Hallo Karen < I just wanted to tell you that I love your Weblogg and the way you write
I would like permission to make a link to your web log from our web site .Have a good trip to your Home and will see you late next week
Glad you approve. And yes, please link away. Just arrived back in England a couple of hours ago – much refreshed thanks to you. Those little knock-out pills you kindly gave us made all the difference. After all that overnight travelling, we may look like hell, but at least we don’t feel it!
Look forward to seeing you soon back at the Smyth ranch.
Dear Karin and Dick,
Congratulations with the launch of this beauty. I hope, she will bring you save over all the oceans and that she will be a real home far from home. She really isn’t looking heavy in the water. I am sure you need very strong speed breaks. “Lines will do the job”.
Philip
A great help to me reading your site. I am presently having a cat built in Knysna South Africa. I live in California and need someone to check the progress at the factory from time to time. Your surveyer John sounds like the right guy. I don’t know if he would be interested,but I would like to find out. If he isin’t he might know of someone else. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tim
Dear Karen and Dick, a lot of readers of and contributors to cruisersforum.com who have been on the receiving end of Gideon’s ‘relentless promotion’ are following your saga. I sympathize with your problems, and admire your grace in resorting to humor rather than outrage. Perhaps you would consider keeping a ‘problem list’ online, and even publishing the survey that you had done? Best of luck-Tim
Just to ad to your footnote , in a way you have purchased a semi custom boat , the boat is raised , lenghtened, a hard top bimini is build on and the inner radius has been changed besides the numerous changes that are new like the separate showers , higher saloon and nav. station, extra cabinets in the saloon and a few more changes, no this is not a standard boat like a lagoon or a
Fountaine Pajot.
It is more of a semi custom and that is what I like about it and probably one of the reasons for you to become interested and purchase this type of boat after sailing the African Love
Between African Love and the Butterfly more than 200 items have been changed on the boat and all to improve the end result,This is much to your benefit since most of these changes you have approved of. I am optimistic by nature and that is probably my biggest mistake because I judge the time that it takes to change something to short and will amend that.
As of today Tracey is the factory manager and Andreas and Steven are her assistants.
I will spend most of the next 6 months here to help her in this Job to get a real production facility going.
I will implement fewer changes to make life and production simpler and will deliver more of a standard boat. Mind you it will still not be a Lagoon or FP because My ideals are but changes just cost to much time and especially here in Africa.
I noticed your comment about the freezer that it is supposed to be able to also function as a fridge but it does not , do we need to fix it ?
I did not see it on Dicks list ?
Dear Dick & Karen
Well i am back in sunny Perth Western Australia. I am not sure whether you remember me but i was the one that came on board Butterfly with my brother and another chap. I had visited African Cats in Durban and after having spoken to Steven in Durban he told us to contact you guys in Cape Town. We also looked at the Leopard 46 2 or 3 boats away from you. Any way i just thought i would contact you and let you know that i will be following your blog with interest. I certainly hope that you manage to sort out all the snags without too much hassle. I wish you guys all the luck and fair winds. Maybe one day we shall meet again and hopefully i will have my Leopard 46.
Glad you got back safely. Lovely to have met you – how could we forget! Let us know how you get on and yes, would be great to meet again – never been to Oz, but would love to.
Hi, Your Blog was pointed out to me by an english couple Toni and Peter who are in the process of repowering their Cat here in Australia.
They mentioned the problems with repitching the Autostreams. I have read pretty much all of you blog and it seesm like you may be almost there, but if you need any advice you only have to ask.
Thanks Ben. Will contact you as soon as proper internet access allows – we’re having all sorts of fun and games with St Helena’s wifi access – just arrived here wee small hours of last night. Your kind offer of help much appreciated.
Hello you two. Just dashed off a quick E mail to Dick. Should have read the blog first! You have just answered all my questions. We only got back from Aruba yeaterday, which is why I haven’t been in touch. Lovely Pics Karen. Glad you are safe. Will read the blog properly tomorrow. Keep in touch. Take care. Love Sis x PS I’m jet lagged as it took a whole day to get back to the UK, via Curacao and Amsterdam. Do you get boat lagged!!?
