbished and painted and kids all swimming with the boogy board on the incoming tide waves in the harbour!! Also using the tender with the motor to pull each other around!
Funny as they looked like trawling to any big fish!! LOL
When I told them they looked like bait they quickly came back onto the sand bank and motored around there. By about 4pm, we noticed as the tide came in, that our perfect spot wasn�t so perfect after all!!
As the boat rose, it was bouncing, and when we looked again, we were bouncing almost onto a pipe!!! The one and only pipe in the harbour and we had to be almost on top of it!
So our position was not a good one! John really panicked as if the rudder had to jump onto the pipe, well..... we don�t want to even consider how much longer our list would be... so he puts the motors on hoping we are not that close to the sand as the props would pick up sand if switched on!
The kids and Ian had put the anchor out earlier, and the correct way to pick up the anchor is to motor up to it and pick it up, instead I was in the deck hatch using the windlass to pull us closer to the anchor away from the pipe while John tried to edge her out the sand and forward....
I was now guiding the chain down by hand as the gadget that does the guiding just is not on yet, and is still on the list!.
Next thing the windlass doesn�t switch off when I press the button, it just keeps going!!
So here I am shouting for someone to switch it off at the panel inside, which John does, yet it still keeps going!!
John sees it is still going!!! And sees how close my fingers are to the chain, which I am still guiding into the hatch, which still kept catching, so he panicked and grabbed the chain out of my hands! He managed to jam the windlass and alas, have another job added to the list.
It was very dangerous doing it that way, as if it caught my fingers, all would be smashed with no way of repairing... but what else could we do because we did not know where the emergency �off � switch was!! LOL!!
Peter, Ian and the kids were running around not knowing where to even look for the off switch! So now I put on the gloves and Ian and I must now pull the anchor in by hand!!
We only have one pair of gloves...
Yea, it is a real tough job! Works those muscles! And the best part is that the starboard motor stopped working!
It was not getting enough cool water through the system, and so we had to switch her off incase she got too hot which can take seconds!!!
That night we found the problem, and put the new part in the next day and were out on the high seas by 11am!!
What an awesome sail!! I just wanted to keep going! We were doing 40 degrees to the wind, and keeping the course while beating!! And in 19 knot winds we were doing 8 knots!! Quite great for a Cat!!
So we went quite a bit offshore and just enjoyed the sail! It was a little rough, but it was just one of those days which was fantastic for sailing!!!
Got our new tender and outboard and can this baby plane!
Kids have been having a lot of fun learning how to steer her and open full throttle with a few of them hanging on the front as not to flip her! A mothers nerves!!
Sorted out my very long list of medications for the family. I have so many antibiotics, burn creams, insect sprays, vitamins, you just name it and I got it.
Colds and Flue meds, painkillers, clove oil, trauma kits, bandages and just so much more for more than a year! Now to find space!
The pharmacy I used, specializes by law in doing all the boats that come into port, from port control. So we now have an official certificate which we have to give in at every port out of Africa. The best thing is all the injections we have, as in most of these countries, we are told, they have the medications you may need, only they use, used needles as they do not have more!!!!!
So we will use our own needles now if there is a desperate need!
We have finely decided on our 1st leg of the trip, and will go get our inoculations, Hepatitis A and Yellow fever. So we have tried for our own safety to cover all the basis.
Of course we have our T-shirts, hats, slops, empty coke bottles, fishing hooks, and booze for trading crayfish, calamari etc... so all the items will be well used!
Even for an official or two... LOL as the saying goes, When in Rome, do as the Romans do.... Guess this is going to be quite a learning curve dealing with dealers!
Also have a lot more flares for the odd pirate or likes of one.... hehehe
Have finely got our stickers up! Am so excited, hope the pic gives a good view of what it looks like....
Cannot believe how much work is needed on a boat! Had a situation where Jess used the head one evening and it �blocked�!!
Well, she had to fix it all by herself while we sat at a distance and told her exactly which tools to use and what to do.... so now she knows that if she blocks it, she fixes it... so far it has worked very well.
Have been going through our list with about 102 jobs on it and am down to 51 now! So we are almost on a countdown, yet we need to hurry it up otherwise we are here till next year!! Just so amazing watching so many yachties come and go off to Madagascar!!!
