Cruising North

It was our anniversary...22 years of fun and games! Isn't that exactly what a life journey is..fun and games? Some games are not so nice, some are breathtaking, some are boring, some are gruelling but afterwards in memory, just fun!

We sailed away from Port Owen at high tide about two o'clock the afternoon and had an awesome sail with the wind pumping at 20 knots pushing us towards Elands Bay. We passed Stompneus Bay and decided to anchor at Slippers Bay opposite a little restaurant in a house. We had our own candle lit dinner with the kids while the people in Slippers Bay gave us a show of fire works in the distance and somewhere a big party was happening. The bay was quiet, and it was strange to be woken during the night by a little puppy howling through the night.

Five o'clock the next morning we left and almost had to motor all the way because the wind had died down. Lots of dolphins played around us, on our way to Lamberts Bay.

We arrived at about four o'clock and sailed into the fishing harbour with a couple of fishing vessels and diamond mining vessels lying in the bay. Luckily we were welcomed by a little crayfish "bakkie" and the three fishermen told us where it would be safe to anchor.

The boys were immediately in the water diving to see where the crayfish will be. Quite tired after the whole day on the sea we hit the beds, but at one o'clock were awoken by a noise. After investigating we realized that the water level dropped significantly during the tide and we were bumping against sand or rocks. We shortened the anchor line and fasten Catlyn to two moorings as well for a safe and secure night.

Lingering in Port Owen

Besides the fact that we had some maintenance to do on our main sail, we loved the time in Port Owen. Early morning Johan and I put on our shoes and took off to town...Velddrif. A quaint little town, with the most interesting "handelshuis" filled to the roof with everything you might need or not. After a couple of kilometres later we found the little hotel next to the Bergrivier, and enjoyed a lovely breakfast with a litre of fresh orange juice. Close to it lies the Pont Bridge, called after the Old Pont from the 1900 to 1950, helping vehicles to cross the river. On our way home we spend our last R9.40 on apricots, sold by a friendly old man in the street.

The day was spend by the boys in the water to cool down. Some more work was done on the main sail, and the boat needed a good spring clean. I had time to phone my friends, and shared with them the image of ten little ducklings with their mama swimming around the yachts begging for a nibble.

And then we dressed up for a night out! We went to the Port Owen Yacht Club, the guests of Patrick and his family. Anne, the beautiful Commodore welcomed us all and with Juliette and her Cook sisters, we had a lovely dinner!

Ps. Nature is so cruel...and the next morning only five little ones survived.

Mola Mola!

Early the next morning we left Paternoster, while the whales were lazying just outside the bay. We had a light wind and time for the screecher to help us on our way. The sea was flat like a lagoon and the sun was hot. While we were enjoying the smooth sail, we did a bit of maintenance. Lanolin! Every little screw gets unscrewed, cleaned and then polished with lanolin and then screwed back in. Lanolin is a hydrous substance that keeps water out and prevent rust.

And then we saw that mysterious fin again! Johan saw it coming closer, and to his surprise saw a half eaten shark...only the head and top part of the body floating! We saw this too! But then it started moving and we saw a fish! A Mola Mola or a Sun fish. A pre-historic fish, half a fish. It can way up to two tons and eats jelly fish. After we met this fish, we saw lots of them basking just under the water in the sun. I couldn't get a photo yet, but am awaiting the opportunity.

We were on our way to Port Owen. Late afternoon we phoned Patrick the Marine Manager, and this gentle man, met us at the entrance of the Bergrivier at Laaiplek's jetty, got onto Catlyn and safely took us through to our berth. There we were greeted by so many friendly new faces, all just helping a hand to secure Catlyn to the poles in the water. No jetty...only poles to fasten her to. Hands were shaken, stories told and new friends made!

That evening we were invited to the yacht Club for a braai and little bottles of red wine.

Here we can stay!

Time to go

Catlyn was getting restless. She was fighting with the lines tying her to the jetty in Langebaan, and we decided to set her free! The water tanks was full and the diesel tanks and all the food "tanks." We had a choppy sail all the way to Paternoster. On our way we were accompanied by the usual seals and dolphins, but then confusion struck. The kids saw a funny fin in the waves. I saw it too, and we started guessing. Dolphin-no, seal-no, shark-may be? But it disappeared and we had to anchor at Paternoster with no answer to this mysterious fin.

What a lovely protected bay when the westerly winds aren't blowing. The bay was filled with the usual "bakkies" full of fishermen on their way home after a good day at sea. Kids were playing in the sand and elderly people were walking down the beach. We dropped the dinghy and me and the kids went to town, while Dad is cooking supper and looking after Catlyn.

We were offered cray fish as soon as we set foot on the land. R70 for a beautiful cray fish, but luckily we had a couple in the fridge. By law you are allowed to catch four crayfish with a license, and believe it or not, we are licensed. Paternoster had ice cream and fudge and ginger cookies!

A full moon smiled over us and Paternoster, while the little town was sleeping and we crept into our cradles for a peaceful night.

A touch of the future...

We enjoyed three days in Kraalbaai before we needed some proviand from the shops. We sailed back to Schaapen Island where we anchored on the sheltered northern side amongst all the kite surfers. We got into the dinghy and after a wet bumpy ride by Johan junior, we set foot on land. We walked to the Spar and Clicks Chemist to get some necessities and a bar of chocolate for a treat. A buzz of excitement was going through me and the kids...it felt like we are only visiting a foreign island, browsing around and then going back to our water home.

But the reality of life is always close by, when Dad had to go back to Cape Town to fetch our broken down blue bus. A clutch plate and a lot of money later, the blue bus travelling with us where he can, was up and running again. We were all relieved to see the blue bulk when Johan parked him opposite Pearly's, and waited for us to fetch him with the dinghy.

