Quest's Annual Bath and Haircut

This is what happens if you don't sail enough! Quest has been idle since December.

Last scrub was in about October 2011. Yuck.

In this case nothing that couldn't be fixed with a day off, a high-pressure hose and a can of anti-fouling. This job was done by yours truly at the Hout Bay Boatyard. I was lifted out at 9 am and back in the water at 3pm on a nice sunny Friday. In winter the boatyard is quiet, the boat was left in the slings of the travel-lift. Its a very convenient height to work at. The winter special that they offer costs R1368 for an in-out on the same day. If you fancy doing your own cleaning job, take a decent high-pressure hose, a tall step-ladder (if you want to climb aboard), a scraper, a can of anti-fouling, rollers and brushes, rags, lacquer thinners, some plastic sheeting to catch drips, a scraper, a small plastic step, a hosepipe with end-fittings, an extension lead, some sandwiches and beer, and a camera. Ah - and also an electric drill with a paint-stirrer - the anti-fouling needs a good stirring. And remember to have 4 x 6m lines on your boat for handling at the travel-lift - two aft and two on the bow. If you want to replace anodes, take them as well with suitable screws and things. If there is other work to do, rather arrange to go onto a cradle for a few days - it does cost more though . . . .

Melanie (admin) answers the phone at the Hout Bay Boatyard - Warren is the yard manager - 021 790 5624. Boats with deep draughts may be subject to tidal restrictions on the day.

Good luck!

Sunday Sailing Results

Nice conditions with a flat sea, about 7-12kts Northwester, reasonably steady. Five boats turned out including Faraway, Megafreight, Nandi, Savannah and Quest (back from a long absence). Racing was fairly close right across the fleet.

Corrected results:
1 Megafreight
2 Nandi
3 Faraway
4 Quest
5 Savannah (DNF due to sudden loss of wind at the end)

Someone Left the Galley Door Open . . . .

I see there is now a new subsection in the club - besides motorcycling, drinking, dancing running, paddling and er, sailing. Besides the obvious fun these young men are having discovering the mysteries of a kitchen, they are apparently learning to cook. I wonder if they washed up . . .

Jubilee Day!

HBYC had quite afew boats out on Monday afternoon to observe the Gun Salute for the Queens Jubilee. All photos credit to Roy McBride and his trusty Canon G11.

The Union Jack flies proudly on Ocean Cloud!

Tahlita was there too.

  

Tale Teller - Tommy Maben's Classic Vertue 26

The view from Ocean Cloud

Sunday Racing Results

Sunday Sailing Results

Sunday brought great weather, flat water and 10 kts of South Easter. Course was set to Vulcan from a running start. The finnish was very close, with Megafreight crossing the line about 40 seconds ahead of Nandi.

Results on corrected time:

1 Nandi

2 Megafreight

3 Savannah

Rock n Roll Gallery!

See pics of the latest Rock n Roll in the Photo Gallery or here!

Antigua Classics to die for!

No matter who you are or why you came to this page, do yourself a favour, see the post on Antigua Classics on the Blog of Sheer Tenacity. Many thanks to Rod and Mary, esteemed international correspondents of the Hout Bay Yacht Club, cruising ambassadors, and respected bloggers. Brought to you live from Antigua!

Discovery reaches St Helena

Chris, Rob, Joyce and George will have just reached St Helena as I write this, on Friday morning, after a two week passage of 1510 nm(3000 kms). Haven't had confirmation yet but I expect they will have arrived during last night, and waited for first light before anchoring. I am keen to see how exactly they will anchor - there are mooring buoys in the anchorage there, but it was said they would anchor. However they have only 40m of chain, for a depth of 20m, so a lenght of rode will be needed. Probably still safer than tying onto the mooring buoys as several yachts have come adrift in recent times, with disasterous consequences.

Look out for George's and Rob's (seperate) facebook pages in the next few days - they will no doubt post a wealth of photos etc.

See it all here!

Our Committee Boat leaves for Oz, complete with the new committee!

Chris, Rob, Joyce and George

George and Joyce Wenman, the two punctual members of Discovery's crew!

Rob Browne arrived soon after this, but it seems Chris Sutton was somewhat delayed for the 9am start. Seems they got away around 15:30 in perfect (motoring) conditions. I guess they are having great sundowners as I write this . . . 

The course will take them to Brisbane eventually, via St Helena, Brazil, Panama and various Pacific Islands (tba). It will take about four months overall.

Its a good boat - having sailed it a bit myself with Chris on recent deliveries.  Its a Nose-Be 38, Lavranos Design (forerunner of the Admiral 38) - and quite comfortable and seaworthy - and this one is now all ship-shape and Bristol Fashion! It belongs to a good friend of the club - ex-member Ian Lamont - now in Brisbane. Ian was always very kind to lend it to the club as a "Committee Boat" hence the title of the note. The fact that it is going AWOL now with our Commodore (Chris), Treasurer (Rob), and Marina Officer (George) is purely coincidental (you be the judge!).

Fair winds and fine sailing to them all - no-one can say we don't have a sailing committee!

Hout Bay from Chappies in the early morning!

Hout Bay at first light.

Photo from the Iphone Camera of Tracy Baxter,

champion jogger from Noordhoek who gets up early in the morning!