I am now getting really excited and want to leave soon!! We went out for a sail with some friends and I tell you it was just awesome!!!
I did not want to stop! I could easily have kept going and I realize there have been some good sails that we have been on that I feel like I don�t want to stop!!!
I think we are going to have a wonderful, unbelievable time!! Yet, I will keep you posted as to all the great and exciting things we are up to so you can feel as though you are on the same trip!! And from the comfort of your own home!! LOL
Right now the girls are playing cards with friends, I am catching up on the log, and John and Peter are busy spying out with the binoculars all the flats around us!
There was such a bizarre and crazy situation last weekend that we are taking a close watch on it this weekend!! After the game with the bulls and the sharks, there was just such a great buzz going on in the marina, and everyone seemed to be on their boats after the game... quite a difference considering you hardly see anyone much our side... we were just chilling out with Peter and Ian, while the kids were playing monopoly.
So while we sitting in the cockpit with the lights low, I notice there are three, oldish guys, on a boat, starboard side, abeam to us, and only one boat away.... walking around as though they were on sandy bay!!!
So I sit up straight thinking I have such a perverse mind, and must be exhausted to be hallucinating like this and so I LOOK again and �crocodile teeth�!
There are three hookers on board!! This was no hallucination! They were naked, in their cockpit with these three young girls... People to had come to sit on their trampolines in front of their boats to get a full view of all the action!!
The people on the boat were screaming with laughter, and were yelling at me to bring a �microscope� if I wanted to see anything!!!!
When they realized everyone on the jetty was watching them and knew who they were, as they could not be missed with a bright cockpit light still on, they put on their pants then started to argue about not having money to pay these girls!!
This went on for hours!! Next thing, all the bull supporters that were staying on another cat on a chain mooring, found their tender drifting off with a strong breeze, and so they were stripping and diving in the harbour to retrieve it!
What a commotion! All in one short space of time!
Next thing you know, the people watching the action were now swearing at these girls, telling them they would @)&*^$%#@ ...drown them and, and, and... it was actually quite funny in the end, realizing no one got paid, not even taxi money, yet off they went.
Early the next morning I was standing in the cockpit to see the wife of one of the guys and his children all visiting! It was just horrible!
Well, we are on the countdown now!!!!! Yep! Almost ready to go with cupboards filled, spares gathered, charts ordered, route finalized, emergency tiller sorted, yet still waiting for the water maker membrane!!
It has been quite a tough time these last few weeks, almost a blur if I think about it as we have been so busy with all sorts of things yet nothing really to show for the time....
Kids are back to schoolwork, and that has been quite a task in itself as Jonathan says it is not fair to be being in the middle of a playground!!
Well, we know the temptation of going to the club, for the loo, will soon become a thing of the past, yet it takes them up to an hour and a half to get there and back because they are stopping all the way up the jetty chatting to everyone and loving it!!
I cannot say the same for John and I as we always waiting for them to come back to either help or do school again!.
We have spent quite a bit of time with Geoff and Colleen, and their two daughters, Melissa and Belinda, from �Just for Fun�, and William and Lucinda, and their two kids, Douglas and Pippa, from �Bella Luna�.
They travelled a whole year around the east African Coast, from Mozambique to Madagascar and back again. We have been so excited listening to all their exciting stories, good and bad.
We have marked off on the chart plotter all their anchorages and way points which will definitely be very helpful! All the names of people along the way and all the special nooks and crooks not many get to go to.
They are Christians which has made a big difference to us. We have laughed so much at some of their stories, and have sat in disbelief at others. Even sat on the edge of our chairs at others.
I am thrilled to have been given their egg boxes as most places don�t give your eggs to you in a box, you get them loose. Also got a sim card for those areas from them including some of the currency!! So we feel just so much more confident sitting and going through the charts and plotting the routes, where to be careful of and where to go dilly! We are really grateful for all their valuable input!!
Today we went out in cold, windy and roughish conditions, to practice our two man over boards. One, you have to sail up to the man over-board, and the other you must crash tack and motor sail up to them - And that went very well, getting it on all occasions.
