How to become a plumber on the way around the World. ( presently in Cape Town )

A Lady
Stephen Hyde
Thu 2 Dec 2010 06:58
WEDNESDAY  1st  DECEMBER  2010
 
Another beautifull day in another beautifull destination.
Neil was up up and off to meet a S.A. friend of his for breakfast before skipper and Aileen surfaced.
 
After a light breakfast, we got started on the list of things to be done, A whole page of stuff ;-
like , repair the Parasail and mainsail, have the hydrolics on the boom checked, visit a dentist, have the hull cleaned,
get the boat antifouled, varnish the toe rails and cockpit table, get a new pump for the refridgeration , get a diaphrame
for the whale pump. have the engine and generator serviced, have the spinniker halyard re fitted into the mast,  look at
the fwd loo, , to mention but a few,
 
Skipper went to meet Louis Souls, the marina manager and sort out the paper work,
We met all of the crew from " Destiny " and S & A had to go visit them for a lovely cup of coffee, of course we had a long chat
about our trips down the coast,
So there are 3 World ARC boats here in the V & A dock. which is located almost in the centre of Cape Town .
Thats " Wild Tigres"      " Destiny " and " A Lady"
 
Aileen and Skipper later walked up across the foot bridge to the main V&A waterfront Mall and shopping area,
It also housed a large dry dock, still in operation with two largs Tugs in there being repaired, and also had a concert arena
bang in the centre, there was a live band playing and thousands of people sitting and standing enjoying the whole scene.
 
The whole area is very impressive,
Aileen toddled off to have the hair done, while skipper returned to the boat to look at this forward friggin loo, this toilet has not worked
properly for yonks, so its time to get stuck in !
Neil had returned at this stage, just in time for a lesson in Sh 1 t,
We spent 3 hours taking the pipes out, cripes, they were so lined with calcium that we were amazed it worked at all,
we opened up the holding tank, phew what a smell, but we hosed it out and were happy enough with that, but we failed to get off
the pipe connection to the bottom of the tank , so gave up and will return to it tomorrow.
 
Neil was to look after " Wild Tigres " for the Christmas  and that was cancelled today, He was sooooo dissapointed, and S & A felt real
sorry for the young fellow.
 
Later we went to the " Cape Grace " hotel, almost alongside the boat and had a good few scoops to recover from the " Shite day "
in the loo.and also have a posh meal in real posh surroundings, Ouhhhh ! it was like being in the Savoy in london,
Linen table clothes, lots of colourfull flowers, loads of waiters, Aileen was done up and looking so good, that the Manager couldent believe that
 she was sailing around the world,
Neil and skipper looked shitty in comparison, and especially after what we had been into. but no credits for us. anyway, whats new  !
 
We had a great evening and had a night cap on " Destiny " before retiring to the scratchers,
 
Thats it .
 
Signed :-  Stephen Hyde   ( Skipper )