He came back to Catlyn and in his arms this big bunch of roses just for me. In that moment I felt so special looking at this soul with his arms full of roses in this tiny dinghy on this wide open sea! I got roses from land!

Physical exercise around

Being in Langebaan is so much fun for the kids and family. Lying in the Mykonos Marina the whole family goes to the gym in the mornings, or walk to town for an ice cream. If they aren't too lazy they play tennis or putt-putt or Marco catch little fish with his net. Being in and around Mykonos resort the swimming pools and couple of restaurants are there for your entertainment. We still have to go and try our luck in the Casino!

Sailing around in the lagoon is such good easy sailing for new sailors. I don't know why there are not many more yachts around. Holiday season small craft are around trying their luck fishing.

Sailing to Kraalbaai and Oude Post you pass the beautiful Schaapen Island. The kite surfers and wind surfers enjoy the wind opposite Pearly's restaurant. Johan loves every opportunity taking off with the wind surfer and gliding through the wind!

And then for some exercise is limited....so they rather spend it lazying in the hammock underneath Catlyn!

Another Born Day Celebration!

Our skipper celebrated his birthday, or maybe it is more appropriate to say his family celebrated his birth day! With not a lot of social happenings on a yacht the chance for cake and celebrations doesn't pass silently. The kids landed on our bed with party hats and paper vuvuzelas with the same amount of noise! It was Dad's birthday and with all the limited sources we had a great party!

A Happy Born Day, our Skipper and many safe nautical miles for you!

Not only fun....

We have to look after Catlyn gently, for I believe then she will look after us. If you live in such a small space with the floor and the ceiling just something like 1,9m apart, no dirt or scratch escape the eye. If you walk only barefoot in your house every speck of dirt touches the soles of your feet. If you sit and walk around on the roof of your house no dirt goes unseen.... That is why cleaning takes up a big part of our mornings.

Johan and Marco spend their time in the roomy engine room of Catlyn, checking the oil and belts and drying out excess water. They just lifted the lid on the aft deck and started working. For those of you who don't know, this is very nice, because on some catamarans to get to your engine you have to lift a bed in a cabin!

If your house stands in the middle of the ocean in wind and weather with no trees to protect her and her belly sleeps in a salty water bed all the time a lot of things get eaten away by rust. If your house gets blown in all directions from all directions all the time, you need to look after all the "cloths" keeping her speed up during your journey. That keeps us busy some time.


There is no job too big or too small to attend to, and there is no inhabitant not too big or too small to do the job.

Another issue learnt very quickly is that you can pick up the cellphone in the middle of the blue and phone an expert for a problem, but the only "expert" aboard is you!!

So when the "slugs" came apart from your main sail you learn how to sew new stainless steel "slugs" on....compliments from North Sails. When the impeller from your outboard stops working and no water squirts out any more, you try to find the thing in a manual and make it work again....and luckily we 've got a lot of brains to stick together. On the jetty in Langebaan the Experts got together!

And so this amazing learning curve continious.

Janlie, our Eve aboard

It is time to introduce you to the other female member aboard Catlyn...Janlie! Our almost 18 year old girl always having a hard time amongst all the males around her, is my right and my left hand. I don't know what the typical teenage girl is, but according to shared gossip with my friends she is definitely not one!

She wakes us up every morning with a cup of coffee, and then after her cup she starts doing the dishes or sweep the floor or dust the tables or just any dirty place she can find. She is the one who can get the boys to make their beds and to wipe the toilet ring. She shares her bed with all our guests in need of a bed and take her pillow to sleep in the saloon without complaint. But then she is also the girl who will frantically clean her heaven again and crawl back into her cradle.

She is a Pisces, but the one who doesn't like the cold sea and doesn't like to eat the fish her brothers catch. She looks away when they hammer the fish and slaughter the cray fish. But she is always game! She will not be left behind when her bro's jump into the blue cold, she will chase the fish away, close her eyes and jump in to their delight.

And then, to their delight, she loves baking! Fudge and cookies and custard slices and anything sweet...and luckily for her even her not so successful products never go wasted!

When she is not studying for the last three subjects for her grade 12 exams May 2010, she loves doing her embroidery or to crochet herself a scarf.

Marco introduced her to his computer games, and together they build zoo's or create life on Sims. Without Janlie on Catlyn, the ropes won't be tidied up, the fenders won't be fitted and I will be lost!

Langebaan welcomed us!

It felt like coming home again. We had a beautiful sail to Dassen Island. A wind of 20 knots were pushing us towards our overnight destiny. The swells were small and the sun was basking and dolphins accompanied us all the way. We arrived at Dassen and celebrated Catlyn's first 500 sea miles with fresh snoek and cray fish.

The next morning we left with a clean" washed " boat to Kraalbaai. It felt so warm and homey, to sail into the calm lagoon and even familiar seals popping out of the waves. While sailing to anchor at Schaap Island we noticed that the port engine isn't spitting out water! Johan and the boys had to investigate. They spend the whole morning reading engine manuals and studying engine parts and then they started taking things apart and after a long time and almost giving up hope, Johan found the culprit. A little fish crawled into the sea cock's inlet and prevented the water from spitting out!

Tomorrow we are planning to go into the Marina to fill up diesel and water and spend a couple of days in Mykonos.

Tempted in the Cape

We are lying in Elliot Basin, daily tempted with howling winds and daily tempted with the soot coming down on us, and daily tempted with miserable weather. We are tried and tested....but luckily friends came to our rescue! Charles and Yolanda and the girls came to visit and saved us. Marco and all his girl friends enjoyed the new playground of Catlyn's deck and he introduced them to his swing.