Only problem we were having was tacking! It just wouldn�t go all the way through! And so Justine and I were playing with the sheets hoping the wind would fill them and we could save our lost man overboard which was a fender tied to a bucket.
Then we would lean over the bow and hook our man with the boat stick. Yet we tried easy 5 - 6 times to get the tack going and so landed up doing a jibe!!
As usual, we had a little situation where I had closed the side hatches, yet did not air lock them, and so we had two heads filled with water!! The waves are a powerful thing! And so - guess who had to clean it up!
All the boats this side of the jetty are fishing! Yep! They are catching lots of fish, and I am not so sure I want to eat any of them, if you know what goes into this harbour!!!
Well, the time is near for us to move on, hopefully our membrane for the water maker arrives soon as that is the only thing left we are waiting for!!!!!!!
And for a few months already!
Hope to be on the high seas the next time you read my log!!
Please let the mail keep coming in on justcruizinrsa@yahoo.com
I would like it if you dropped even a line so I can see if you are all receiving my mail!
Love to you all and as always, keep your chin up!
John, Jenny, Justine, Jessica and Jonathan

The countdown is now on!!! Yes! We have the membrane in Durban - and are waiting for it to arrive so we can fit it and finely get some water on this boat!! Although we do get water off the jetty, a lot of times it is just not so nice!
So sorry for sending you such enormous j-pegs!! It is not as though they are fantastic pictures to scream about, yet I honestly tried to cut it in half, and then again, yet somehow something went horribly wrong, and John brought it to my immediate attention!
So I am really sorry!!
Good News!!!!! Finely - I have found a blog site which Colleen and Lucinda referred me to, to put my info onto so that you guys can leisurely go into the site and read up all about or trip, where we are, and all the details!!
The address is: www.getjealous.com then you type in justcruizinonbluemoon
Keeping in mind that our yachts name is �Bluemoon� - and our logo we made up was �Just Cruizin�, so we have incorporated it for ourselves as �just cruizin on bluemoon�, yet, the name we use and have registered is still only �Bluemoon� and so I had to use the just cruizin, even if it is long, so now you can see some of the photos, also see on the map where we are, (when we eventually get going!!) and read up on all the logs in case some of you have missed it. Also, I won�t be worried about the mail coming back because some got it and some didn�t! Also - you can send your comments to us! And send your mail to the same email: justcruizinrsa@yahoo.com
PLEASE SEND EVEN A QUICK E-MAIL NOTE TO CONFIRM YOU HAVE THIS E-MAIL!
We have been running around finishing off the last things!! Man is Durban slow!!! The service is just unbelievably frustrating!! We know that these yachties have all day!!! 
We don�t, not here anyhow, and with this frustration, I have told John I would be jumping on the next yacht out of here and meeting them there later!! Only problem is the yachts are coming back!! Either engine problems, or electrical!! LOL!! Guess patience is being installed into me!! S - L - O - W - L - Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The site should be up and functional by the time you receive this mail, then again maybe not...so this will be the last log that I personally send you, although I will continue writing them and logging them on the site for you all!!
So PLEASE read up on our whereabouts and exciting moments!! To date, I have now split each and every toe-nail I have!!!!!!! I have stomped it on the door, on the wood, and have gone flying down the saloon steps, splitting a few more!
My fingers have been through quite a rough time!! I have lost the skins on the sides of them, mainly working with the ropes that are wet. Yet, they will heal!
On fathers day we sat in the cockpit relaxing, while John was fishing, and he caught a wala wala, another name is a wolf herring, and what a beauty!
Well, the membrane was installed and we were ready to go offshore to test it.! So while we are motoring about 6 to 7 miles out at sea, Jono and I were fishing, and Voila!! I caught a fish!! Not a massive one, but a biggish fish that I was overjoyed!! It was a kawakawa sounding like (cow-a - cow-a) . Jono and Peter dived into the big blue sea!! OOOooooooHHHHhhhhh it was just so awesome! Dark blue seas!
Then we tested the water maker... well, the rattle and shake on that pump was so powerful, it vibrated so hard, the skin came off the pipe! And the pin holding the membrane buckled and bent like a soft fizz!! And we only tested it for about 10 mins, and had a few leaks!
