Strike …

… while the iron’s hot. Internet connection on its best behaviour tonight – so a quick update. (That shot, btw, is the Maxim 38 we’ve been sailing these past two days. Not Butterfly, just in case you were wondering.)

• Dick and I both have our S.A. Day Skipper tickets now. One hurdle jumped. Next is the DOC – for which we need to make a firm appointment. And start learning by heart all 54 of Durban port’s nav lights. Dem’s da rulz.

• Email from BJ saying Jack, our beloved 10 year old tripod of a cat has disappeared. He does this about once a year, but always there is a panic he won’t return. No cat is more adored, so forgive our fretting. The boys have done everything they can to find him … just got to wait it out now (and say our prayers).

• Back in Durban, more play on the Maxim 38. Neil and Dick and I – out for a lovely sail this morning, where a very brisk 20-25 knot sou’westerly whipped up little white horses all around. A pod of dolphins (is it a pod? or a school?) alongside for a spell. But they were very obviously in serious pursuit of something, so didn’t hang around for long. Lunch at anchor by Vetch’s pier. Trouble with electric windlass which packed up temporarily, but all resolved happily. Yacht missing an anchor bridle – so Neil improvised. Boarded by harbour police who regularly check everything afloat, apparently.  Dem’s also da rulz.

• Fascinating chat with Neil in the yacht club bar at the end of the day. He’s been around boats since a boy. Some hair-raising tales of the deliveries he’s undertaken and places he’s sailed. A good man and an excellent sailor. We count ourselves lucky to have bumped into him.

That’s Neil on the right. This shot taken this morning aboard the Yilanga above.

• Lastly, some good news. Steven is hopeful of a test sail for Butterfly sometime towards the end of this week. The sailmaker has had staffing difficulties this week, so it’s a little delayed, but should be a matter of only days away. A wretched stomach bug has been doing the rounds of late and Steven now recovering from same. The last thing he needs – so join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.