We sailed to Robben Island for the day with the sleeping beauties aboard missing out on the big swells rolling Catlyn around. But as soon as we moored at Elliot they woke up for a great time.

We celebrated our Skippers birthday true to tradition on Catlyn with balloons and cake and pizzas at Panarotti's!

In the mean time the Solar panels were mounted and they are up and running and Johan is keeping an eye on all the in and outputs. Little things were fixed and we realised that as soon as the weather cleared we can be on our way.

Ready to go, we had a last surprise when Anton and Lorraine popped in for a lovely evening and to look at our water home. Lorraine opened everything and tried everything to see if and how it is working. The next morning our spirits was high enough to set sail for the open seas to Dassen Island.

Bread baking!

Jaco, our 20 year old Pisces, half of a twin, full time student, half time studying Tourism at Boland College (Stellenbosh), fell in love with the sea for ever. When he met Catlyn he found another twin. He loves nosing around her, trimming her sails, stroking her belly, diving down and saving her from strangulation.... He went for his Competent Crew and Deckhand Course and sail all around with his Skipper dad. This is what he loves and he is keeping an eye out for an opportunity doing a delivery crossing.

While his building up his experience, John our examiner told him that it is a benefit to be able to cook aboard...and look who is cooking!

I never thought I will see the day that Jaco our Two Minute Noodle Cook will stand behind the stove baking. After preparing breakfast he decided to bake us our first fresh bread in our little gas oven. I couldn't resist taking a photo for you with his hands full of clammy dough!

The compliment of his bread was in his family devouring the fresh warm slices with Irish butter.

Bravo, Jaco!

Two skippers for Catlyn!

I always said I will do the sailing thing , but I have to know how to do everything! That was really said easier than done! We went for the eye test to see whether we are colour blind or not, and although Johan's fashion sense proof otherwise he also succeeded. We made copies of our log book to proof the mileage we've done, and then we downloaded all the study material we going to need.

Down to the books. As usual I started immediately and Johan decided to make use of his very short term memory again. We were ready! The COLREGS was not too bad and I could recognise all the lights of all different vessels on the sea, all the Lateral and Cardinal Marks warning you like street signs and robots on the high way. And then I also had to know which way to go when their is traffic in your area....keeping left of the white line doesn't help when your road is a foamy and moving one.

But then it was me and the compass and the plotter and the chart on my floor...North kept on changing and I had to get the True One and the Magnetic One and then search for the currents and the wind and how it is going to push my boat where, and how many nautical miles the Light house is from me...and..and... I really tried to dig hard into my Matric Geography but that was just too long ago for my long term memory! What made me feel a little bit better is that I wasn't the only one having a hard time getting these brain cells moving again...Johan was getting the best position on his bed to make life comfortable while working, as usual, but unfortunately lost the rubber or ruler every now and then....not the North like me.

And then we were ready to do the exam. John out examiner came and the suffering started! It was difficult! Enough said. But the sea gods were smiling on me, and helped me pass! I sighed a big sigh of big relief, but it was short lived. The next morning I was woken with the news to take Catlyn out and come back to park her nicely at the jetty! If you haven't been to Elliot Basin before you won't understand my anxiety! Newly delivered yachts all around you, dilapidated jetties hanging in the water, and then all these pillars narrowing your way in and out. I'm only going to say that Catlyn was moored at the jetty with no harm done. Another big sigh of relief!

Friday morning came and John told me to take Catlyn out again to the open sea to show him how I will rescue a man overboard....poor me. I felt like the girl overboard. The wind was howling a whole twenty knots, and I realised that it is not going to be like the practise runs I did on the smooth Langebaan Lagoon! I am sure there was a mermaid holding on to the danbuoy John threw into the big waves, because after a while battling with the wind ,the sails, the engines, Marco had the danbuoy safely in his hands. Johan had his turn and I helped his "man overboard" safely back into Catlyn. He was supposed to take Catlyn back and I was so relieved, but then John decided it might be good for my confidence to take Catlyn back in. Oh no!

He coached me a bit with his gentle manner, and calmed all my raw nerves, and although the wind was pushing and although Johan and John had a couple of scary moments with me I did it!

I DID IT! Two skippers for Catlyn!

First family birthday!

Marco turned nine years the 30th of October and Janlie decorated Catlyn with balloons and streamers for a festive look. He was woken by Andria and his granny on the cellphone, and was spoilt by all the people who just love him. Jaco also came for the day and we sailed out to Clifton for a day in the sun accompanied by so many other yachts enjoying the good weather for the day.

The 3 kids decided to swim towards the beach in the icy waters, and reached the rocks trying to warm up their frozen limbs. He ended his special day with a pizza in Blouberg and the whole of Pannarotti's singing and rejoicing with him! He was touched by angels just loving him! Happy birthday, Marco!

A little step closer...

"Are you ever gonna go?" These words of a someone made me realise how many times I said good bye to my people, how many times I packed up my house and how many times I hugged my dog...and I am still here! I 've decided to do it very quietly next time and maybe I will phone my friends from somewhere far away...this time really gone!

Catlyn is lying in Elliot Basin richly covered in the black soot, and every day we are fighting a new battle to clean her up. If we are lucky our bar cupboard will be fixed on Tuesday and the solar panels will be installed this week...and as soon as this howling wind settles down for longer than a day we can sail out of here.

We spend a lovely Thursday watching the beachers at Camps Bay. Catlyn parked her lazy body in the cool waters and we had our first sunloving braai on her deck...pretending we are at some tropical island. We were amazed at the beauty of the Apostles behind Camps Bay, their feet touching the sea, and Table Mountain towering over.

