I love seeing the photos of other owners getting together while out cruising on WhatsApp. So, let’s see where everyone is so we have a document we can reference if another owner needs info on anchorages, local info, etc.
Boat Name
Hull Number
Owners
Where are you now, and where do you think you are heading?
Any other fun facts you want to share
BlueJacket 2
550 # 2- I know it is super scary, but we are ready
Geoff Schultz & Sue Waudby
Boston area right now, and the launch date is July. Plan to leave Oct/Nov for FL via Grenada.
Our cruising area since 2016 has been Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.
Boat Name: Lanua
Hull Number: 101
Owners: Nico & Marlize de Witt
Where are you now, and where do you think you are heading? Feb - May '25: North Island of New Zealand; Jun-Oct '25: Fiji & Tonga; Nov '25 - May 26: South Island of New Zealand
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Boat name: Moonbird
Hull #104
Owners: Marion, Derek, Gayelene and Craig
Currently: Saint Helena Island, departing now for Rio de Janero.
Future plans: cruising the coast of Brazil for around 6 months
(On the way from Knysna stopped at Simon’s Town, Cape Town(V&A), Saldanha Bay, Lüderitz and Walvis Bay. Happy to share details. Also see our Sailing Moonbird FB page)
We would love your feedback on anchorages in South Africa and I am sure Stan and Beth would too as their boat is schedule to launch in March.
Boat Name: Tourterelles
Hull Number: 97
Owners: Ian and Ann Clarke
Where are you now: Marina Taina, Tahiti
Future Plans: Once the repairs from the lightning damage have been made we plan to sail to New Zealand for cyclone season 2025-26. Where we stop enroute will depend when we can leave Tahiti. Whilst repairs have commenced we are making slow progress.
Hull Number:96
Boat name: Meraki
Owners: Don and Carolyn Funk
Where are you now, and where do you think you are heading? In the Bahamas and heading to Trinidad to get a solar arch done hopefully.
Our location: SvMeraki
Okay, here’s some feedback!
Knysna: we spent a week on the marina, then two at anchor in the lagoon. It’s a very busy waterway and anchoring space is limited and close to the main channel, so you’re buzzed by fishing runabouts constantly. The tide creates very strong currents, often against the wind, but holding is good. You can arrange to tie up to the yacht club dock, but not in a strong wind. The heads are obviously notorious, and you need to take care entering or leaving.
Plettenberg Bay: we did an overnight trip east and spent one night at anchor in the lee of Robberg peninsula. It provides good shelter from the predominantly westerly winds, but a bit of swell wraps around. It’s a great spot for a visit to the seal colony in the dinghy.
Simon’s Town: it’s very windy, but the lovely little False Bay Yacht Club has lovely staff and good facilities. We spent about 5 nights tied to their visitor’s dock as it was too windy to move into a berth. Coleen at KYC kindly made arrangements for us in advance. It’s a small tourist town (visit the penguins) but a short Uber ride to supermarkets or a longer one to Cape Town.
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town: Very welcoming but very busy over the summer as they had two sailing rallies visiting at once (hence our first stop at Simon’s Town). We just kept contacting them until they had a free berth. It’s quite expensive, and the expensive part of town, but has good facilities and services available close by.
Saldanha Bay: We checked out of South Africa from here. Once past the busy ore loading terminal we anchored in the small craft anchorage at Yachtport. There is plenty of room and good holding, but don’t anchor too close to the tug wharf as they operate all hours. You may be able to get a berth at the marina there - we did for the checkout process. The yacht club is across the bay, and we visited in the dinghy. They don’t have many facilities, but were very helpful and friendly. We walked from there into the town where there are cafes and a supermarket.
Kraalbai in the Langebaan Lagoon: We had a few lovely nights anchored in the deep hole at Kraalbai. The lagoon is very shallow at points and you need to follow the centre channel carefully, but the anchorage is lovely and within the West Coast National Park. It is very busy with day trippers and water-skiers in summer. We went ashore for several walks.
Chechout at Yachtport was very straightforward, but you need to book an appointment as the immigration officer needs to travel there. Customs was done online by Yachtport once the harbourmaster had completed our paperwork.
Don’t miss Namibia if you get the chance. We visited Luderitz and Walvis Bay, and arranged some land-based tours. Fantastic!