Sailing Sibongile

21/07/2024

Important... Please 🙏
Following my reel yesterday, with an update on the new boat (Sibongile), and the fact we're prioritizing getting that up and running for next Easter so that we can launch the "Sisters of Sibongile", I seem to have created a little bit of confusion about the direction of Sailing Sibongile as a whole.
Promoting good mental health, happiness, and well-being is not gender specific... I am personally still very much focused on men's mental health, as part of the overall community mental health focus that this initiative has. We have 3x boats in the 'fleet', and Sibongile will be available for Sisters of Sibongile sailing, whereas Jon Seagull is not (it's a challenging boat, and for now I will always skipper that), and Leven Point could be available.
The Sisters of Sibongile, I estimate, will be about 20% of what we do. It's an important 20%... And I hope we can talk equally about the two (men's specific mental health issues and women's). My point about "I won't be involved" was merely to point out that there won't be any suggestion of impropriety on my part, as the Sisters of Sibongile will be a ladies led branch of what we do. I have a daughter, the original "Sibongile" was my mum, and I've had 3yrs worth of feedback from both men and women (including women who'd like to come sailing but have concerns about who the skipper or crew will be. Some have declined when they would be the only female crew member. 🤷‍♂️... And I understand that).
Sailing Sibongile will ALWAYS be a safe space, and always be focused equally on men's mental health and women's mental health too. 😊
I hope that clarifies the matter... And I hope still to share sailing and the love of the sea with you all.
♥ ⛵ 🐬 ♥

18/07/2024

💜 ⛵...CREW OPPORTUNITY... ⛵ 💜
The forecast for Sunday is looking EXCELLENT. 🌬️ ⛵ 😎
Would anyone like to go sailing on Jon Seagull with me?
Out of the Hamble, near Southampton, UK... 9am

17/07/2024

Whilst I love all my crew (some more than others...😅 🤪)... This one is always my favorite.
It's as if Sky is a kind, loving, intelligent, caring, and timid little girl who lives in a dog's body. 🫠
Who else has an amazing boat dog? ♥⛵🐺

ps: thanks to Good Deeds Sailing for the pic. 😊🙏

14/07/2024

💜⛵... Beautiful day for sailing.
Amazing to have some friends of Sibongile along, including Good Deeds Sailing, Mariana & Matheus, and Ollie Lewis.
😊
Matheus and Mariana were the first ever guests to come out with me in 2021, just when Sailing with a Weirdo was starting out.

Ps: now that I get to sit here, and have others helm, I get to check out Rigit's creativity. I really like the fore-stay assembly they made, to allow the anchor to clear the turnbuckles.
It was worth the wait. 😊

13/07/2024

♥⛵...CREW OPPORTUNITY...⛵🐬
Short Notice, but the forecasts is for "ditch the work and go sailing" conditions.
Would anyone like to join Good Deeds Sailing and me on Jon Seagull tomorrow.?
Got space for 4 or so people.
Mid-morning till mid-afternoon, out of the Hamble.

10/07/2024

Just in case Wednesday is a little drab... Don't forget, someone out there appreciates you. 🫶
Happy Wednesday My Peeps!

09/07/2024

👋🤓⛵... Quick update on "Sibongile", our aspiring Golden Globe Race entry. 👍
On Sunday, Ollie Lewis and I started the strip down of the old Perkins engine, to help with removal and eventual replacement. (thanks Ollie 🙏).
I also had a brief meeting with Annabel Shove from Rolly Tasker Sails, to discuss the sails, and also the Sisters of Sibongile 🐞⛵. (Rolly Tasker supplied the new main for Leven Point two years ago, which I'm still very happy with. 😊)
Sunday evening & Monday morning, I spent some time with Pav from Rigit UK, our lead partner, and also had the chance to help on a beautiful 50ftr they're preparing for the ARC. ⛵ ♥ 🐬.
And then I made contact with John Corby from Corby Yachts, who specialize in designing, building, and refitting racing boats of all shapes & sizes. (their work is incredible, and thanks to Pav for the intro).
We're just trying to pin down a meeting date... 😅 🤪
So, lots of good developments, and I'm really looking forward to establishing some good partnerships.

Still... This is a community initiative 😎
And people who work on her will always have first option of a potential seat on race days. 🏆🤞 ⛵ 🎖
Please let me know if you'd like to get involved in this Sibongile project.

Ps: I'll post the link to a video about this weekend, later today.

Pps: Do a little of what you love every day. Hang out with your favorite people ... And protect your happiness. 🫶🫵

04/07/2024

♥ ⛵ ...CREW... ⛵ 🐬
The forecast for Sunday is looking pretty good.
I still have space onboard for around 4 people.
Out of the Hamble... Mid-morning till mid-afternoon.
Let me know if you'd like to come along. 😊

02/07/2024

⛵♥... OPEN DAY ... 🐬 ⛵
Hey Ya'all. 👋🤓... We're going to have an open day, on the 28th of July, if anybody would like to come down, have a chat, discuss getting involved, see the boats, etc.
It'll either be at Ocean Village or at Town Quay Marina, both in Southampton.

I'll be putting up an event page (just search for the Sailing Sibongile Open Day), so pop on there if you'd like to come along.

I hope to see many of you there. 🙏😊.
💨⛵🌍

01/07/2024

Has anybody lost a shoe... There's a name inside (last name "Jones", initial "D").
If you can tell me the correct first name, I'll keep it for you to collect.
😋 😆
❤️ ⛵

30/06/2024

♥ ⛵ ... Had a reasonable day today, with very little wind. 😊
I'm taking Jon Seagull out for the day next Sunday (7th July), and have space for 5 people. 😊
Would anybody like to join me for that?

