Captain's B-Log

October 16th, 2020

10/16/2020

Remy Tournayre and Van Zyl Steenekamp prepare for thier SAS Day Skipper examination with Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna this weekend. Great weather and sea conditions, whales, seals, tons of birdlife and a penguin for sideline entertainment.
Traversing the Knysna lagoon, navigating the Knysna Heads and day sailing in the bay between Walker Point to the west and Noetzie to the East, forty hours of practical offshore sailing training meets their logbook requirment.
Sailing the Med. on the cards soon....

Day Skipper Students demonstrate a Man Over Board (MOB) procedure in Mossel Bay, South Africa

8/15/2020

Southern Yachting Academy students Michael Rosenmann, Jaco Yssel, Richard Whittaker and Roxy de Saint Pernsa demonstrate in this video how to retrieve a Man Over Board (MOB) using the figure of eight method.

The August Day Skipper Course in Mossel Bay with 20-30 kt winds most days made this an adventure to remember with this sailors confidently racing the yacht between buoys and way points on the fifth day. Nice sailing fellas!

Blazing a trail offshore between Knysna and Mossel Bay sets the tone for a great week sailing.

8/10/2020

Completing a coastal passage from Knysna and night entry into Mossel Bay, the Henderson brothers (Josh, Ben and Sam), Stephen Winter, Hennie du Preez and Mark Orpen settle into a week of offshore sailing training off Cape St Blaize. The warm hospitality of the Port Control, local guest houses, restaurants, the awesome cooking from Annette du Preez, the great sailing in a sheltered bay made this a memorable week of fun, laughter, learning new skills and generally a great adventure. Southern Yachting Academy hopes to enjoy the town during August with more offshore Day Skipper students during August 2020.

Diesel Engine Maintenance: Impeller and Seals

3/5/2020

Regular checking for water leaks and sea water supply, flow and discharge though the heat exchange unit is critical to ensure the proper functioning of a diesel engine.

Should a seal or impeller perish the sea water flow into the fresh water cooling system will slow or cease, causing broken pieces of rubber to get stuck in the sieve of the heat exchange unit, causing overheating of the engine and damaging the engine head.

A useful tip here is to use 1500 git water paper to remove any minor corrosion, sodium deposits, hardened old gaskets, etc.
Remember to close the sea cocks before removing the impeller unit (or cover) and then ensue the sea cock is opened again once all pipes are reconnected and before starting the engine when done.

The video below shows how to remove the sea water feeder pipe to engine, dismantle the impeller housing from the engine block, change the impeller, seals, bearing, gaskets and/or o-ring and put it all back together again; by one of Southern Yachting Academy instructors.

LDYC 2020 Round the Island Regatta

2/24/2020

The LDYC 2020 Round the Island Regatta attracted 220 entries on 01-02 Feb 2020. Southern Yachting Academy (Knysna) featured both as a participant in the event on a vdStadt 23 as well as a major prize sponsor. This was an amazing weekend of competitive inland sailing, live music, socialising and making new friends.

Crewing with Austin Daly as skipper, we finished 4th overall and snatched the class gold! After all the ceremonies, Mark Orpen of Southern Yachting Academy, assisted by LDYC Commodore Luke Quinn, announced the lucky draw prize winner Hennie du Preez, who will be in Knysna during May 2020 to complete his SA Sailing Offshore Day Skipper License. Well done Hennie!

This fantastic inland (Round the Island Regatta) sailing event is certainly worthy for yachties from around the country to enter in 2021! Start planning soon; see you all next year.

Wedding bells are ringing!!!

2/6/2020

Exactly two years after Aaron Kruse and Brittany Hancocks decided to celebrate Valentine's Day on a Start Sailing Adventure with Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna, they're back in South Africa for more, but this time, someone was in for a BIG surprise!

On 29 January 2020, during their offshore sailing course, they returned though the Knysna Heads, anchored in the beautiful Featherbed Bay and were tendered ashore for a `lunch refreshment' which turned out to be one of the most memorable moments of Aaron and Brittany's life!

Thank you to Elle Photography who captured it all on camera, to The Featherbed Company for the tender, venue and champagne, to the local team who made up the striking proposal banner, and to our professional skippers for perfectly executing this romantic proposal.

