Our new job, setting up a new boat, means that we are bound to the marina here in Fort Lauderdale, while the works are being completed and until hurricane season is over…
As a result, the only thing I have to document is a construction site of a catamaran. So, instead, I have been going through my archives and catching up on events that haven’t yet been included on the blog. This particular one is special because it involves some of our closest friends back home, in South Africa…
Carla is one of our dearest friends and you might remember her from previous posts. Carla’s friend Derick Muller is the creator and editor of a new Afrikaans journal called Ambassadeur and he wanted to include a story of adventure, which is a big part of what the journal is about:
“Ambassadeur is an Afrikaans literary lifestyle journal with a penchant for adventure. We celebrate the creators, the thinkers, risk takers and artists, the craftsmanship and business acumen, the extraordinary, the creative, the filmmaker, musician and author. Hoist the anchor, raise the sails and come with us on this new journey.”
Through Carla, Derick heard of our story, Wilhelm, Vivian, Rufus and I refitting Melody and crossing the Atlantic in 2012. He asked Vivian to write an article which details the journey with all four of us and then her and Wilhelm’s year aboard Melody while Rufus and I returned to work in Zambia in 2013.
She wrote a brilliant piece, which was expertly translated into Afrikaans, and included some of her beautiful photos as well as one of Rufus’. Ambassadeur was launched last year November and since we weren’t in the country, the first time we actually got our hands on a hard copy was this past June when we visited home for a few weeks.
It is something truly special to see friend’s work in print, especially in such a well executed piece of literature. To make it extra special Carla did the cover interview with talented photographer, Daniel Naudé, who also happens to be a friend since school days!
Derick funded the entire project himself, with no advertising in the first edition. This is no small feat, especially in South Africa, and an impressive undertaking in the current world of digital magazines. I have included an interview he did with Flits on Kyknet, explaining more about Ambassadeur and plans for another publication to be launched this year, especially for the ladies!
Thank you, Viv, for our copy and for so beautifully illustrating our and your story so well. What a special way to remember such a key part of our lives together!
Our very own copy, with Daniel on the cover! 
Team Melody on our last together in Tobago, before Rufus and I left to Zambia and Viv & Wil continued sailing.
Derick, Thys and Carl at the launch party. Photo credit: Ambassadeur 
Carla, Vivian and Wilhelm at the launch party. Photo credit: Ambassadeur 
Ambassadeur launch party. Photo credit: Ambassadeur
Rufus’ photo of Wilhem repairing boards as we crossed the Atlantic, ready to surf in Brazil!
Interview with Derick on Kyknet