Happy New Year - 2025

When one door closes, another opens!

Yes, there is often sadness associated with something ending, but that's not me. I’m certainly a glass-half-full kind of guy. Hence, I am filled with excitement and enthusiasm for the new opportunities ahead. I sense great fun in 2025, and I wish that upon everyone who reads this. This will be a special year. I just know it. Stay positive and take your chances.

The day before yesterday, the last day of the year, we hauled SV Arabella out of the water in Saldanha. We had spent three solid days packing her up. It was just like moving house. In fact, this yacht has been our family home longer than any other place we have lived. So to say there was a lot to pack is an understatement. You can actually see the waterline change as we removed box after box. I would estimate we removed between 5-8 tons of stuff. I bet she will sail much faster now. But jokes aside, a line is drawn under this chapter, and I am typing this from the edge of Clifton 3rd Beach, overlooking the crashing waves and a beach full of people. Life is good.

However, before I can rush headlong into the new year with new crazy ideas and boatloads of energy, I wanted to take the time to reflect on the past few months and capture some of the people and emotions we enjoyed from Richards Bay to Cape Town.

The South African east coast can be some of the scariest ocean to sail in the world. It's not called the Wild Coast for nothing. From previous posts, you may recall our arrival into Richards Bay in 40+ knots of wind. Well, this theme continued until we reached Port Elizabeth. But weather and sailing weren’t what I remember about this gorgeous part of the world. Without a doubt, the highlight was our stay with my brother William and his husband Warren . Delphine and I only got to spend a few days, but the kids enjoyed two weeks of unadulterated Uncle love filled with fun activities, including personal training, horse riding, shopping and going to restaurants and cafes. The girls played and slept with their 9 dogs, who were definitely the stars. They were spoiled every day, and there were enormous amounts of tears when they needed to say goodbye.   I cannot thank my brothers enough for spending so much time and energy bonding with the girls.

When we arrived in Port Elizabeth, an old Woodridge friend, Anthony English, reached out to ask if it was possible for his Dad to join a leg of our journey. It had been his lifelong dream to sail in the open ocean. His health wasn’t what it used to be, but he was determined. And we were equally determined to make it happen. We briefly stopped in PE to pick him, Anthony and Alice up and carefully figured out how to get him onboard safely. It wasn’t always easy because he was very unsteady on his feet, but the joy he showed was palpable. Sailing into Knysna Heads was a true highlight for everybody on board, with Arabella driving the boat through the Heads while I flew the drone above.

November and December 2024 will be remembered as the best November and December of my life. Catching up with so many people has been almost spiritual. The warmth and kindness we experienced everywhere we went reminded me of the incredible spirit that lives in this wonderful country. Every day was filled with breathtaking beauty and little moments to treasure. Like the day my wallet fell out of the car door while we were leaving Bloukraans Bungee Bridge. With no number to contact, the lovely man who picked it up called the only telephone number he could find, which was on a laundry slip, and tracked me down to say I had dropped my wallet. Sometimes we forget the kindness in this beautiful country. The last few months have reminded me of this exceptional nation. “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie”—they don’t know what we know, translated from Afrikaans. South Africa is a treasure, and I can safely say this after sailing around the world and visiting over 40 countries. There is nothing like South Africa. Vat a vooreg. What a privilege.

Since sailing into the Knysna Heads, we haven’t had a day free. Some would say it was exhausting, and it was, but it was also amazing to catch up with so many old friends. It is not easy to return after being away for so long without trying to see all the special people from my past. At times, it felt like we were on a campaign trail where every day was absolutely full, and since early November, today is probably the first day we have nothing planned... yet.

But I wouldn’t change anything. Through our adventures catching up with old friends, my family got to see some of the most beautiful areas of South Africa. Nothing really compares to the Garden Route, and my ladies saw it all. After 20 years away from South Africa, we have never had a chance to spend an extended period here except for the forced lockdown of COVID or at our friends the Paxton’s farm. This was different. We allowed ourselves time to connect with locals, explore the less touristy experiences, and generally feel like we were back for good. It would be a lie if I didn’t wonder countless times why we don’t live here, but that’s for another post on another day.

I cannot go into details because it would take too long, but I will list the remarkable folks we reconnected with before arriving in Cape Town.

Mark Gale – Mark welcomed us when we arrived in East London, and met up with us again in Knysna. It was like a memory lane of our childhoods. Special. I hope you love your new yacht.

Di and family - thank you for your incredible hospitality right from the absolute beginning when you guided us through the Heads to the wonderful dinner where we all had a great time. Your daughter Emma is a sweetheart and the girls are so thrilled to have met her.

Jessica Barker - Few people bring effervescence to life like Jess. Thank you for looking after our boat and guiding us back into life in Knysna, Plett, and Sedgefield. You’re our personal trip advisor.

The Lokotsch Braai - Ziggy and Susan and the crazy boys. Thank you for the most fantastic braai and the lovely setting. Who builds a water polo pool/dam in their backyard? It was great being there with Stuart, Corne, and the kids, along with the ever-present Riem, who sailed with me from Durban to Knysna.

The Woodridge Rendezvous - A special thanks to Dave for bringing us all together. Both Headmasters, Trevor and Luke, and the whole committee and executive team at the school, especially Trenwyth, who seems to be the glue to so much that happens.

The Puttigills - Seeing Clive and Joan was a highlight, but also Craig, Brett, and Grant. Thanks for the tea.

The Lipton Cup dinner - I cannot thank Rob Smith enough for the thoughtful effort to uncover the old mini Lipton Cup my dad won in 1961. The few weeks from Durban to Knysna felt like walking down the memories of my dad’s legacy, and you were instrumental in this. It was also wonderful to see Carol, Deborah, and Ray.

The Van Niekerk Southern Dairy’s - I spent so many incredible weekends during my childhood on their farm, and coming back all these years later to show my kids and see all the changes was lovely. So nice to catch up with Johnny and Jenny, and our girls fell in love with your puppies. You were wonderful hosts, and seeing Boss Jerry was a treat.

Mike and Miranda at your humongous home in Plett. How special to reconnect over a few G&Ts. We loved it.

Bart and Cheryl Logie book exchange and tea. My junior dorms house master and matron and earliest teachers. It was lovely getting a chance to meet the new Horsfield clan. Hopefully they are a little less naughty

Mr. Player visiting us in Knysna and did a sunset cruise towards the Heads on our boat, followed by an amazing dinner cooked by my incredible wife.

Mike, Brett, and Barry Richards golfing at Samola. Barry and I took the cash, which is all I remember! Haha. But it was a lovely day, followed by another nice meal with everyone on the boat later.

Final Smartkat Regatta - The eight participating teams to finish our eight worldwide regattas was a real highlight.

Cape Town Chaos - Impossible to mention the 200+ people who came from all over, most of whom traveled from overseas to celebrate our Cape Town arrival. What an absolute unforgettable weeklong party, which will take some doing to top. But mark your calendars for July 2027.

Party in Sussex coming. What could possibly go wrong?

P.S. Some separate posts on the Cape Town shenanigans later.