I stumbled across your blogsite about two weeks ago and have read back from your archives to your latest update.
Calling your diary a blog, somehow seems derogatory. You write so well, with such humour and candour. It’s a pleasure to read. I look forward to your following updates.
Just one thing. I seem not to be able to access your photos taken of Butterfly in her building stages. If they are available, please tell me where to find them.
I am having an Admiral 40 built for delivery late next year and I would love to be able to possibly incorporate some of the updates you brought about.
Hi there Grant …
AfricanCats sent us many pics of the boat as she was being built, but none that would be of much help I fear. These were very small resolution, and not particularly informative as far as detail of construction went – in fact, some even we can’t tell what they’re supposed to be! Hence I’ve not bothered to upload them to the blog gallery. However, having now lived on the boat for some six months and covered a few thousand sea miles, we’ll happily give you a list of things we’ve found useful and some we haven’t. Will email you these particulars privately, in the hopes they may just help a smidge. I’m sure you’ve already thought of this, but if not, it might be good to contact a few other Admiral 40 owners to see what their experiences have been and what recommendations they would make, (possibly, with the benefit of hindsight).
Our internet connection here in St Lucia is a little patchy, so although we’ll get that list to you as soon as poss, there might be a short delay.
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Hallo Karen < I just wanted to tell you that I love your Weblogg and the way you write
I would like permission to make a link to your web log from our web site .Have a good trip to your Home and will see you late next week
Gideon
Hello Mister G …
Glad you approve. And yes, please link away. Just arrived back in England a couple of hours ago – much refreshed thanks to you. Those little knock-out pills you kindly gave us made all the difference. After all that overnight travelling, we may look like hell, but at least we don’t feel it!
Look forward to seeing you soon back at the Smyth ranch.
Karen
Dear Karin and Dick,
Congratulations with the launch of this beauty. I hope, she will bring you save over all the oceans and that she will be a real home far from home. She really isn’t looking heavy in the water. I am sure you need very strong speed breaks. “Lines will do the job”.
Philip
Hello Philip …
Many thanks for the good wishes – and yes, we think you’re probably right: this is going to be an Olympic gold-medallist of a Butterfly!
So enjoyed meeting you – here’s to the next time. :0)
Take care now
Karen & Dick
A great help to me reading your site. I am presently having a cat built in Knysna South Africa. I live in California and need someone to check the progress at the factory from time to time. Your surveyer John sounds like the right guy. I don’t know if he would be interested,but I would like to find out. If he isin’t he might know of someone else. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tim
Dear Karen and Dick, a lot of readers of and contributors to cruisersforum.com who have been on the receiving end of Gideon’s ‘relentless promotion’ are following your saga. I sympathize with your problems, and admire your grace in resorting to humor rather than outrage. Perhaps you would consider keeping a ‘problem list’ online, and even publishing the survey that you had done? Best of luck-Tim
@ Tim Mahoney:
Many thanks for getting in touch, Tim. I’ve emailed you some names and contact information, which I hope will help.
@ Tim Dunn
Thanks for your support, Tim. (Two Tims in one day!) Again, I’ve emailed you by way of reply. Hope this has arrived okay.
All the best to you both
Karen
Hallo Karen
Just to ad to your footnote , in a way you have purchased a semi custom boat , the boat is raised , lenghtened, a hard top bimini is build on and the inner radius has been changed besides the numerous changes that are new like the separate showers , higher saloon and nav. station, extra cabinets in the saloon and a few more changes, no this is not a standard boat like a lagoon or a
Fountaine Pajot.
It is more of a semi custom and that is what I like about it and probably one of the reasons for you to become interested and purchase this type of boat after sailing the African Love
Between African Love and the Butterfly more than 200 items have been changed on the boat and all to improve the end result,This is much to your benefit since most of these changes you have approved of. I am optimistic by nature and that is probably my biggest mistake because I judge the time that it takes to change something to short and will amend that.
As of today Tracey is the factory manager and Andreas and Steven are her assistants.
