Amersham, Bucks, UK

I find myself unexpectedly in England. The Admiral's mother suffered a fall last
week and broke her hip which required some surgery at a local hospital. This 
meant that the Admiral could not leave for South Africa on November 1st as 
planned so I decided to come here to lend some moral support.
It was a difficult to make the change from bright sunshine in Capetown to grey 
Blighty but needs must and the weather so far has been quite mild and pleasant.
Mother in law is recovering well and should be discharged on Monday to begin her 
rehab at home.
Some comments about Capetown. We left Knysna on a sunny afternoon to reach the 
Knysna heads at just before the slack high tide and exit was easy with no 
breaking waves to worry about. The bad news was we had to push into 15 knot 
headwinds for about twenty hours and made very poor progress. The southwesterly 
winds were forecast but we had to leave when we did as the local knowledge 
suggested that due to the south westerlies the heads would be closed for at 
least two days. This was in fact the case and it was just as well we left when 
we did. 
After twenty hours of motoring the wind shifted to the east and we had some good 
downwind sailing around the Cape of Good Hope up to around Green Point. Dolphins 
and whales were there to greet us on a lovely clear afternoon in view of the 
iconic Table Mountain.
We entered into the harbour and on to the Royal Cape Yacht Club and tied up to 
the end of BX dock. The club was having its annual opening day and was very busy 
indeed. We enjoyed a few beers and a good dinner to celebrate the final landfall 
of the long cruise.
Next day Ray and I went to visit the Victoria and Alfred waterfront area and the 
Capetown boat show. The boat show was very small but enjoyable nonetheless. We 
took a look at a fifty foot catamaran, the Knysna 500 which was spectacular. 
Would be perfect for our next circumnavigation!
The waterfront area is the place to be in Capetown with many restaurants and 
shopping. There is a marina there but are no berths available until January 10, 
2015 so that's where we will be in the new year. With a bit of luck, something 
will open up before that date.
Once back at the RCYC the wind was howling from the SE at at least 30 knots. No 
swell but very blowy, whereas the waterfront marina was much more protected from 
the SE winds.
The RCYC is very pleasant with an active racing program but not in the best 
area, surrounded by the docks and no way of getting into downtown without 
getting a cab or the bus. So it looks like we'll stay here until something opens 
up at the waterfront.
Ray and I rented a car on the following day to take a ride around the area and 
visit with Peter on S/V Lady Amber, a 65 foot research boat in Hout Bay. Peter 
gave us some very helpful weather information on the leg from Reunion so we took 
him out for some lunch and a few beers to return the favour. He was a very 
interesting fellow and we spent the afternoon swapping stories and telling lies. 
The marina at Hout Bay was far more exposed to south easterlies than the RCYC 
with wind and swell, so it did not appear to be a useful option to stay there. 
Too bad, because Hout Bay itself was delightful.
I took Ray to the airport on the following morning for his flight to Australia. 
He was excellent crew and I very much enjoyed his company.
I spent the next few days wandering around Capetown, fixing stuff and eating my 
way through the freezer prior to leaving for the UK.
There are lots of facilities for sailboat repair and I took the radar/ chart 
plotters and the GPS off the boat for bench testing and possible repair at the 
Furuno agent. I had the linear drive for the auto pilot serviced and returned 
within 24 hours. Just as well, as the brushes were on their last legs.
The mainsail and genoa are off the boat and at the Northsails dealer. They 
appear to be in remarkable shape after more than 40,000 miles but will need some 
restitching and a new UV cover for the mainsail. I'm also going to have all the 
vertical battens removed and have the leach recut to give a small amount of 
negative roach. I have been having trouble furling and unfurling the mainsail 
and the leach flutters when close on the wind. This modification will involve 
losing about 5% of the sail area but will be worthwhile to preclude a serious 
jam while underway.
I also found a B and G guy who will service the wind instruments and the speed 
log both of which are having some issues.
I need to find a Volvo dealer to service the cooling system and that should 
complete all the maintenance needed for now. A haul out is scheduled at RCYC in 
March.
A long and tedious flight on Air France to England for about two weeks and an 
opportunity to visit with family and friends.
Peter from R/V Lady Amber in Hout Bay








leaving Knysna
dolphins at the Cape of Good Hope
Approaching Capetown with the Table Mountain in view







knysna






more dolphins
the marina at the RCYC. note the "tablecloth" on the mountain. A southeasterly is blowing hard
view from the Knysna YC


more views of Knysna

dinner at the
portuguese restaurant in Knysna

the new salty look. Hemmingway or Castaway you decide

Knysna, South Africa

We left Durban after a very pleasant few days. We were well looked after at the Point Yacht Club and were offered full use of their facilities during our stay there. I met with some old friends, Gerald and Diane from the catamaran Whiskers and Stuart and Sheila  from Imagine arrived from Richards Bay soon after us. It's just as well we got into Durban when we did as the weather turned nasty the day after with a great deal of wind and rain.  I got to look around Durban while Ray and Ted went to visit a game park. Everyone here has been incredibly friendly and I was introduced to a Durban favorite called bunnychow, which is the curry of your choice served up in a quarter  of a hollowed out loaf of bread. Very innovative and tasty. Prices are very good value and I Callisto spruced up with a wash, buff out and wax for less than  $200 USD.
We left last Wednesday intending to go to Mossell Bay but decided instead to go into Knysna, which is about 50 miles to the east. Getting in was a bit tricky but well worth it as the lagoon is quite spectacularly beautiful. The Knysna Yacht Club, were in what appears to be the SA tradition and have been quite wonderful. The weather has again turned and from 80 degrees on Monday to 60 degrees today and yesterday, with quite a bit of wind and rain.
We expect some clearing tomorrow and will leave for the final push for Capetown in the afternoon or Friday morning. Only another 300 miles to go to end this epic.
Photos soon as Internet not good here also some statistics about the Indian Ocean voyage.