Hello from Cape Town ... Well I Mean Johannesburg (ahem)

[Rory B]

Hi all. My names Rory Bouffe and I'm a 25year old restaurant designer from Johannesburg. Those of you who know South Africa will know that there is no Ocean/sea/lake/pond in Johannesburg worthy of any sailing (okay so except maybe lazers). But I completed my Coastal Skippers license in Cape Town about two weeks ago on an L34, and now I'm hooked! Back in JHB now though, hoping to save some money in the "city of gold" to crew a season in the Caribbean later this year. In the meantime feeling like a fish out of water.
Hope you're all thoroughly un dry.

[boatman61]

Hi Rory... Welcome to CF....
Hope your cruising/crewing plans come together...

[Doodles]

Hi Rory and welcome to CF.

By the way, ... what's a restaurant designer do?

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard CF Rory and enjoy

Been wanting to return there. Last time I was there was in the early 70's..

[Stingo]

Welcome Rory.

What about the Vaal Dam and Haarties, they both have keel boating sailing?

[Rory B]

Originally Posted by Stingo

Welcome Rory.

What about the Vaal Dam and Haarties, they both have keel boating sailing?

Hey stingo, thanks ja, just having a bit of self pity about not being able to do Ocean Sailing! I've seen some keel boats at harties I think. But reckon I'm going to get a second hand 505 when it gets a bit closer to summer just to stay sharp. Still a newby though despite my skippers. Any advice with regards to anything sailing would be welcome

[Stingo]

There is plenty of good advice on here.

The Vaal has several clubs to choose from and boat owners are always looking for crew. I'd head there if I were you, depending on where you live in JHB? Harties only has one club but is convenient if you are in the north of JHB.

[pablothesailor]

Hi Rory, welcome, my mum is from Cape Town and we lived there when i was small before moving to UK! Congrats on getting Coastal Skipper! Tey are a good lot on here, they growl a bit at times......but dont bite normaly bite ! There is a good crew section that may be useful to you! Best, Pablo!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[HopeFloats]

Hiya Rory,

From an ex-Joburger

The great thing about casting off from South Africa is you can choose left to Australia or right to South America - I couldn't choose so I did both!

A couple of ways to get more seawater in your veins could be to give cruisers a hand from Richard's Bay to Cape Town or shorthanded sailboats returning from the Seychelles. People's work schedules are not very compatible with the Indian Ocean.

Sailing off South Africa will put you in good stead to sail anywhere.

Wishing you Fair Winds,

Helen

[Rory B]

Hi Doodles,

Thanks for the reply. Well really I'm an architectural interior designer. There's not really such a thing as a "restaurant designer"- I just like calling myself that cause it makes me sound cool The company I work for specialises in designing both franchised and non-franchised restaurants.

[Rory B]

Hey Helen,

It's good to see there are some other "Valies" out there with salt water in their veins
Ja, my mate who did his coastal skippers with me just got a job on a 50 foot fishing/diving charter cat in Madagascar. Actually they're training him up to captain the boat. So I've been considering looking for a job in the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Seychelles, Andamans maybe?). However, I've always been really keen to get to the Carribean. But it's pretty daunting- like everyone makes it sound like it's impossible to get a working visa for the states. So I've got all these questions but don't know where to start...
Is there anything on this site that deals with all that kind of stuff?

[HopeFloats]

Hiya Rory,

Look into the Cape Town yacht building industry. When I was young and nubile I did a number of sailboat deliveries via Seychelles through the Red Sea to Europe. Ah, the good ol' days ...dodging pirates in the dark even then.

Also, when I was cruising the Carib I met a number of SA's who had brought cats up and joined the chartering industry. SA's who sail the Indian Ocean are mostly outstanding sailors, hard working and of course, hard playing.

It has been 10 years now so I am not sure how things have changed, but you will be surprised where the wind will blow you.

Helen