Excited and slightly nervous we left for Dassen Island, planning to spend our first night in the dark on the open sea. We watched the sun go down and experienced the total silence around us as it soon got darker. Why didn't I look at the moon to choose a full moon for our first night sail? Soon it was pitch dark with just the sound of the water swishing around us. Janlie organised our watchlist and soon every one crawled into bed except me and Junior. Wow! This was a reality check! My reliable Skipper had to go to sleep and I had to watch out for big dark ships, and keep an eye on the auto pilot. It wasn't that bad, but quite soon I didn't feel so good any more. I couldn't see a thing and that wasn't a good experience for this girl who gets car sick when I don't see the road.

Five hours later our Skipper woke up for his shift with Janlie. Within a half an hour everything changed. Thick fog came out of nowhere, the wind started howling and two big ships appeared on our radar screen! Thank goodness I was spared this challenge. Johan really had to fight to keep Catlyn out the way of these fishing trawlers, and even staring into the night nothing was visible besides the blackness of the night and the sifting wetness of the fog.

I went to bed at four, exhausted but knowing that our Skipper was in control and Janlie and Junior and Marco were lying in the salloon, ready to assist. Dassen Island welcomed us with its beautiful house bay, and the pelicans flying over us. We anchored safely after quite an eventful night, and soon every one was showered and fast asleep!

My Mother shared my dream

What a privilege! My mother decided on very short notice to put all her fears aside and join us on a trip from Langebaan to Cape Town. The kids were so excited to have their Ouma on board and Janlie gave her cabin away. She enjoyed it so much and was relieved to see that the boat stayed afloat even though the sea was quite choppy!

We anchored at Dassen Island for our usual clean up, and tried our luck for a couple of cray fish....it wasn't long before Johan and Marco pulled up the net filled with some....what a lovely dinner!

On our way to Cape Town we were entertained by so many dolphins dancing around us for almost an hour. It was the first time that we experienced so many at one continuous time. And just after that dinner was served for the night when a beautiful yellow tail was landed. Again a stunning dinner with this soft white meat!

We had a busy schedule ahead. Lots of organising and planning for the big day...some day? My mother stayed on Catlyn during the day, and enjoyed herself so much, pretending she is the woman of the boat, making coffee and tea and going for a nap in her cradle. And then we had to go back to George.

My biggest blessing at home is to be loved by my dog, Rambo, and for the first couple of days we spend all the time together. I organised my house again, packing and minimizing everything in my cupboards (again) if my house is rented out.

We used the opportunity to enjoy our friends on land and treasure every time because we know one day we gonna go and we finally going to say our good byes on the deck leaving for the big blue unknown.

Oude Post

I lost a piece of me when I walked passed this awesome house with the gigantic ficus trees surrounding it. I had to sneak closer to just sit on the little bench to imagine being part of this Old Dutch house somewhere, sometime...

The Posthuis was built in 1730, and polished engraved stones served as post boxes. It lies at the foot of the beautiful Postberge, and is a part of the Postberg Nature Reserve. No public is allowed except September and October to watch the carpets of veld flowers. I know, that no one is allowed, because I rowed over with the tender and started walking up the road when I was firmly asked by a house owner or visitor to go back to my little boat and not to walk around here, because it is private property!

It was so weird to be chased of a piece of coastal land, I thought back a little to the Apartheids years and for a moment understood....

Anyway I silently sneaked passed avoiding all the houses with people in them and so much enjoyed the walk on the little dirt road to Kraalbaai. Tortoises kept me company because I wasn't in a hurry to leave this beautifull peacefull piece of land soon. I need to make friends with some one in Oude Post soon, because I want to go back and sit on the little bench of that old house again!

Fossil park visit

Johan's sister, Elize came to visit from a grey London and with a bit of luck we found a couple of days full of sunshine to share with her.

Kraalbaai was first on our list, and we played hop scotch in the sand. Unfortunately we had a couple of injuries and stiff joints the next morning.

We spent an afternoon at the Fossil Park just a couple of km from Langebaan. What an amazing experience! Nicky, our tour guide shared all the info and touched us by his enthusiasm. Short neck giraffes, two tooth elephants washed out in this area over 5 million years ago. We stood amazed looking down on the bones still embedded in the ground. Every year students from over the world spend one month digging up the fossils. For 9 years this project is ongoing, but due to funding this site only gets a visit for this short period. There must still be so many secrets in that area waiting to be uncovered. This park with it' s museum is really worth a visit!

Marco, our pirate!

Let me introduce you to our youngest member on Catlyn. Marco with his crystal soul is almost 9 years old and he is the Master of Catlyn. Before we knew where all the switches and bilges and lockers in her hull was he would do us the honours. He will find new places on the Raymarine and surprise his Dad with new functions for this computerised screen.


On a short visit to Cape Town, he would hurry us back home...to Catlyn. Forgotten is our home in George, the only one he misses, is his water home.

Catlyn is where he does his home schooling. He is in gr3 and tries his best to negotiate him out of a day of school...so some days he has to do two day's work! Luckily he is a clever little boy, so although I am his teacher, sometimes I let him be. His older brother, Johan is a karate champ, and Marco is starting with Karate classes in the morning, with his private Sensei.

A box in his cabin is full of his favourite toys, which shares his fanatical army fantasies. Dressed up like a soldier, or like a pirate or like an assassin he stalks any one visiting us on the Yacht. On rainy days his computer is on his lap, and a MP3 in his ears, and he tempts the whole family into playing board games.

