Re-Sails Recycles

Typically, when we buy a new sail, I cut up the old sail and save big chunks of it for use in future repairs or perhaps to make canvas buckets. We've purchased several new sails lately, however, and we can only use so much extra sail cloth before it becomes a bit overwhelming. With my sail cloth supply sufficient, I was looking for something else to do with the old genoa. I spotted a sign in yacht club soliciting sailors to donate their old sails to Re-Sails in Cape Town. I gave them a call to see what they were all about.

Though they offered to come pick up the sail, we decided we'd rather bring it to them to see how this cottage industry had grown into a viable business. Come to find out, a South African sailor started Re-Sails in San Diego, California. According to their website, “Re-Sails started breathing new life into old sails in 1994 by South African waterman, Christian Schlebach. Re-Sails is the first company in the world to commercially make products from old yacht sails. Having worked on sailing yachts for years as a deckhand, Christian was always intrigued at the huge amount of old sails the industry discarded each season. Something had to be done. Re-Sails was born out of a small room in San Diego, California, but soon after relocated to Newport, Rhode Island, home of the America’s Cup and prestigious New York Yacht Club.” In 2011, Christian and his brother, Mike, set up a new production facility in nearby Woodstock.

We headed on over one morning with the old genoa. Mike met us at the door, grabbed our sail and offered a tour.

The old genoa was delivered to Richie, who was busy at work cutting up old sails into material to be used for new “sail-able” products. Re-Sails employs 13 people total between this production facility and their retail store at the V&A Waterfront.

Upstairs, we met the production staff, sewing away at new creations. Everybody smiled and stopped working to say hello as Mike introduced us to his crew.

We were impressed with the range of products produced … everything from multi-sized duffels and totes to jackets and even beach chairs. Melinda, formerly from the fashion industry, makes the patterns for new product development. It's quite the enterprise and we were impressed.

We left feeling like our old genoa had found a good home and a new life as part of several new products. As a parting gift, Mike gave David a great new duffel and I received an outstanding tote that I've already used twice. Good trade.

Meeting Up with Wind Wanderer Again

One of the joys of cruising is meeting new friends in a port and then meeting up with them again and again and again. We first met the Wind Wanderer crew, Sandy and Vic, in the Cocos Keeling Islands near the beginning of our Indian Ocean transit. Their Australian-flagged, 1982-vintage CT54 ketch was anchored close to Cups off Direction Island. As cruisers often do, we met up with them again in Port Louis, Mauritius and then again in Durban. We'd chat amiably each time we met, but it wasn't until our time together in Durban that we really got to know each other and spend some time together and since then we've been in frequent contact, but never in the same port.

Since we had a hire car and the First Mate convinced the Captain that we were due for a play day, we gave the Wanderer crew a call and headed to Simonstown. We spotted Wind Wanderer as we turned the corner heading into the port. She was snugged up against the outside of the pier at the False Bay Yacht Club.

After hugs and a coffee at the yacht club, we headed off to lunch. It was Vic and Sandy that first told us about Live Bait in Kalk Bay and we decided our farewell lunch should be celebrated there. There's never a dearth of conversation between the four of us. One thing about hanging out with Wind Wanderer, she seems to have as many issues lately as Nine of Cups. Misery loves company! They've had generator issues and engine issues and now transmission problems and a broken bobstay. Whenever we chat, we always have much to commiserate about.

One of less pleasant parts about cruising is saying goodbye to friends you've made. Vic and Sandy will be staying in South Africa awhile to sort out their boat problems and then will head back to Australia when Sandy's first grandchild is born. We will be heading across the Atlantic. Perhaps, we'll see them in the Carib or meet up in New Orleans … we've talked about that possibility. In the meantime, it's goodbye for now with lots of pleasant memories. I've promised to leave a package of goodies for them at the Royal Cape YC desk for them to collect:  a couple of Australian courtesy flags and a slightly-tasted jar of Vegemite.

A Sea Trial in Table Bay

With so many repairs, changes and maintenance projects having been completed lately on Nine of Cups, we thought it might be prudent to take her for a trial run out in Table Bay. She hadn't been out of her berth in awhile and needed some exercise, plus the crew had to relearn how to sail again. The day was sunny and mild, the wind was 10 – 12 knots and the bay was shining and brilliant. David had compiled a fairly comprehensive list of items and systems to check in order to avoid any more surprises when we finally do depart next week. We had already run into a problem with the mainsail repairs before leaving the dock. We'd sent it over to the sail loft for a good once-over and repair of chafe on the batten pockets. It was repaired and returned with the new sail delivery. As we were putting it back up and replacing the battens, we noted that though selective repairs had been made, there was still considerable chafe and what repairs were made were shoddy workmanship … adhesive was coming apart and the stitching was already pulling out. This did not bode well.

We carefully checked out the forward and reverse gears while still in the berth. It was backing out of this berth seven years ago that the gear shift handle broke off in David's hand. We managed to avoid catastrophe, but it was an adrenaline rush we were hoping to avoid duplicating. As we backed out of Berth B25 into the fairway, we could feel a touch of exuberance rise in ourselves. We were grinning … we were getting closer to departure. Out in the bay, the day was cold, but lovely. We slowly and methodically worked our way through the list, while at the same time enjoying being out on the water again. It was a weekday, but there were still a few other boats out enjoying the day.

One item on the checklist was the heater. When we were in the higher latitudes in the past, David had installed a bus heater that worked off the engine. The hot air was routed through old A/C vents and kept the saloon quite comfy at least when we were motoring. He'd disconnected it in the warmer climates, but thought it might be reasonable to hook it up again. In doing so, he noted some hoses that needed replacing. One thing led to another, and he felt it might be good to check out the system and make sure we were indeed getting heat and there were no leaks. All was good and when the engine got up to temperature, the saloon was toasty.

Checking out the electronics was high on the list. Autopilot, gauges, chartplotter, wind instruments, , depth, GPS … everything seemed to be in working order except speed through water which will need some coaxing. The alternator was charging the batteries properly.

The furler foil seemed to be just fine and the new rigging and tune-up looked good. The sail was stiff from its newness, but deployed well and furled up just fine.

We didn't go far or for very long, just enough to feel comfortable that Cups was in fine fit. We're still waiting on the repaired yankee and a rush-job on a proper repair of the mainsail. There are still several small tasks and chores to get done plus the usual laundry and provisioning (again), but we're hopeful we'll be off with the next weather window within a week.