I will spend most of the next 6 months here to help her in this Job to get a real production facility going.
I will implement fewer changes to make life and production simpler and will deliver more of a standard boat. Mind you it will still not be a Lagoon or FP because My ideals are but changes just cost to much time and especially here in Africa.
Warm Greetings
Gideon
Hallo Karin
I noticed your comment about the freezer that it is supposed to be able to also function as a fridge but it does not , do we need to fix it ?
I did not see it on Dicks list ?
Greetings
Gideon
Hello you two. Glad you made it to Capetown; sounds like you had a rough ride. Love sis
Hello there, Kath … hey, good to hear from you! A rough ride, yes, but a wonderful experience – absolutely unforgettable. Hope all is well in Rugeley.
Big hugs
Karen & Dick
Dear Dick & Karen
Well i am back in sunny Perth Western Australia. I am not sure whether you remember me but i was the one that came on board Butterfly with my brother and another chap. I had visited African Cats in Durban and after having spoken to Steven in Durban he told us to contact you guys in Cape Town. We also looked at the Leopard 46 2 or 3 boats away from you. Any way i just thought i would contact you and let you know that i will be following your blog with interest. I certainly hope that you manage to sort out all the snags without too much hassle. I wish you guys all the luck and fair winds. Maybe one day we shall meet again and hopefully i will have my Leopard 46.
Kind regards
Chris Crews
Ho there, Chris …
Glad you got back safely. Lovely to have met you – how could we forget! Let us know how you get on and yes, would be great to meet again – never been to Oz, but would love to.
Karen & Dick
Bon voyage. Please drive carefully. Lots of love, Sis
Just arrived at St Helena – all safe and well, thanks Kath. More when internet access allows.
Love
Karen & Dick
Hi, Your Blog was pointed out to me by an english couple Toni and Peter who are in the process of repowering their Cat here in Australia.
They mentioned the problems with repitching the Autostreams. I have read pretty much all of you blog and it seesm like you may be almost there, but if you need any advice you only have to ask.
Regards,
Ben Hawke
Seahawk Australia.
Thanks Ben. Will contact you as soon as proper internet access allows – we’re having all sorts of fun and games with St Helena’s wifi access – just arrived here wee small hours of last night. Your kind offer of help much appreciated.
Cheers now …
Karen & Dick
Hello you two. Just dashed off a quick E mail to Dick. Should have read the blog first! You have just answered all my questions. We only got back from Aruba yeaterday, which is why I haven’t been in touch. Lovely Pics Karen. Glad you are safe. Will read the blog properly tomorrow. Keep in touch. Take care. Love Sis x PS I’m jet lagged as it took a whole day to get back to the UK, via Curacao and Amsterdam. Do you get boat lagged!!?
Dear Karen
I stumbled across your blogsite about two weeks ago and have read back from your archives to your latest update.
Calling your diary a blog, somehow seems derogatory. You write so well, with such humour and candour. It’s a pleasure to read. I look forward to your following updates.
Just one thing. I seem not to be able to access your photos taken of Butterfly in her building stages. If they are available, please tell me where to find them.
I am having an Admiral 40 built for delivery late next year and I would love to be able to possibly incorporate some of the updates you brought about.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
Grant
Hi there Grant …
AfricanCats sent us many pics of the boat as she was being built, but none that would be of much help I fear. These were very small resolution, and not particularly informative as far as detail of construction went – in fact, some even we can’t tell what they’re supposed to be! Hence I’ve not bothered to upload them to the blog gallery. However, having now lived on the boat for some six months and covered a few thousand sea miles, we’ll happily give you a list of things we’ve found useful and some we haven’t. Will email you these particulars privately, in the hopes they may just help a smidge. I’m sure you’ve already thought of this, but if not, it might be good to contact a few other Admiral 40 owners to see what their experiences have been and what recommendations they would make, (possibly, with the benefit of hindsight).
Our internet connection here in St Lucia is a little patchy, so although we’ll get that list to you as soon as poss, there might be a short delay.
Thanks for getting in touch …
Karen