Getting Ready for the crossing

Hi,
It looks like the weather may give us a fantastic break this coming week.
There are 4 -5 days of SE winds predicted, and a swell down to 1.5m which is "Mill Pond" calm,
Lets see if windguru gets it right!
Right now the weather is not great and Alex and James have been very patient (although grumbling a bit)
Surfing has been an option, but not a daily occurrence. Pity!
I have done stax of stuff which has made a huge difference. Only issue is the mess I create with each item.

the list includes the following:
- replaced "leaking like a sieve"mechanical prop shaft seal with stuffing box
- removed and fixed slipping gearbox
- fitted black water tank
- finished water maker 
- bilge alarm, gas locker vents, outboard motor mounts, wind vane steering, spinnaker pole deck brackets,
  shelves, LED lights, solar panels etc etc.......

Basically just sitting on my hands.

All stuff that should have been done loooooong ago. I know!

Update from email

Hi I am just checking if this actually updates my blog. Too clever!! The weather looks NOT good for this week. Too much North in the wind that we need for the trip up to St. Helena Maybe early next week is the time to go. That's ok as there is still plenty for me to do. I should manage if I stop messing around on this computer Rob

FREE Animations for your email - by IncrediMail Click Here! ►

Gearbox repairs

Hi All

Some of the stuff that we have been doing in Hout Bay.

My gearbox needed some attention. It was slipping. All the people I spoke to said I would have to change the plates. What better way to find out then just to strip it. Turned out to be 100%. All that was needed was to change to a Dexron 3 F oil and the problem would have been solved. Very happy I didn't just take it to the gearbox "specialist". Lots of fun trying to get it all reassembled without a workshop manual.

Back in the bilges again where it is working better than ever. Maybe just wanted some attention.

I don't need thing that need attention right now.

 

Then Alex needed some attention too.  

Climbing out of the companionway into the cockpit he popped his knee. When we arrived back he was making some strange dinosaur noises. He was carried on a tatty old piece of ply to the car park, loaded in the back of a bakkie and sorted out in the doctors practice, still on his piece of ply. I have never heard him talk so much K%^ as after his morphine experience.

I want some too.

 

I have included some of the pics of the Water Maker.

Salt water is pumped at 70-80 bar by a CAT 310 high pressure pump into 4 reverse osmosis tubes. I can increase the pressure for higher yield, of decrease for a better quality water. At 1000rpm on my diesel motor which belt drives the CAT pump, I get 180lts of fresh water per hour. (very happy with that)

Yes I know that storing batteries under a water-maker is not a good idea.

 

We had another fantastic SA type braai at HBYC.

Cheers

Rob

NOT impressed with having to take out my Gearbox.

 

Gearbox in pieces. all looks 100%. Different oil would have made this all unnecessary $&%$..

Alex in the waiting room of the local Hout Bay Doctors room. Dislocated Knee back in place

CAT 310 pump belt driven off my motor for the "watermaker"

Bank of 4 reverse osmosis tubes. I run the system at 70BAR (for the technical mindes)

PROOF. this is direct from the tubes 180lts per hr

Braai up at the Hout Bay Yacht Club

Just a quick update

Hi, We are still in Hout Bay after wanting to be on our way really Badly. We (Gerda and Rob) had a trip to Fruit and Veg to get our last supplies. On our way back home we received a call telling us that Alex had dislocated his knee. He is fine now but what bad timing. Just getting out of the companionway, he twisted and pushed to stand up and his knee just popped. OW%^^& WTF. We carried him on a piece of ply with the help of the Hout Bay Live aboard community. Thanks guys. And loaded him into a bakkie. The Hout Bay doctors managed to pop it back in without too much fuss, but there was some serious moaning. All wrapped up now and ready to go.   The next weather window we have will hopefully be this week.   Will have to get more fruit and veg. We shall all go together this time.

FREE Animations for your email Click Here!

28 August
Still in Hout Bay (yes SA). Yes we have at least had a bit of fun, and some fantastic weather. Good and BAAAADdddd...Like right now!
We've been hoping for a weather window with at least 3 days of south easterlies to get us going up the coast toward St. Helena. It looked good for the end of this week, but lone behold, not to be. There are now NO SE winds predicted for the next week. And to top it, our stern Gland which is really supposed to stop water coming into the boat, is doing anything but. In fact. the plan is to market it as a high volume water pump. (Anybody need a pump to get water INTO their boat?? Going cheap!)
I have decided to go the Old route with a traditional stuffing box. Hope to get it done in the next few days.
Here are a few photos of life in Cape Town. (not too flip-pen awful)..............

Our Home in Hout Bay

Me and my Auntie Jess

James (chilling) all smiles

What a life (Mr. Colgate)

James and clown fish

Now which one exactly is NEMO

Travel in Cape Town

Andries, Francios Riaana

Francios, Riaana and Gerda (mmmm.....with wine!!!)

Too serious

Kalk Bay

 Wife and Me

Kalk Bay

James getting some rest (hard living on a boat)

Sunday in Hout Bay (Gerda, Jess, Sarah)

 

Sarah's idea of us arriving in Hout Bay (Thanks Sarah for all these photos)

That's better

looking very pretty

Happy to be in calm water again

Ok where you say I must go.

Mr. Cool

 

No so sure if we will fit. We did but had to move. It was like putting the sardine

 in the can!

 

Getting a little assistance backing into a very tight mooring

 

James and Gerda (very brave face :)

 

Rob , James and Uncle John Reid 

Well HELL we left Knysna when we got a chance. The calm safe beautiful Lagoon now gone!
Tuesday at 16:00 we sailed through the Heads and arrived at Friday 14:30 Yes almost 3 days what your beamer could have done in about 5 hours
Here are a few photos of the trip. 

                                         My dear Gerda in her HAPPY Place with her Kindle

                                         Alex in his cave

James "keeping up with his talent"

Me with a mountain of meat "SA style".

Saloon. Looks bigger than it is

Alex making sure G makes the safety net properly

MY Bohemian style shade.

 

harness and life jacket before we leave Knysna

Ready ?

Leaving, "The Knysna Heads"

My Buddy, the long suffering Autopilot. what a wonderful friend

Gerda and James cocooned for the trip to Hout Bay

Down wind. 2 x headsails. very pretty

Alex and his tent on the deck. "Silly Sausage"

Lovely sunsets Always

Coming up to Hout Bay. The sea looks flat, but actually is really lumpy

Not so Happy Place (see bucket near at hand) photo cropped to protect the sensitive