The pressure was just so powerful!! So back to harbour we went after about 5 hours at sea, trawling, and hoping to catch some big ones... yet the only big one I caught was John!!
I flicked the lure right out the water and KLOOPS! Right into Johns substantial stomach! With 2 treble hooks, I had my catch! LOL Just so thankful he didn�t need my first aid! Hehehe
The fish I caught was delicious! Just so sorry I never caught anything bigger! I went to order our meat yesterday, keeping in mind we have such a small deep-freeze, and so asked that they first freeze the meat then vacuum it and to keep it frozen overnight so that when we collect it will be frozen solid ready for our freezer.
Firstly, the guy I dealt with somehow thought I was just an idiot! So I kept repeating myself because he never seemed to get what I was saying.... Well, I put my order in - repeated it about 5 times then confirmed he understood everything... well............ so why would I think something so simple could work out perfectly????? My gosh!
John phones and tells us to come up to collect the �meat� and so off we go to find about 50 bags!!! Overflowing! I nearly fainted when I saw the huge amount of packets filled with meat!!! I nearly cracked when I realized this was no joke! It was all meat!!
So right now we have a freezer filled to the brim for at least a year! And we have two buckets filled with meat and ice to keep the meat frozen! So what have we done... John has kept me from going over there to freeze his pea sized brain!
Furious... I am furious, because we have been braaing all day, and already I just cannot eat anymore chicken! Also, we have chicken necks!! Like 30 packets and we do not eat chicken necks!!!! We have been given and paid for someone else�s order I am now sure!!!!! I gave a packet of what I call thunder thighs or maybe turkey drumsticks which weighed something like 50 kg!!
Man what a tax up! Yet, I am sure I will find some humour in this in maybe 40 years or so!!! I mean how much meat can one eat! And have you any idea how much we spent on this amazing order????????? I am too shocked to even mention it!!!!!!
Well.. Now we hope we have cold weather for awhile so we can manage to finish these buckets filled with bacon, chops, mince, chicken, and, and, and! Well... what more can I say about the meat!!!!! We have just started like the fifth braai ..........
Spring-cleaning has been in full action on this boat, from cleaning the heads to re-packing the cupboards... all is going well and everything is finely finding it�s rightful place.
Water-maker is fixed and refitted. Workshop re-packed and goods in storage.
We put our flight plan in at port control and went to immigration who were supposed to come to the boat at 12:00 today to stamp us out of the country... so we could leave this weekend, and surprise...
John�s computer crashes! So it is being fixed and we can only get it on Monday... then we notice while putting all the paperwork together that our official no has changed on our registration paper, so we phone and get that sorted out and have only just picked up the correct form with the correct no, yet we now have to change our carving and marking plate! Just one digit! So now we will have immigration stamp us out on Monday and hopefully by Wednesday we are off!
Yet, I have been writing about leaving since January!!!!!
Guess I will only believe it when we are actually sailing out of here! Within a matter of 10 minutes, we have caught 3 wala wala�s! Excellent bait. Just not sure where we are going to store them!! Now everyone has their rods out to see what they are going to catch!
The excitement just grows! Finely got to do something fun, we went shopping and bought a knee board today and lots of fishing equipment!
Even got my own fancy reel just for trolling! Now keep in mind we have had such a big thing about the weight on this boat, yet since then we have added our 5 camping chairs, got a second generator, and now the knee board, and it gets even better, John is talking about adding to our provisions... and that is not including the last bits of fruit and veg!
So we will see if that waterline holds... We keep jumping off the boat to check if it has gone down when we bring something on board, like our potjie pot!
As most of you know, Ian has decided to come with us. We are quite excited and have moved the two girls into Justine�s double cabin, and Ian has moved into Jessica�s cabin. Slowly, I think we are all aware that the time is really close for us to leave, just a few days to go...
Please read up on all our logs and see where we are.
Drop a line and keep us posted of how life is going.
Till the next time...
Love to all, Always, John, Jenny, Justine, Jessica and Jonathan

2007/7/3
Dear Family and Friends! What can I say....
We have set sail and are on the high seas! Yep... not just talk anymore!!