So if you are thinking about popping that question fellas, may your dreams also come true in Knysna! www.southernyachting.co.za

Summer Sailing in Knysna

1/11/2020

If taking a summer holiday in the Mediterranean or Caribbean is on your agenda, then 11-days in Knysna with Southern Yachting Academy will adequately prepare you for a bare boat charter sailing vacation in many idyllic destinations around the world. After all, beautiful Knysna is a 'hidden gem' and both offshore and estuary sailing here is not too shabby by any world standard. Whether it is the RS Tera Worlds, Hobie Nationals, Regional Sailing Championships or Southern Yachting Academy Offshore Yachting Courses, the Garden Route deserves two weeks in your calendar this year!

Preparing to qualify as Day Skippers in January were Reece Crankshaw, Hershell Visser, Andy Vogel, Jacques Louw, Jan Brink, David and Guy Rushmere, Ant More, Wayne and Brayden Barratt. Enjoy Croatia, Turkey and Greece later this year fellas!

Cape Town to Port Owen: great sailing the west coast of South Africa...

5/6/2019

From Royal Cape Yacht Club to Dassen Island to dive out crayfish for a beach braai, then onto Saldanha Bay Yacht Club for a warm shower, a great meal and getting to know the west coast cruise fleet, the cruise got off to a fantastic start!
Next day we headed off to Kraal Bay in Langebaan to anchorage for an on-board luncheon under the summer sun, followed by a paddle / swim / tender ride and beach walk followed by sundowners then back to the boats to testeach crew's competitive culinary skills ...
Next day full sails raised toward Mykonos Marina for a hearty breakfast, then local Langebaan sailing and onto Saldanha Bay moorings for dinner and passage planning briefing to round Shelly Point, pass St Helena Bay and into Stompneus Bay in a 30kt wind to a tricky anchorage (some boats picked in well, some dragged and .... well some (what happened at Stompies stayed at Stompies) The next day a quick run across the bay onto Port Owen for a New Years eve party.....
Now that's a way to spend New Year in South Africa!

Hugh Lugg returns with family to Celebrate Knysna

10/25/2018

Passionate artist Hugh Lugg (son of influential and renowned South African artist Jack Lugg with strong roots in Knysna) paid tribute to his late father by returning to Knysna with his family whilst on vacation in South Africa this month, to immerse themselves in this special place of paradise.

Half a day offshore sailing with Mark Orpen of Southern Yachting Academy proved to be a very special celebration of both (father) Jack & (son) Hugh's love for Knysna and the sea and the thrill of navigating the famous Knysna Heads with his family by his side.

Whilst tying knots, reading the sailing instruments, raising the sails, steering the yacht, tacking and gybing, the Luggs' were smiles all round until the motion of the ocean lured a crew member to the poop deck to `rest a while'.

"It was a mixture of enjoyment and giddiness for some of us! 'Calm' conditions on the Indian Ocean are obviously not the same as the Baltic, which can be like a 'Feather Bed' at times! We will see if the girls develop sea legs!' chided Hugh with a smile after they all received their completion certificates and a cold refreshment at the Knysna Yacht Club after the activity.

We know that Hugh will be back to explore the boundaries of this fabulous past time of messing around in yachts; and if it is not offshore from Knysna it may well be out on Lake Constance, back home in Switzerland...

Protecting local waters

7/11/2018

Protecting South African coastal waters is a group of committed vessel skippers from the Dept. of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). These dedicated law enforcement officials navigate our local coastline by day and night policing poachers, unscrupulous fishermen and smugglers alike. In aligning to new maritime safety requirements and practices, DAFF selected Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna to provide its officials the quality accredited Short Range Certificate (SRC) Course to obtain SAMSA DSC/VHF Radio Licenses. Three days of training including drilling down Mayday, Pan-Pan and Securite calls; these candidates are now certainly better equipped in their work. For more information on the SRC Course, CLICK HERE!

Valentines Day Gift...

2/13/2018

Brittany Hancocks and Aaron Kruse visited Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna, South Africa this week for two days of active introduction to offshore sailing.
Enjoying great sailing weather as Knysna is so well know for... Brittany & Aaron had the Academy's 34ft van der Stadt yacht `Serendipity', careening through the Knysna lagoon at over 7kts in up to 20kts of wind.
Sailors in the making... we look forward to having them back on a Day Skippers' course soon. Fair winds folks and bon voyage back home to DongCheng District in Beijing City, China next week.

