Let’s start planning our sailing adventure in the Indian Ocean in 2024.

Hello friends, family and fellow sailors, albeit in armchairs or those on the water.

I’m quite erratic with newsletters, I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) when there’s a bee buzzing in my brain and I need to let it out. Right now, there are a swarm of bees buzzing in my brain.

Recently I came to the slow realisation that being a full-time liveaboard is not fun anymore. Shock! What? Well, it has been 8 and a half years…….however, we have just had the wettest winter in the Cape for the past 50 years and it made life a bit harder than usual. Although I am tremendously blessed to live this lifestyle, sometimes the dinghy ride in the rain to get provisions, the mouldy inside of EVERY cupboard and the absolute apathy that hits my body after 7 straight days huddling/cuddling/wallowing in our bed in the cold and damp like beached seals is overwhelming.

One of the many reasons why I married my Captain is that we are almost always on the same wavelength and usually have the same thoughts at the same time. This one was no different. One day, all on his own with no hidden prompting, moaning or bitching from my side, he suddenly announced:  “I think I’m over this boat thing”.

So, what is the solution?

1. Sell the boat and migrate back to land, here in South Africa, some sleepy hollow where we can grow vegetables and watch the stars.
2. Sail her to some “safer” country, and start a small beach bar restaurant business with the yacht bobbing in the bay, Brazil/Portugal came to mind but after some thought we realised that wherever we go the locals will give us uphill. Gringos taking their jobs.
3. Use our home, SV Knowind, and plan to do what she is made to do. Sail somewhere. Plan a trip. A shortish one, I cannot face an Atlantic crossing anytime soon after losing a mast in the Atlantic in 2020.

So. Indian Ocean 2024, aim for Madagascar and then if all goes well, on to Mauritius and further afield, Reunion, Seychelles etc.

Although terrified at the prospect of having to sail the infamous “Wild Coast” of South Africa, it has given us motivation and a huge great burst of enthusiasm for our lifestyle, our boat and even each other.

Let the planning begin!

Watch this space.

Captain Mike (Underpants) and pirate wench Nikki.

P.S. Would love to hear from anyone who has done this route or might be planning it.