Finely I have a chance to redeem myself! My reputation on the jetty and the club was �yep, we leaving within the next two weeks!�
Then everyone we greeted at the club or on the jetty would look at me and say �within the next, two weeks?� (Yea right!) since January!!
What a mad rush we had before we set sail! Unlike the romantic idea of everything packed and stowed, things lashed down, sitting and having a nice cuppa ...
Oh no! It was rush to finish off on the last bits and pieces, buy the kayak on the same day and wait for it�s delivery, drop things off at the accountant, get the last minute snacks, fruit and veg... like we can fit more things on this boat!
Then we rush off to go to the bank for foreign exchange and spend over an hour there, keeping in mind that we just got into the bank 5 mins before it closed!
Fill with diesel, water and petrol... and fetch Johns computer from Toti, which had crashed a few days prior and were getting it fixed!
It was so wonderful having family and friends come out to the boat to see us all off...
Yet we were so disorganised we did not have enough time to have a good cuppa and a nice chat...
So the outcome, we go to fill diesel, running on adrenaline as there was still so much to do.... All goes well till we are almost finished... then SPLASH! Ian fell into the water with the diesel stick! LOL Not so funny if it was me - as it was freezing cold!
His foot slipped on the gel coat! Then he never came up in a hurry and so gave us a bit of a scare! Then off to buy the vital�s.
Then off to get the computer which really unfortunately still had not come right after the guys working full time on her. They were exhausted as we were!
So at midnight we rush back to the boat, totally exhausted! Having sadly missed all our visitors who came to say farewell!
The boat was and is completely in disarray, as we were sorting out the water-maker, and so half the food is in buckets, plastic packets and it is everywhere!!!
Then the debate as to us staying and leaving when the computer was ready as the computer with all the way-points and places of interest including good anchorages that Geoff from just4fun had given us, as did Meme and a few others was now history!!
Now the dilemma as to getting the computer fixed which would take a few days, or more....or go and hope to retrieve the info somewhere else at another time...
We set sail at 4am! Exhausted!
Crossed the bar at 4:30am with another cat, Irene, and passed a few dolphins which just added to our excitement!!
We motor sailed for awhile as we never had much wind, only 6 knots blowing a westerly with smooth seas! Everyone was awake, and very cold!
Thank you so much Sue for those blankets you gave to us! It really has been used well!!
At 6:30 am Jonathan and I started to trawl!! Jono caught a yellow fin tuna about 15-20 kg!! Wow!! Sadly he threw her back into the ocean.... Way to big for all of us right now...
Each person went and snoozed for a while, which was desperately needed and we all just chilled while we sailed on great seas!....
Somehow an hour was all I could do seep wise! Then I caught a kawa-kawa! Exciting is not the word! Not a very big one, yet looked like too much hard work filleting and cooking, so I also threw her back.
Extremely cold! Got the beanies on, socks on the feet and almost all our clothes!! LOL, and wrapped ourselves in Sue�s blankets! Yet it only gets colder! Wow!
Seeing dolphins is one thing, but having them play in our bow and dance for you is another.... what a thrill seeing it for yourself!! What a feeling! Too awesome to describe!
Then the whales! All in the same night!!
Spent some time making out the cloud shapes... Actually quite fun! So blessed to have such good swells and perfect weather for sailing...
It is just too good to be true! All of us are just chilling, not doing anything that might bring on any sea-sickness! So far so good!
The day just seems to pass by so quick! Filling in the log every hour, and each one of us has quite a few comments to make about the hour! And that about exhausts us! LOL
It is the most awesome feeling ever, knowing we are sailing away to some exotic, beautiful, Islands with white sandy beaches we have only seen in glossy magazines!!
Well, had supper to fill and warm us up... Enjoying the sailing! Such wonderful seas all the way to Richards bay! Still cannot sleep - I think I am running on adrenaline!
Wrapped in blankets we enjoy the night sailing.. Calm, long rolling swells with mod to calm winds - could not have expected such perfect timing!! The sailing was just too perfect! Nothing like we experienced when we went to Richards bay in February.
We finely reached Richard-bay about 7:30pm then cruized on by!!
What a moment!
And what an awesome moon rise!! Wow! At like 10:00 pm! What an unbelievable galaxy! Better than we have seen in a very long time! The sailing was fantastic! The night just went so fast! You would be delighted to see phosphorus lighting up the water at the back of the sugar scoops as we come near it!
