Governor's
Cup 2008 Entrant - 11 November
2008
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Skipper
- Jon Aldworth
Boat
name : THISWAN
Type : 1969 Nautor Swan 43 by Sparkman &
Stephens Skipper : John & Shirley Aldworth
John
and Shirley, both divorcees, met on an internet sailing chat
channel in 2000. John lived in Durban and Shirley in Toronto,
Canada. Both have been mad into the ocean since their early
days, especially sailing. After sleepless nights (time difference)
and huge telephone bills for John's internet connection Shirley
was convinced to come over to South Africa to do some sailing
on the SA East Coast on John's Petersen 33.
When Shirley arrived, it was "Love at first sight"
and decided this is the niche in life that she had been looking
for and for the next five years they sailed blissfully up and
down the coast surviving storms and calms, both on the water
and off.
During 2005 they bought a run down and neglected Swan for a
song at an auction in Durban and decided that this was going
to be their dream boat and would take them on an around the
world honeymoon cruise. The Petersen was sold and the labour
of love restoring the Swan to her former glory began and two
years later she was ready for cruising. As she now had a new
lease on life she also received a new name. How she got her
new name is another story, but can either be interpreted as
"The Swan" or "This One".
Last year a shakedown cruise was made up to Mocambique and all
the expectations were greatly exceeded and it was felt that
she was ready to embark on a Westabout circumnavigation. To
celebrate, the Aldworth's were married in December 2007 while
in Richards Bay, on board the "Research Vessel Heraclitus",
an 81 foot junk rigged sailing ship.
Next stop.....St Helena and beyond.
Yacht
"Thiswan"