Overnight coastal passage KNY-Plett

12/26/2017

Sail out to sea from the Knysna Heads and head east at 5kts for 6 hours to the Beacon Isle, Plettenberg Bay and then back to the calm anchorage `up against' the world heritage site `Robberg Nature Reserve' (currently a national monument steeped in history showcasing prehistoric rock formations and stone age artefacts). Super tasty Bratwurst, potato salad, petit pois and salad from the ships galley with a sundowner to end a fabulous day.
From night watch shifts to rocking asleep the 34ft yacht Serendipity, the overnight adventure in Plett was enjoyed by skipper Mark Orpen and crew Francois van der Linde, Melinda & Maxine Werth.
The morning swim and kayak paddle to visit the 1000's of resident seals on the Robberg was followed by setting sails in a 15kt-20kt easterly breeze back to Knysna; a somewhat challenging downwind coastal passage with a fine entry through the Knysna Heads to our safe haven mooring at the Knysna Yacht Club. Do come join us!

Testing the waters...

11/27/2017

Annette Kennedy and Alexander von Wedel join Southern Yachting Academy to test the Indian Ocean waters aboard our vdStadt 34ft offshore sailing training yacht.

With fantastic sailing conditions through the Knysna Heads and calm coastal waters let's hope the sailing disease will spread fast ... hope to see you guys soon!

www.southernyachting.co.za
#southernyachting #offshoresailing

Sailing & Power Skipper Courses underway in Knysna

10/31/2017

With greenery everywhere on land and spring in the air, five enthusiastic sailors head out to offshore waters to complete their SAS Day Skippers Licence (SAMSA Cat C: Sail & Power) through Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna.
Congratulations to Sally-Ann Morris, St John Salisbury, Andrew Orpen, James Hutchison and Wendy Lochhead who all successfully completed the gruelling weeks theory and practical training and examinations.
Now these guys have some stories to tell.... create your own story and register today with www.southernyachting.co.za!

Careers in offshore yachting

8/16/2017

Deckhand and deck officer jobs in the super and mega yacht industries across Europe, USA and Australasia, have attracted young South Africans for many years. Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna, South Africa has become the ideal place to obtain a Short Range Certificate (VHF Radio License) and SAS Day Skipper (Sail/Power) License as the foundational 11 day training before then completing a RYA PB2 License and STCW Courses in Cape Town (+12 days).
Our seasoned Superyacht Captains will welcome you aboard for an experience of a lifetime and a positive step up into this exciting industry.
Call: +27 44 3823400 www.southernyachting.co.za

Dads and sons invest quality time in Knysna

12/25/2016

Dads and sons Paul & Conor Burrell; and Michael & Kevin Muller invest quality time out at sea on the iconic classic ocean racing yacht `SV Mercury SA3' as they experience a 5-hr start sailing adventure with Southern Yachting Academy in beautiful Knysna, on the Garden Route in South Africa So come and clear your mind, make your dreams happen, chart a course, the future is yours. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

Knysna Yacht Club barmen give offshore sailing a bash!

12/6/2016

Sincere thanks go to the hospitality and commitment of the remarkable barmen: Lovemore Tembo, Clive TagariRa and Patrick John of the Knysna Yacht Club who professionally serve their members and our offshore sailing academy students at all hours of the day and night. Southern Yachting Academy gladly sponsored them all to a 5-hr Start Sailing Adventure (Introduction to Sailing) experience last Sunday morning between their busy shifts to learn hands-on for the first time what offshore sailing is all about.
Fun and excitement was had by all including Gladstone Knunzi who is learning to be a boatswain assistant and deck hand at Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna. www.southernyachting.co.za

Take to the Helm with Southern Yachting Academy

11/14/2016

When I first entered the offices of the Southern Yachting Academy, the very first thing that caught my eye was their elaborately detailed logo. From past to present, it portrays elements which are distinctive to Knysna. It has the family crests of some of Knysna's most historically significant families, including the Thesen's, who left behind a rich boat building legacy; several iconic species for which Knysna has become synonymous, including the Knysna seahorse; an anchor, which represents our storied maritime history; and a champagne bottle, which serves to celebrate all these aspects which we love about Knysna.

Of all these characteristics, it was the boating legacy of yesteryear that Mark Orpen felt compelled to revive when he started the Southern Yachting Academy. Inspired by his love for both Knysna and for yachting, he had a vision to recreate the dynamic maritime flavour of the Knysna's past and he started by seeking out two of the legendary yachts which helped propel South Africa into the sailing spotlight some four decades ago.

