The start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Table Bay

At the Rickety Bridge sponsorship launch,

John asked Ralph Mothes, owner of the Cape Town Sailing Academy,

for a ride on his yacht, Chantecler,

to see the start of the Cape to Australia leg of the race

So Pam steered us away from the Royal Cape Yacht Club

with a fair wind filling the sails

out into Table Bay

Ralph supervised his students setting the sails

a happy group of crew and passengers

After a short sail round the bay, we returned to the Waterfront

where Ralph steered us round while

we watched the racers passing through the cut

into the Victoria Basin

and out

into the bay

Lynne watched from the shore

Invest Africa, as the host country boat, was last to leave the Waterfront

The yachts formed a line to parade across the bay to the start line 

near Milnerton Beach

 They jockeyed for position before the start

 and set off with the gun, fired from a Navy strike craft

 and sailed on a course round the bay,

with those who'd studied the form taking the route round Robben Island 

to catch the South Easter

 and Ralph turned us

to head for home

 and Chantecler's berth at the RCYC

A very big "Thank You" to Ralph Mothes and the Cape Town Sailing Academy

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

A tasting at Beau Constantia

The tasting room with views down the Constantia Valley and across False Bay to the far mountains

You can taste inside or outside on one of the comfortable terraces or go downstairs to relax in the Spa

Looking across to wine farms Constantia Glen and Eagle's Nest

They have vines going up the mountain almost to the top. Just planted right at the top are new sauvignon blanc grapes

Clean lines, cool comfort in the well designed tasting room. Lynne with Chantel Ball, Sales Manager just about to start the tasting

The menu

The wine list.  All the wines are made by Justin van Wyk

Pas de Nom (Without a name) a white blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Semillon with the depiction of their quite renowned viticulturist Oom Japie Bronn who in his time has planted quite a few vineyards in Constantia and at Cape Point Vineyards, He likes to keep a low profile.

Three workers below in the vineyard trimming and training the spring green vines

Our tasting of six wines with the Mexican canapé platter.  Of note was the sweet and delicious dolce de Leche (condensed milk) cake on the right. Now they need a sweet wine to match it. We particularly liked the award winning Cecily 2013 Viognier (named after Pierre du Preez wife, who is a Getty), full of sweet peaches and cream and so ready for spicy food;  the flagship Lucca 2011 Merlot Cab Franc (named after their daughter) red blend which is smooth on the palate with good fruit and amami notes with a good minerality on the end.; and the 2011 Aiden (named after their son) a blend of Malbec, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with its elegant classic palate with good red fruits, chalky tannins and  marmite notes from the Malbec. This needs time. The newly released Sauvignon Blanc also shows great potential.

The tasting table and fridges

Lynne complaining about having her photograph taken, even with the handsome chef Ryan

Someone on the farm has a great sense of humour.

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Wine tasting and lunch at Vondeling

Vondeling Wine Cellar and Tasting room

It was rather too hot to sit outside...

...so the tasting and lunch were inside with doors open

Set up for a two glass tasting

Some of Vondeling's wines: the whites

And more, these were the wines we tasted

We are a very friendly crowd, all interested in wine

Enjoying each others' company, with wine and food

Hot summer sunshine, blue mountains, ripe wheat and green, green vines. Looking across to Tulbagh

Vondeling’s own chapel which can seat 120 to 150 people for weddings, christenings, and other ceremonies

The inside is wonderfully plain, simple and uncomplicated, and nice and cool  - it  just needs flowers and people

The beautiful stained glass windows are made by a local expert who was trained in the UK

 © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Launch of Rickety Bridge's sponsorship of Invest Africa racing yacht in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The contestants in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, lined up at the V&A Waterfront

The Hospitality tent with members of the crew telling us about the race

A good selection of canapés and sweet treats was on offer

Caramelised onions on pastry puffs with feta

 Skipper Richard Gould talking to Duncan Spence, owner of Rickety Bridge, and Amy McKee

 Jan van Huyssteen welcomed the guests

 Duncan Spence and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Sir Robin Knox Johnston tells us of his involvement in the race and how Rickety Bridge got on board

and was presented with Rickety Bridge's new Blanc de Blancs 2009 MCC

 Support is given to the Nelson Mandela Childrens' Hospital Trust

 Jackie Rabe enjoys a glass of Rickety Bridge on the deck

 Crew member Anne Jobbins showing guests the kitchen

Part of the pantry

 Jan van Huyssteen looking at the crew quarters

 Cindy Muller inspects the navigation centre

 Sleeping space for the 20 crew members

 A full programme while in Cape Town

She is a beautiful boat, all neat and shipshape and fast

A good South Easter blowing the table cloth over Table Mountain bodes well for sailing weather

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013
We were at the start of the race - photographs here