I must tell you about his cooking skills too. It all started in Thailand, and still he loves to experiment on something nice for his family in the galley, or at the gas braai. Take note of the towel draped over the shoulder. Marco is a pro, and a pro has to dress like one.
His latest adventure after his successful snoek fishing experience, is the swing that he hangs from the top of the mast and with his feet barely touching the sea he swirls all around Catlyn.

Marco, just like his Dad is a Scorpio and together they are living their water dream!

Barge at Jacobsbaai

A buzz was going around the whole Langebaan area....New Shopping Mall at Jacobsbaai! People were flooding to this quaint little bay. The hide-away restaurant were selling more beers and burgers than ever before. We followed the buzz...first by road and then we decided to see this spectacle from the ocean. We sailed in a brisk breeze with huge swells and breaking of waves around us. And there she was already visible from afar. A big blue monstrosity hiding the little bay of Jacob. We tried to get closer, but the sea was keeping Catlyn away at a safe distance not wanting to make her a part of this human heap. Thirteen barges on their way to Europe and not China this time, broke the chains holding her to the big vessel taking her to the seas, and in the stormy weather she came to a halt in thick sand. People looking through their windows like every morning to admire the blue of the sea, only saw the blue of this big Barge obscuring their view.

A lot of people are trying to come up with a plan to remove this unwelcome guest. Will it be towing her away on the next stormy tide, or will that be chopping her up into smaller pieces?

We enjoyed the view and went back catching seven beautiful snoek...but we had to compete with the seals chasing our bait or our snoek. Our visiting son, Louis was delighted with all the fishy blessings. Dinner was organised for my family!

My whole family aboard

Louis came to visit! For the first time my whole family shared in this magic of our dream! We left Table Mountain behind with a sigh of relief.

We spend the night at Dassen Island again, and the kids wanted to show Louis how to catch crayfish with the net. They caught a couple of small ones and we stood amazed at the reason why Nature Conservation has a period when no one is allowed to catch crayfish. The crayfish are spawning and we saw the cluster of millions dark red eggs under their bellies. The kids gently put them back into the sea, afraid they'll anger the Sea Angels.

We sailed safely into Langebaan Marine where Catlyn felt at peace again. On the jetty was friends from near and afar. Genevieve, Catlyn"s neighbouring Cat was there with it's owners, Johan and Annette. Michiel and Marline were anxiously waving at us. Andria was ruining her boots over the rocks, trying to keep up with Andre.

Happiness is best when shared.....

Check up in Cape Town

We sailed Catlyn back to Cape Town for a check up. Anxiously we set her free from Langebaan on our way to Dassen Island. All the "hotnotsvlooie" were cleaning her hull to look her best for her first return to her birth place.

The swells were beautiful and the wind was generous and with the main out we had a lovely sail to Dassen Island. And then luck struck Johan who trawled his lines.

A beautiful snoek landed on the deck. It's gills a deep ruby red, it's scales a shiny silvery blue. But the beastly men were hunting this awesome animal down and it's head was bashed on the deck. It was cleaned and washed in sea water and filleted and frozen in an instant, and then three more followed to fill the freezer.

Snoek for dinner!! Fresh!! For a girl always 'sniffing' fish out in the supermarket, it was a thrill to enjoy the meat of this blessing.

All went to their cradles except me, who had to stand guard for the first shift according to Janlie's list. When the deep breathing and heavy bodies filled Catlyn, I sneaked out and felt the darkness. The whole sky was lit up by stars almost touching the horizon. I didn't want to wake Jaco for his shift, almost too jealous to stop this.

Our Skipper started the engines at six o'clock the next morning. It was still pitch dark. How do you see? You can only hear the sound of the waves rolling somewhere. We lifted the anchor, watching it in the flash light coming closer...and then Catlyn was free to start her trip to Cape Town. The radar was on and we safely sailed out of the house bay of Dassen Island.

The fog was hiding Table Mountain from us all the way. We sailed into Elliot Basin the afternoon, after realising how fast those big ships really are. Size does count!

Elliot Basin was as disgusting as always. We tried to secure Catlyn as good as possible, but the jetties didn't look very stable. Just a week or two before a friend of ours launched their new Maverick, Be-Jo, and poor Bert jumped off his boat right through the jetty! A storm was brewing and we were really worried.

The next morning in the howling wind an waves, the stepladder slipped of it's rails and luckily fell into the sea on the other side of Catlyn. But we were still worried, because the storm wasn't subsiding and we strapped the jetty and ladders with extra ropes and we bought six big fenders to cushion us against the delapidated jetties. But it wasn't enough and the derailed ladder banged against Catlyn chaving her side.

We couldn't wait to get out into the open seas again!

"Honey, I'm home!"

It's done. Johan and Janlie wrote their last paper for their Matric exam for this year, and are enjoying a well deserved rest until August when they will start their studying for the last three subjects for next year May.

"Honey, I'm home!"

We drove back to Langebaan where Dad and Marco were waiting for us on Catlyn.

They survived the storm during June when they had to vacate the Marina, and look for shelter in Kraalbaai. The swells were high and the wind was strong, and even the calm Kraalbaai became a turbulence of water. Jaco and his friend joined the two to help them safely around, and Marco learnt to feed the crew.

"Honey, I'm home!"

I left for six weeks and went back to my house in George. It felt so big and roomy and wonderful, and I soaked in my bath for hours. I enjoyed the earth under my fingers in my garden, I loved the smell of my washing on the line, I stared into the licking flames of my fire place and every morning woke up looking at the blue of the sea.

But it happened. It was the call of the blue sea every morning. I woke up and I wanted to go back. My lovely wooden house just didn't fit my bones any more. I felt awkward. I felt out of place. Not even my hot tub could keep me there. I had to go back!