28/06/2024

It's not sailing related, but this has long been one of my favorite cartoon.
You know, it's easy to laugh at it on the surface, but think about this... If only each chicken considered the point of view of the other one, they'd be able to agree on the solution really quickly. 😊
We should never assume our interpretation of something is the only one.

26/06/2024

😇... 😊⛵ 💜... For those who are interested, here's the video of taking Sibongile from Dartmouth over to Southampton.
It's tough being skipper and videographer, but hopefully it's a nice video.
Sadly I was at the helm when we were doing 7kts on a 10-15kts beam-reach under the midnight full-moon...next time, I promise. 😊

In this episode we actually sail Sibongile for the first time, from Dartmouth to Southampton. 😊 Please support our project on ko-fi.com/sailingwithaweirdo

25/06/2024

Sailing out of Portishead on Saturday...!! ⛵ 👍
Following last month's shakedown and feedback, Rigit have completed the finishing touches on Leven Point's mast and rigging, and also strengthened the bow-sprit.
So we're sailing on Saturday.
There's space available for one or two people to come along.
Please PM me and let me know if you'd like to join.

24/06/2024

There she is... ❤️ ⛵ 🙏
All tied up in Southampton.

We've partnered with Rigit UK for the rig, rigging, stainless fabrication, and carpentry.
Rigit are the rigger for the Round the Island race winning boat. 🏆
And, we'll be working with surveyor, architect, and other service specialists in Pav's incredible network.

Please recommend our page to others interested in the Golden Globe Race, mental health (through sailing or not), and general sailing 'stuff'. 😅👍

Ps: don't forget about the "Sisters of Sibongile"... Our initiative to help more female sailors, in the wake of Dame Ellen MacArthur, Kirsten Neuschäfer's incredible GGR win (also in a timber roof boat), and the amazing team of Maiden, and their tremendous performance in the Ocean Globe Race.
🙏😊

23/06/2024

😊 ⛵ 💜... But no dolphins today. 🚫🐬... 🤷🏼‍♂️

22/06/2024

Sailing with Nick Armstrong ... (I thought you had your own boat). 😋 😆

22/06/2024

We are underway... ❤️ ⛵ 🐬 🙏

(never underestimate the power of Murphy's Law... 😅 ...but, we're off at the planned time)

17/06/2024

Crew Opportunity. 😊 (not for the faint-hearted, however).
Nick Armstrong and I are taking Sibongile over to either Exmouth or all the way to Southampton on Saturday & Sunday.
I could do with two to three extra competent sailors to support. (food and bad jokes included).
Would anyone like to join the delivery.?
(ps: she's not perfect, but is sea-worthy)

15/06/2024

Round The Island Race 2024...
I'm gutted I'm not sailing today, but definitely not gutted we're not sailing in THIS.
Apparently it was "brisk"... 😂
Compare the difference... 😅

14/06/2024

Beautiful day for a launch 🎉
"Sibongile" is in the water.
❤️ ⛵ 🌍 🐬

I'll upload the video of it later this evening. 😊

YouTube.com/

05/06/2024

Just for Ya'all. 👋🤓🫶

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/QaVyyoc3wTMN2GvA/

04/06/2024

👋🤓
If you guys would like to follow the boat prep for our campaign to put SIBONGILE in the Golden Globe Race then here's the link. ♥ 🌏 ⛵ 🏆
We have a long way to go, but two years to make it ready and do the 2000nm shake-down.

Please share it too. 😊🙏

We have officially started work on SIBONGILE.There is a long way to go still, and we need a lot of help.Please share this video.Please subscribe.Please suppo...

03/06/2024

Hey Ya'all... Trust you had a good weekend.
We made some progress on "Sibongile" over the weekend, and need to do a little more before we can move her to Rigit UK for mast inspection, etc, and hopefully do the Round the Island race on the 15th.
If you are available for a few hours this weekend, and can make it to the Dolphin Boatyard near Dartmouth, then some extra hands would be awesome. 😊 🙏
♥ ⛵ 🐬

Ps: for those who aren't aware of the project, we're hoping to promote good mental health through entering this boat in the Golden Globe Race, and/or Global Solo Challenge.🤞😎

31/05/2024

♥ ⛵... After a lot of persistence, I finally managed to get this friend out on the boat. 🤘😎
Jake's had a torrid time recently, and actually homeless, but hanging in there. Fingers crossed things improve soon (there's signs they might). 🤞😊
Also had some good pictures of the breeding birds on Denny Island, in the middle of the Severn Estuary outside Portishead.

25/05/2024

♥ 🐬 ⛵ 🪽
I'm taking Jon Seagull out tomorrow... From the Hamble.
PM me if you'd like to join me last minute.

21/05/2024

♥ ⛵ CRAZY OPPORTUNITY.! 🤪 🏝️
With the acquisition of SIBONGILE, would anyone be interested interested in joining a BONKERS plan to sign up for the Round The Island Race, on the 15th of June.?

In the immortal words of one Ernest Shackleton:
"(Wo)Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success".
😊 😋 😂

There's 24d 15h & 14m remaining, as at the time of writing this.
If you really can sail, and you want to go round the island, comment on the post, and PM me.

Ps: we're not going to be 'racing', just aiming to take part and complete the lap of the island.
😊 😉