Catch up after computer failure

26 Nov. 10


Yesterday we went off to a shop in Aeroport, Kempton called AMT to look at the different types of fibreglass, and to find out from the experts how to correctly apply their products. We also received a book from another supplier, Flowcrete, about their products and applications. Flowcrete was closing at twelve for their Christmas function so we didn’t get to see any of their products first hand. I like to touch, feel and see things with my own eyes as this makes it easier for me to visualise what is required when I plan a task. At AMT the sales rep explained all the various processes and techniques that are required as well as showing me the various products.

Now when I call to order a ‘SM106B’ at least I have some sort of idea as to what it may be. Next we compiled a ‘short’ list of the most essential repairs and modifications that have to be made to the boat in order for us to leave. The list started at about five items but ended up at about twenty. Something tells me that we will have to have another look at that list.

12 Dec. 10

We arrived back at the boat at last the day before yesterday after what felt like the longest road trip of all times. There wasn’t all that much traffic on the way down but we just didn’t seem to be able to make any progress. Due to some or other problem on the main road the traffic police re-directed us onto a sand, or shall I say muddy side road between some farms and across railway lines. At one point we almost got stuck in the mud when we had to leave the road and drive through the ploughed field. Some trucks were obstructing that piece of the sand road and were already stuck in the mud. I can never understand how the traffic police can send you down a road that isn’t actually usable.

Anyway we arrived to the same scene as every other time with the boat still floating happily on the water but covered in layers of black coal dust. You can’t see that dust in the air but it definitely exists and the boat is testimony to this. I wonder how long your lungs will last breathing that dust in all the time.

Yesterday was a real scorcher at 34 degrees but it cooled down in the afternoon with the arrival of the south westerly wind bringing along with it some rain which was a welcome relief after the sweltering heat.

19 Dec. 10

The weather over the past few days went from sweltering heat to continuous rain to soft drizzle to overcast and back to sweltering heat so we spent our time either indoors or at the swimming pool.

One of our employees, Wiekus, got married last week and I had offered the bride and groom some time on the boat so they came down and spent a few days with us. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal we did however manage to take our visitors for a harbour tour and then a short wet sail in the rain.

30 Dec. 10

Well our last visitors, the honeymoon couple, had barely left when the next set of visitors arrived. This time we were joined by Rauen’s gran, Lella, Vicky and the baby Michael. They only stayed a few days and had never been on a boat before so we decided to give them the whole sailing experience. We started by losing one of the fenders overboard as we motored out of the marina, but managed to recover it. So that would be the man overboard practice done. After motoring around the harbour for a while I tried to hoist the main sail and after much fussing and swearing managed to snap one of the reefing lines and tear the main sail stack pack. We eventually got the sail hoisted with two reefs in as this was our only available option. We then set sail toward the harbour mouth and out into the ocean.

Windfind had predicted 10 knot of winds with the wave height of 1.7 metres spaced 7 seconds apart. This was almost perfect sailing conditions. Well the closer we got to the harbour mouth the more the boat tossed and jostled about. The wave height was probably about 1.7 meters but the spacing was definitely not 7 seconds more like 3 or 4 seconds. The boat was pitching so much that the waves were crashing through the trampolines and onto the deck.

I could see out into the ocean and there was white caps all over the place so obviously not 10 knots of wind as predicted either. But anyway we continued in our quest. I tried to keep the boat pointed in between the channel markers but the wind was just that little too much on the nose for me to stay in the channel. We had already rolled out the head sail and I realised that we would have to tack once or perhaps even twice, in order to get through the entrance. So I decided that I would make the head sail a bit smaller to make tacking easier when we have to tack and to prevent the Sail from catching against the baby stay in front. As I was winching the sail in the rope tangled around the winch and knotted itself into an unusable state. Now I couldn’t winch the sail in more using that winch and I also couldn’t let the sail back out.

At this point Lola suggested that we turn around and call it a day. I had to agree. So we turned around and headed back to the marina. I went to the foredeck and managed to roll in the head sail from there, leaving the tangled rope till we had stopped. We dropped the main sail without to much fuss and motored around the harbour for a short while longer to watch two large coal ships enter and exit at the same time. Those ships have anchors the size of our little boat.

The last incident for the day came as we were pulling into our slip. I needed more power on the port engine and as I tried to open the throttle it came off in my hand. I shouted to Lola that we had lost the port engine and for a second everybody panicked. But then the crew jumped into action, grabbing lines left, right and centre, and quick as a flash we had the boat safely tied up seconds later.

03 Jan. 11

Well, new year came and went as with every other year before. No end of the world as predicted every year by some or other doom sayer. This was our first new year on Yrumoar and we were in two minds as to whether or not we wanted to stay on board or head off to the party at the yacht club. Earlier in the day Frank on the boat next to ours asked me to keep an eye out for flares that may fall on his boat and at the time I thought he was joking. Later in the evening when we ran around on board swatting flares out of the sky I realised that he had obviously been here before during the new year celebrations. We therefore opted to stay on board and were treated to the biggest fireworks display I have ever seen. All around us different groups of people had gathered and it seems as if they had a secret competition going between them to see who had the most spectacular display. At twelve there must have been about 20 flares in the sky at the same time as well as explosions from rockets and bomb crackers coming from all directions. Something weird that we happened to notice was the reaction to the flares that the fish had. At first we thought that the fish were just excited by the new year celebrations but then we noticed that every time a flare came near the water the water came alive with fish jumping all over the place, some of them jumping as high as two meters out of the water. I was glad that we had seen this phenomenon first hand because I wouldn’t have believed anybody had they told me this and also, God forbid, if we ever have to use a flare during distress and all the fish start going mad we may have started to panic that the fish were getting excited because they now have the chance to eat us for a change.

Our new years quit smoking lasted till 3 pm on the first, and then until 4 pm on the second. By 10 am today we were little coughing chimneys again. Maybe the beginning of the year isn’t the time to try changing old bad habits into new good ones.

Next Lola’s laptop decided that it had enough and died on us yesterday, so this morning we had to go out and by a new one. The problem with these gadgets is not the gadget itself but all the info that you have on it. All our photo’s and short video clips gone. Mine died just the other day but I found someone to give it CPR and he brought it back to life without losing any of my info. When we go back to the land of the big smoke next week I will find this guy again and hope he can sort Lola’s out to.

10 Jan. 11

Rowing with the other slaves again today. I struggled to get going this morning but once we got started at the office I managed to get some of my back log caught up.

The look of trepidation

16 Nov. 10


It’s been a while since I’ve been able to write. Firstly I had nothing to say about our trip, and then secondly my computer packed up and had to be repaired. Now all I have to write about would be the day to day trials and tribulations that have occurred at work. Needless to say more tribulations than trials. Or I could make up some wild story from my endless imagination.

23 Nov. 10

Another three weeks to go until we can go down to the boat again. This must have been the longest time away so far and I’ve had the DT’s more than once. Still not much to say though just that work is so bad at the moment that we find ourselves not able to go in to the office for two or three days at a time and when we do manage to drag ourselves there we don’t stay very long, just grab up my paperwork and get out as soon as possible. It’s a terrible thing to loose interest in something that you used to love.

This morning was one of those days that again we didn’t manage to get to the office and instead we find things to occupy ourselves with at home. I was watching a short video clip that Lola had made at the Vaal when the wind was howling and I noticed the look of trepidation on my face for a brief second before I managed to put on the brave face. See if you can spot it. The chewing was one of the many “I’m going to quit smoking” attempts.