Deon at the helm
in Madagascar.

A Circumnavigation on yacht "PRRRFECTION"
Updated: Sept.'04

Our dream to circumnavigate started on 5 July 2001. We sailed from our homeport Durban, South Africa on a clear, sunny day, very excited and very nervous. We headed towards Madagascar and Mayotte Island - our shakedown cruise. It was the start of a wonderful time - full of adventure, fun and excitement. Paradise however also has sad endings!

Deon, our beloved dad and husband died less than 3 months later from a massive heart attack in Mayotte whilst jogging, leaving us on this idyllic island, without a father, husband.... somewhere in the Indian Ocean. He died on 11 October 2001.

After returning to Durban we, Ronelle and the children, decided to continue our sailing (a circumnavigation) in loving memory of Deon van Rooyen (born 19.12.1959).

We are cruising on a Wildcat 350 catamaran, built in South Africa by Charter Cats, Durban. "Prrrfection" is 35' with four spacious cabins, two heads and galley up in the saloon - the most perfect cruising vessel for us.

The name "Prrrfection" was a family decision and the beautiful logo and stripes on the topsides were made by Deon as this was our occupation in South Africa.

After doing homeschooling for many years on the boat, the girls attended formal school for the first time when we arrived in Tahiti. The gilrs attended College de Taravao for two years while we stayed in the magical islands of French Polynesia. They fitted in immediately and passed their grades...bearing in mind that the schooling was in French! I really have to take credit here and it just confirm my firm belief that home schooling is very good for kids - and families for that matter!

I have had much assistance from my family, friends and fellow yachties and the decision to continue sailing is my way of coping with our loss. After losing Deon, I realised that you alone are responsible for your happiness and contentment in life. We have only one life and I learned with a shock that it is indeed very short and might suddenly end. The journey home is never a direct route. It is in fact, always circuitous, and somewhere along the way we discover that the journey is more significant than the destination. The people we meet along the way will be the travelling companions of our memories forever.

I have been fortunate and blessed again to have met Claude Hall. He has been a supportive friend since I met him and I am lucky to have him in my life.

This journey is in memory of Deon, who gave me a dream to live. We planned to be together forever but this was not meant to be. Our travels will take us round the world, across oceans, through storms and calms and will give us "New Directions".

"I want to travel as far as I can go,
Want to reach the joy that's in my soul,
And change the limitations that I know,
And feel my mind and spirit grow.

I want to live, exist, "to be",
And hear the truths inside of me".
(Doris Warshay)

Follow our progress. Our logs are listed in the left column (red text) and are in reverse order. Click on "Contents" and start reading from the bottom up (Durban to Durban). We are taking a very slow cruise, learning all about the cultures and people along the way. For us this has become a way of life.

We are currently in Fiji. After leaving Tahiti very reluctantly....(as all cruisers do!) we arrived in Fiji and immediately saw huge opportunities and...355 islands to explore! The girls are once again in school and Claude and I are now joining the ranks of the landlubbers during office hours. We work ...but still come home to Prrr every evening....We still want to live on the boat. I love the boat and the cruising life and I hope you will enjoy our blog and thoughts and adventures too.

Please sign our guestbook - we love to read your messages.

Have fun, hope to see you here again soon!
Ronelle

Current Position: Vuda Marina - Fiji Islands
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