In 1971, two Van der Stadt 222 design, 42-foot sailing yachts were built to compete in the first Cape to Rio transatlantic ocean race. The first was the 'Albatross II', which was built in Knysna at the Thesen's Boatbuilding Yard, the second was the 'Mercury', which was built in Bremen, West Germany. These two South African yachting teams sailed neck and neck for much of the race, but it was 'Albatross ll' that eventually took the lead and won the race, putting the Thesen Boatbuilding Yard, and Knysna, on the map. Also participating in the race was 'Voortrekker 1', the original South African flagship in the event, also built in Knysna by the Thesens.

While his dream to find and restore 'Albatross ll' was never realised, he did find and procure 'Mercury', whereafter he spent the next two years restoring it with the help of several skilled boat building artisans. Once this beautiful wooden sloop cutter was fully restored, Mark could properly commence with his second mission, which was to to create a platform for sailing training and adventures and thus promote the culture of sailing in Knysna.

They offer Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper courses, accredited radio telephony and coastal mileage building passages along the Garden Route coastline. Many of the students that have qualified here have gone on to enjoy hugely successful careers in the yachting industry around the world.

And for all those who have always dreamt of taking to the helm - I would highly recommend you begin with their Start Sailing Experience. This is a 5hr hands-on, interactive crewing experience where participants are given the opportunity to sail offshore on the famous Mercury yacht. The activity starts off at the Academy on Thesen Island where you will learn the basic principles of sailing, such as tacking a gybing, tying knots, steering the boat and plotting a course.

After this brief introduction to sailing and under the guidance of one of their very competent skippers, you will then get the chance to implement what you have learnt by being an active crew member. You will sail across the vast expanse of the Knysna Estuary, through the sentinel headlands and out into the big blue. This is a hugely popular activity for both local and international tourists and if all their Tripadvisor comments are anything to go by, then this experience is certainly one to include in your the bucket list!

For more information visit: www.southernyachting.co.za

Compiled by: Lisa Leslie
www.lisalesliephotography.com

Offshore Adventures Knysna

11/1/2016

Southern Yachting Academy students Galen Salgado, Tessa Collins and Conrad Spamer are accompanied by Hannes Steyn and Melinda Long with facilitator Mark Orpen on the SA Sailing Day Skipper Programme in Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa during October '16.
Whilst for some this was ticking an adventure bucket list, for others it was formalising the requisite qualification for an international yachting career. Well done to all of you!
Despite the heavy study load, fun was had by all; esp. navigating the coastal passage Knysna to Mossel Bay (distracted by some fishing, whales broaching, many seals following us, an abundance of birdlife) where both ports were entered at night adding to learning experience.
Visit us at: www.southernyachting.co.za

Start Sailing Adventure in Knysna

9/8/2016

A fine day sailing in Africa for restaurateur Greg Shuff and his lovely wife Cari Janssen-Shuff as they grind winches, set sails and navigate the Knysna Heads during their honeymoon in South Africa this week. Southern Yachting Academy bid you both safe travels and fair winds as you continue `messing about in boats' at your local yacht club back in Chicago, USA.

Skipper training season starts early in Knysna

8/22/2016

Southern Yachting Academy students brave the Knysna Heads, learn to sail along the Southern Cape coastline between the beautiful Buffalo Bay and the castles of Noetzie, and navigate the Knysna estuary where 60,000 m3 of seawater shifts in and out at up to 5kts every 6 hours.
Well done to the Frey family (Henrico, Sanet & Henro) and Jaryd Kynaston-Blake for completing their SAMSA Short Range Certificates and SA Sailing Day Skipper license training last week. Loads of fun, lots of great sailing and many special memories made. We look forward to seeing you all on the water as members of the Knysna Yacht Club during this coming sailing season!

The outbreak of a new disease...

6/17/2016

Mental wellness or mental illness? ... You decide!

Sailing away today...

6/2/2016

Idyllic destination for Day Skipper Yachting courses

5/2/2016

Dr Roger Mierswinski & Michael Marlow complete their Day Skipper course with Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna. Both of them are off to sail in the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas respectively. To both these officers and gentlemen, fair winds...

Practical offshore sailing training in Knysna

1/13/2016

Larry Johnson & Christopher Spies get their practical sailing skills honed with Southern Yachting Academy in preparation for the SA Sailing Day Skipper exam. Four days to go guys - keep up the good work!