I crept back into my rocking bed on Catlyn, enjoyed the stream of hot shower water in my tub, wait for the whistle of my blue kettle, and I felt the sting of a sheet running through my fingers.

"Honey, I'm Home!"

Kraalbaai, Langebaan

Kraalbaai, Langebaan Lagoon

The fog was hanging heavy around the Langebaan Marina, and all aboard decided that it will be a good time to test our Raymarine equipment for the future sailing experiences in thick fog. At least we know that we are safe sailing around the Lagoon.

Kraalbaai was our destination, about an hour from Langebaan. It was a relief to see the islands and rocks popping up on the screen, and we slowly cruised to Kraalbaai. Some places got quite shallow, but with all looking out we reached our also foggy destination....and immediately relaxed when the smell of the first pancakes on Catlyn filled the saloon.

The next morning, Johan enjoyed the tender on a solo misty trip before sunrise!

Catlyn sat herself gently down onto the sand when the tide was very low, and we had the opportunity to rub and scrub her belly, at places usually untouchable.

Marco was the tour guide on Kraalbaai and took all of us on sightseeing trips...and we came upon the most beautiful stranded coppery Octopus.

With a sadness Marco left him on the beach after trying to get him back to sea. Luckily two good luck bees appeared ( one for me with the bright t-shirt and one for him) but he sent his good luck bee away to share his luck with the stranded Octopus.... half an hour later the coppery sea animal disappeared back safely into the water!

After enjoying the splendid sunrises painting colours on Catlyn, Johan had to do his first engine repairs! All I know is when two Johan's put their heads together studying a Yanmar, only good can come of it... and an impeller later ...the engine was singing again.

I tried to make chicken pies for snacks, and realized that the Captain Morgan bottle has the best curvy body to roll the doe with..maybe that's why the pies were so popular!

But sooner or later we had to run into plumbing problems! Luckily it was the children's heads, and I could take the photos and enjoyed the moment of two teenagers doing serious plumbing.
There was just not enough fresh air in Catlyn for the tempers or the smells. After opening up all the pipes and investigating everything for the blockage, they still couldn't find the problem. Dad helped them to take off the whole pumping mechanism as the last resort....and there they found the 4 culprits! Sitting snugly in the little pipe was four little sea animals! Another lesson learnt: when the tide is so low little things can be sucked in.

We loved Kraalbaai,

and didn't want to leave, but our water was running low. We decided to show our Skipper that we can really save water! We did the army style shower...wet-soap-rinse-dry, and the next day we proudly left with a quarter tank still full of water!

But reality struck!!! Johan and Janlie are writing their first Matric exam paper in only one week! We decided to go back to George where they will be taking their exams, while Dad and Marco will look after Catlyn and sort out little things to prepare us for the big day!

Crayfish at Dassen Island

Sunset at Dassen Island, Western Cape, South Africa

Catlyn at anchor and @peace

We were licenced and totally equipped to catch the crayfish in our nets! Being the 15th of April, it was the last day of the crayfish season for us. Catlyn and Genevieve set our sails and started our trip to Dassen Island!

The sea was quite choppy and the wind about 22 knots, but all aboard Catlyn enjoyed this new adventure of being a part of the big ocean. We were accompanied by so many curious seals while we pass Yzerfontein. Genevieve found a safe place to anchor in the sand in House Bay of Dassen Island ,about 5 hours later and we anchored just next to her. We were surrounded by fishing trawlers with their crayfish net beacons bobbing all over the bay!


We couldn't wait to put our own 4 nets into the water...Marco at first not so keen, but then following his new friend Dillan's example, breaking the sardine's tight bodies in half. The nets were lowered among the many coloured balls of the fishers'.

According to our neighbour Johan you have to drink a beer while waiting for the cray fish to crawl into your net...well, a beer later and the nets were pulled vigorously up and were filled with 4 beautiful crayfish. Another beer later and we had enough for a lovely dinner with fried rice and a freshly baked bread in Anette's galley.

Johan(jnr) for second helping !!!

After a splendid evening we wanted to return to our Cat, but got the surprise of no dinghy waiting for us where Dad fastened her to Genevieve!

The men went searching for her in the pitch dark bay, while the wind was howling, but we all realised that she could be very far by now. With heavy hearts we went to bed in a borrowed dinghy...

But the wind was blowing and me and Johan just couldn't relax. The whole time he was worried that we were dragging...

For the first time I realised how difficult it is to pin point your position in the dark with no fixed marks. We were up every couple of minutes, and then Johan came back with the dreading words! "We are dragging!"

While lifting the anchor we realised that our prop and rudder got entangled with one of the fishers' cray fish nets and the whole lot of rope disabling our engine to start. What a catastrophe to try and manoeuvre the Cat between all those trawlers and nets with one engine and a strong wind in the dark. We succeeded to anchor safely and securely far away from all, and just imagine Genevieve's surprise when she wakes up the next morning with us gone.

When the first light of day came through Johan jumped into the iciness of the water to cut the rope away. Guys from a trawler gave us a bucket full of crayfish for the trouble caused by their nets.

The weather was miserable and all the trawlers were pulling up their nets, too heavy for a man, and they left in a hurry. We realised that they know this bay, and if they are leaving so quickly, we have to do it too, quickly!

The swells were big and we watched Genevieve in front of us disappear deep into the swells and then popping up again. We left Dassen Island with a heaviness in our hearts knowing that somewhere on this big ocean our little silver dinghy lies.

About 12 km away from Dassen Island, Genevieve radioed us. They followed the smiling seal, the jumping dolphins and then the miracle happened - they suddenly bumped into our silver dinghy! We were dumb struck, and while we stare at them securing our dinghy to their boat the whale jumped out of the blue right next to Genevieve sharing in our gratefulness!