What a pretty site! Also so exciting is you can see the dolphins playing or following the boat... they have an aluminous light from the phosphorus around them so you can make them out in the dark! WoW!!
There just seems to be so many things to look at, even in the dark! What a great sunrise! Kinda makes you feel as though you are so close to nature and seeing things for the very first time.... (And we are!!)
How does one put such awe into words... how do you describe the feeling when you see a whale breeching (come out of the water into the air), with such grace and spectacular force! Well, there were two of them and they were both breaching and tail slapping. This show continued for about 10 to 15 minutes. Just brilliant!!!
It is one of the most wonderful, awesome, spectacular and special moments ever!
Not even enough words to describe that feeling! Yet were distracted by channel 16 which was playing Indian music!! Nice change I guess.
Jono caught a Queen Mackerel of about 25 kg!! This one was a keeper! Because it drowned fighting right to the end! So we honoured it by eating as much of it as we possibly could.
We were just past Cape Vidal and it was great! The view is something else! Nothing like I ever would have imagined!!
Breathtaking! And so we had to stop a few times while bringing her in which took close to 45 minutes!!! Who would have guessed you can smell land!!!?? It is incredible! Geoff and Colleen from �Just 4 fun� told us about it, yet it is hard to imagine until you experience it for yourself, and it is a horrible smell! Like being in the morg on a hot day without air-con!!
It is a smell you cannot describe!
Anyhow, the weather was taking a change, overcast and lightening was doing it�s thing. The thunder was also great! And we were going into it!
So queeny was hanging off the back of the boat for quite awhile..
Packed all the GPS�s and other things into the oven! Protects it from the lightening! Yet it was just a puff and we never reached it... Only the rain!
And the seas were still calm! So Jono and Ian cleaned queeny up! John and myself made the strips for hanging and drying into fish biltong.
You guys should try it sometime, you put your raw fish cut into thin strips into a bowl to soak with vinegar, lemon juice, salt and spices... for a few hours then roll in course salt and hang them up in a place that they get a lot of air and wind to dry them out.
What a treat having the biggest chunk of fish we could eat - big just doesn�t cut it - enormous more like it and I was cooking it while we went through quite a bumpy patch and it was raining! Nothing was gonna stop me cooking them!! D-E-L-I-T-I-O-U-S!!!!
When we were at S 26∘ 54`5 E 032∘ 55`1 I was trying to sms everyone of where we were and what we were doing and there was no signal!! I was mortified!!
So disappointed! An hour later we had the most airy experience ever! We were at the border in the middle of Mozambique and South Africa at S 26∘ 51`3 and E 032∘ 56`0 while sailing and all of a sudden the wind just died... it was all misty though we could see clearly! And the boat seemed to just hover in that spot waiting.... she would not move!
So we all said our good byes to South Africa and had a private moment, then immediately the wind picked up and off we went again!! What a moment!
So we all celebrated and ate sweets!
We were up to 6.5 Knots sailing and it was great! Wind was only 8 knots!! Then the wind picked up to 13 knots with a boat speed of 8 knots! Awesome! Ian, Jono, Justine, and Jessica all went to sleep and John and I went on shift - what wonderful timing!
The rain came down so hard we could see nothing, yet we both spotted two lights up front and were not sure what it was, a boat or land... and so I went upfront to see if I could spot anything, which of course with the rain, we could see nothing!
We rigged up two buckets to catch the water as we were totally drenched!! Frozen hands and feet don�t help much! And it was pitch black, absolutely no light what so ever!!
No moon!!! And without any sleep I was not sure if I was hallucinating! We eventually had to wake Ian up to help keep watch as it was quite busy with us running around rigging things up, and trying to keep calm with the lights we kept seeing ahead, directly ahead!!
And it was misty all around us with complete cloud cover and raining down in buckets with lightening and thunder... so I go in to wake Ian up while it is pitch black and raining buckets, and we walk out a few minutes later into the sunrise... the morning light came quickly and what a relief to be able to see better!
Still rather shocked at that! Light so quick!
Then out of the mist there was this island.... Inhaca!