| I meet a lot of customers by
email, and over the course of their building get to
know them a little. A question will have snippets
of personal information with it, and I reciprocate,
and over the year or two of the build a small friendship
builds up. It’s a real buzz when the pictures
from launching come in, and then the stories of the
first adventures. It's like living the life of the
new boat as it grows from an idea to a completed boat,
and sharing the excitement with the family as they
begin to expand their horizons.
I’m a real fan of cruising
in open boats, and can generally be counted upon to
preach about it at every opportunity, and its wonderful
to hear accounts of people discovering this way of
being so close to nature.
Herco van de Erve first contacted
me about 18 months ago asking about my Houdini
design. He wanted to do some overnights, and to daysail
with friends and family and after some discussion
he ordered plans through local agents CKD Boats in
Capetown. I drew a set of plans for a gaff sloop rig,
something that I’d been planning to do for ages,
and his request finally got it to the top of the list
of things to do.
We have had the occasional exchange
of emails, a question or two and a couple of progress
reports, nice to hear and I wish that more of “my”
builders would keep me up to date. The very best thing
about this job as a small yacht designer is meeting
such great people!
Herco and family are resident near
Pretoria in South Africa. That’s a long way
from the sea, and my image of that part of Africa
being somewhat dry was given the lie when Herco sent
me a Google Earth link that showed a huge dam on the
Vaal River a bit south from where he lives. His link
shows the course of his five day maiden cruise in
his brand new gaff sloop rigged Houdini named "Kurkprop"
(Africaans for Champaign cork). Have a look “HERE”
or click the image below left.
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If you don't
have Google Earth, you can download it from
the link above. Then click the image at left
to see the track of Herco's cruise. |
The lake looks near perfect for
cruising a small boat, with space to sleep aboard
this is “real” cruising, lying at anchor
overnight, the boat rocking her crew to sleep as she
swings to the changes in the wind and waves, and charging
bravely through the waves when the afternoon winds
get up on her way to the next anchorage.
Here is the email from Herco telling
of the first big cruise and some pictures of “Kurkprop”
on Launching day and on later sails. Wonderful stuff,
I do hope that I get to hear of more adventures!
John
I Finally mailed you that money for the gaff sloop
sail plan. I must apologize for taking so long. That
letter addressed and seal have been sitting on my
mantel piece for months. Luckily now it's done. So
is my first cruise and the only reason I didn't enjoy
it was my guilty conscience. ( no problem Herco, thanks
for remembering JW)
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For a complete novice boat builder and sailor, the
Houdini was a challenge but not too difficult, more
of a steep learning curve. The best part is all the
compliments I get from the round the can racers and
canoeist at the sailing club. It has been even described
as the nicest boat in the dinghy park, which I will
have to agree with. Here in South Africa dinghy cruising
is limited and almost completely unheard of. Inland
it's too dry and the coast line doesn't have much
sheltered water. There are some dams and rivers that
can be navigated by small boat. These are the places
that I will seek out and explore. I started of with
the Vaal river and dam a 100 km 5 day cruise joined
by my two brothers and Sam the loyal boat building
Jack Russell, all of them well acquainted with the
big African outdoors.
The weather service got it wrong two week ends in
a row and we ended up with quite a rainy, windy two
days. Day one was dead down wind ' being the novice
sailor that I am I decided to sail under jib only
and this worked just fine and gave us a nice relaxing
trip to our first camping spot, by camping spot I
refer to a suitable place on some unknown farmers
land. The brothers, complete nonsailors, got a rude
awakening the next day, when wind, river and the 1965
seagull outboard motor conspired against us. We spend
the day reefed, beating in to a wind over tide, one
to two foot chop in a narrow river with an outboard
that wouldn't start. Progress was slow with waves
sending spray into the boat on a regular basis. In
our yellow rain suits we looked a bit like we could
be on the southern ocean. The brothers where a bit
wide eyed at first but "Kurkprop" (Champagne
cork- named so because of all the floatation foam,
its the law here) quickly put them at ease with her
excellent sea keeping ability and should you develop
a cough the Jeagermeister was at hand driving away
the cold. Arriving just before dusk at camping spot
number 2 everybody new exactly how to tack even Sam
moved to the windward rail when the sails crossed
over. There she kept a sharp look out most of the
day. The Seagull gave us no joy as we stripped it
in the torch light next to the fire. Being the true
adventurers that we are we decided to sail on.
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Day three dawned to a beautiful African morning. Hot
sunny and with little to no wind. It made quite a
change from the previous two days and the warm clothes
made way for swimming trunks as we sat in the middle
of the widening river, centre board clanking in its
case. The only thing chasing us on was the meeting
with the families at the chalets 30 km down river.
This date with a warm bed and a shower had us sculling
over the transom with the untested sculling oar. The
lack of practical experience and practice didn't count
in our favor. Lucky for us a light wind made its appearance
just as the sun set, and we had a fantastic sail under
the full moon arriving past dinner time. Tired but
happy. This signaled the end of the cruise for some
of the crew.
We
pushed on the next day resupplied and refreshed, minus
one crew the dog and the outboard. Most of the trip
was done and we had two days just to sail the last
few kilometers and do some exploring. The river widened
more and changed into a big mass of water. Gone were
the idyllic days of being the only people for miles.
There where quite a few wet bikes and motor boats
about and houses line the shore. We decided to spend
the night afloat. During dinner the wind suddenly
increased and turned 180 deg putting us on a lee shore
with a dragging anchor. Dinner was scoffed down, sails
hoisted and a better anchoring spot found behind a
small island in the middle of the dam. As soon as
the anchor was down the wind subsided and the moon
and stars came out to give us a brilliant light show
as we listened to the slapping of the small waves,
drifting of to sleep.
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Dawn broke as beautiful as can be, and we were off
to circumnavigate the island. After a lunch stop and
exploring some of the island we were of to meet with
the backup crew to take us home. Whilst loading the
boat and gear an old salt, well a fresh water salt
then, came up for the usual chat, questions and compliments.
He was quite impressed as we told him about our adventure
and said we can be sure that we are the first to ever
do this. He has been living there his whole life,
so we took his word for it. I felt a bit like a real
explorer and then I knew why I built a cruising dinghy
and didn't settle for a second hand round the can
racer. I want to go places with my dinghy, to relax
and explore. The rat race is race enough for me. Going
round in circles weekend after weekend doesn't have
the same appeal as going somewhere, anywhere. That's
why I built a cruising dinghy, but I guess you know
this.
John, thanks again for a beautiful, well designed
boat, that works.
With
thanks and regards
Herco van de Erve
@
Dragonfly woodworks
25 Axle Drive
Clayville
Olifants fontein
Columns by John
Welsford
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