Hello and welcome …

If you’re new here, well, you’re in good company, for so are we. Not only new to blogging, but new to the reason for writing this blog – which is to keep a record of our new life as liveaboards on a cruising catamaran. A little backstory to explain: some ten years back, after a hugely enjoyable first sailing holiday, we so enjoyed the experience that we began to think of one day selling up and sailing away. An extended floating holiday if you like. Well, little by little, that thought gained urgency and momentum, our sailing know-how increased substantially, until suddenly, we now find ourselves just a few short days away from turning our sail-away plans into reality. Our new home is a 45′ Fastcat 455 cruising catamaran, built by AfricanCats; and our new life aboard her begins in Durban, S.A. where Butterfly is currently in the final stages of construction. What follows here will be a record of our progress, our adventures, and our (no doubt very steep) learning curve in how to become proficient, self-sufficient ocean gypsies. Well that’s the plan. But there again, the other essential part of the plan – in fact the Grand Plan, if you like – is simply not to have one. To wave goodbye to routine itineraries and deadlines and knowing where we’ll be next month and next year, and the year after that, and say hello to leaving our destiny in the hands of weather and tide and current. From hereon in, they will become our new masters – well, for as long as this little adventure of ours thrills, that is. Which is the answer we give when asked (and it’s something we get asked over and over) how long we intend to do this for. We genuinely don’t know. Till it’s not fun anymore, I guess, or heavens forbid, until we have overwhelming practical reasons for not continuing – something we don’t have to concern ourselves with now, at least. Anyhoo, our sincerest hope is that from time to time you’ll drop by here and keep us company. It’ll be good to have you aboard … sees yer!