We sailed back to Langebaan with lots of lessons learnt, until the next time....

Limeriek deur Andre le Roux in reaksie op mandjie vol kreef :

Met 'n krat vol kreef

kan mens mos streef

Met mae vol

En seile bol

Om voluit te leef !!!!

Birthday on Catlyn

Friends came to visit! Charles and Yolanda with their kids stayed in Mykonos on top of the restaurant looking out on the Marina, the closest they could get to the jetties. We sailed to Saldanha, passing all the massive ships, to anchor close to the beach next to Genevieve, the neighbour's catamaran. We realised that it is not a good idea to braai fatty lamb chops on our gas braai...it was flamed eventually. The children couldn't wait to get together in the cold water, with all their water toys, and we tried to get some fish. We landed 8 stomp nose, enough for dinner. Catlyn, decorated with 44 balloons for Charles, sailed us home in a brisk breeze.

We spent the day at the scenic Paternoster, (Our Father), eating fresh hake and chips at the restaurant and giggling at the famous bar, decorated with the 'finest' underwear. Hawkers with crayfish in plastic bags were tempting us under the Bluegum trees.

Our friends left this morning and we are busy getting everything back to normal again. Johan and Janlie, busy studying for their matric exam, needed some peace and quiet and I dropped them at the Langebaan Library for 5 hours of serious concentrating.

We are planning to go to Dassen Island, about 5 hours south of Langebaan, and the Brand family from Genevieve wants to join. The weather looks good for Wednesday morning, so everything has to be checked. Crayfish nets are bought, and the two Johans are sitting together fixing the lines for the big fish trawling behind our catamarans. We were all ready for the next morning going on our first overnight somewhere away from the safety of a Marina.

Catlyn is alive!!!

Sipping a cup of coffee, made by Janlie, still snugg in my rocking bed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror....me! At last at peace, in my new home on the water. How swiftly life can go in a new direction by only one decision.

We left Cape Town behind us on the 1st of April. All the predictions on all the weather channels gave us hope of a strong wind blowing from the south, pushing us gently to Langebaan. But it was April fools day, and we nearly had to motor all the way, slipping through the big swells.

But we were welcomed by the ocean, sending us so many whales playing and fooling around us. Seals, penguins and jellyfish entertained us all the way to Langebaan.

Rudi got us safely into Langebaan Marina. What a delightful contrast! We were greeted and helped by the neighbours, Johan Brand and his family. Anschen, the manager of Langebaan gave a hand to get us safe into her Marina.

We woke up the next morning, for the first time all alone on Catlyn. There was a respectful silence among my family, realising the awe of being here, finally. But it didn't last long. Marco found friends, and the rest of us started cleaning and scrubbing and arranging and then rearranging again.

And then the whole family, with Jaco visiting from Stellenbosch, were briefed by our Skipper to take our first solo trip. Quite nervous we did it and close to Perlemoenkop we tested Catlyn's anchor for the first time. Everything went smoothly and we were ancord. We had to celebrate with a braai!

But besides all the new excitement in our lifes, Johan and Janlie received their Matric exam's timetable, and the reality struck. They are starting the 6th of May. Luckily Langebaan has a library, and the two find peace and quiet there.

This morning we are waiting for someone from Cape Town to come and set our instruments, which we realised isn't working properly, and we have to look at the bilge pumps in Catlyn.

But for the first time in a very long time, I feel alive again!!

Babies on board

We received our first guests on board. My brother and his family came along for another test sail.

The wind was blasting at about 35 knots SW and we were curious to find out what Catlyn will do in this wind. While the 3 month old Minjone was sleeping her first sail away, Catlyn was sliding through the water at a speed of 9.4 knots. All aboard was exhilerated, and we felt her trying to go faster, but we reefed her down to hold her in. The guests from Holland, Bert and Jose, enjoyed the spray of mist Catlyn threw all over us welcoming all on board.

That evening we had our first South African braai. The little Luhan and Marco entertained us dancing away on the deck,

while his baby sister had her beauty bath in my basin.

Catlyn' Nappy Drill

No one told me how tough it is to handle your new born baby. I thought she will just be ready and polished and you sail away, but what a surprise ! She is crying every two hours for milk, she is crying after milk, she is crying in a wet nappy...she is crying way more than the pink and blue babies I saw in other mom's arms in the shopping mall.


Since the 12 th of February, Catlyn is still lying in an "industrial working marina" Elliot Basin, and it feels like no one is realising the amount of work that goes into a catamaran and because of that is making idle promises of early dates they can not keep. Every day I have to get up out of her gentle rocking bed, fold up all the bedding into plastic covers, get my children up to do the same, pack our little belongings and leave her at about 7o'clock in the hands of the "doctors" to fix and fiddle for a whole day 'till 7o'clock the evening when we come back fully motivated that the end is one day closer!


We "camped" in the Royal Cape Yacht Club close to the Elliot basin, used their clean facilities and tried every dish on their well priced menu. The chicken burger is highly recommended by the boys. My kid's motivation and determination skills were greatly tested when they unpacked all their school books for a long day during the heat wave in Cape Town with only a fan moving some hot air around.

It is the 12 of March and the situation has only changed to a highly irritable and "slightly" demotivated family. We packed our bedding into plastic bags again, but this time we moved into a little two bedroom flat, storing all Catlyn's baby clothes and toys in a corner in a heap for the next time we are going to try to move into her.

