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.