I felt so lonely in this yachting world, but walking passed all the other catamarans lying there I realised the frustration in this industry. We met a family from Madagascar on their also partly finished catamaran. The owner remarked that he is used to everything in Madagascar to being slow, but he learnt that in South Africa it is always tomorrow! Their boy of 12 was skate boarding and playing in the dinghy to pass the time. Maybe they will be on their way by the end of March? We met the French couple with their yellow Catamaran also waiting impatiently to sail to the Indian Ocean. We saw the Canadian fuming on a Monday morning when no one pitched to work on his boat.... The newest member to the "Waiting Club" a South African family is still very enthusiastic and opportunistic about his waiting period and is sitting under his umbrella all day next to his dream.

We had enough, and got to the point of making a final snag list ( list of all the faults and outstanding items, big and small) and we have arranged a time limit on that, and hopefully we are going to get our baby in perfect condition soon. I will keep you posted.

First sail of Catlyn

Today at four we cruised out of the marina, gently getting Catlyn out of the pontoon to the open seas. My kids were wide eyed looking at this new experience.

Marco had his new life jacket on, but was only bothered because he didn't have a whistle.

I was really trying to listen to all this men on Catlyn talking about the main sail, sheets, halyards and all that. I thought I read it all, but being on this Catamaran looking at all the ropes in different colors, I couldn't remember a thing I learnt at sailing school in Phuket.

The fog set in, and I stood right in front listening for big ships, trying to see through the thick whiteness. I had a little sensation of what it will be like to be all alone on this big ocean with no land in sight.

The fog lifted and we could sail safely into the basin.

Johan was the stack pack mechanic, and got a crash course by Craig from Quantum Sails. He climbed and crawled and got the main sheet nicely zipped up.

I had my first sail on Catlyn, and she gently introduced me with the sway of her hips into the world of the blue seas. I am in this dream, a dream with Catlyn.

Catlyn in incubator

Maverick gave birth to Catlyn, but because of complications she is still in the incubator. It is just as unexpected and I felt exactly the same disappointment as not taking my baby home to her pink woolly cradle. I touched her...slept on her...but the very next morning blue overalls came in and I had to leave her in the hands of good care. I thought you just start to love your Cat the moment she's in the water, but all you get is to put your hands in the incubator and touch her...

Then they organised this launching party, this celebration of having this new baby in the family, and all this people from the industry came to look at her, seeing if any of their stuff was on her. I met this lady, Carol and she told me how the feeding goes on a Cat, and I know, with my family of 4 I need to know a women like this. She and her family spend 8 years with their little boy on their yacht.

And then the next party came. People from all over came to look at our beautiful baby. Interested in buying a Maverick? I dressed Catlyn in all her new pinks, but was really offended by the old mothers trying to tell me how their baby's look better in blue and cream and....

But we met other families with the same dream as ours. They also want to sell up and sail around the world. Some of their dreams were still only in their husband's eyes, but I hope after I met them, they decided to get into that dream like I did, and start living this dream.
Janet, July allow yourselve to dream....

Catlyn touched the sea.

She made it, and we made it! Our family followed this big truck overflown by this chunky catamaran. At an unbelievable speed of 60km p/h she was driven through the streets of Cape Town, billboards and stop streets passing by (thanks to the Traffic Dpt).







Our daughter, Janlie, waved like royalty to all the curious onlookers next to the road. Like royalty we felt!






A big crane was waiting for us, and in sweltering heat Catlyn was lifted off this truck, snugly lying between the blue straps holding her. What a breathless feeling it was when she was lifted and came eye-level to us hanging in the air....just to wait for the droplets of Moet Chandon on her hull...and then she was going down....to her life giving force! Water!

Marco, our little one, just wanted to get onto her and start sailing, but this was the beginning of yet another process. He slipped the "good luck coin" into the mast just before it was lowered onto the deck and fastened. And then all of us and those around took the opportunity to get onto her for the engines to start, and a little stroll around the marine.










It felt so good!

Catamaran for sale?

Shocked? For the first time since a very long time ago when this dream started, and since the eighteen months they started building Catlyn, I felt it.
The morning on our way to Cape Town didn't start well, with the headlights of our car both dead in the dark. Five o'clock in the morning isn't a good time searching for a fuse, and if the fuse isn't the problem, trying to squeeze your hand into a place to connect your newly repainted little car's headlight fittings back into place.

Leaving the kids at home and the little one in front of the TV, sulking , wasn't setting the mood right as we headed for Cape Town.

And then a strange noise not belonging to the car made us stop. Starboard wheel busted! No wheel spanner in sight, because car was getting a face lift and no one checked. The last couple of months I was only reading and trying to memorise all the things I have to check when the cat's engine is doing certain things and wheel spanners wasn't one of them. I am quite detached from the normal land living day to day things because I have to learn so many new things.

Occupants from a little house next to the road somewhere saved us. But minutes later the cellphone rang, and we were told that the corian tops we selected three months ago for all the counters are not in stock, a week before the "planned" launch of our catamaran!

It wasn't funny! But ...the boat builder survived and I did and my poor Skipper did. Hint: Don't mess with little things like table tops and linen and which pots will fit onto your little stove a week before your whole life is goning to turn upside down!

And then I felt it!

THE LAUNCH

Catlyn will be launched on the 12th of February 2009 at the Royal Yacht Club Cape Town. The Mast stepping and Rigging will be done and a few other adjustments too, which will keep us for another week from doing the first test sails. It is the first Maverick 40ft Catamaran in the water after 18 months of hard work for Rudi Pretorius, owner of Maverick Yachts cc and Phil Southwell (Designer).

Formal launches will be organised to launch this newcomer as "the new generation catamaran" together with the Marine Portal "TheMarineTrade.com".

Maverick 40 ft Catamaran

.......and this is our new dream !!!!

January 2009 (New Year)

Johan and Marlene van Niekerk is planning something ....... again !!!!
It all started November 2007.