Waterfront regulars might recall the days when Alwyn Vincent operated pleasure trips for tourists in the Waterfront .And more recently you may have seen her on the Syncrolift at the entrance to the Waterfront

Below is an letter from the Waterfront Harbour Master

Hopefully we can announce the move of the Alwyn Vincent (AV) to Villiersdorp, and please understand that much of this work is by Volunteers, so we can expect some slippage.
However they still need a few thousand Rands to pay the road haulage a distance of 420 km !!.
Look at Monday 23 June below; and you will see why the cost is R500 000.00, That is R1200 per kilometre, so come on let’s give the AV a good home, and find those small amounts. The latest donation was R3000.00 from the Traditional Boat Association, and a burgee to be flown on the mast at Villiersdorp. And a huge support from the Transnet National Ports Authority for all the activity on the Syncrolift, in lifting the old tug and the use of the dollys, then ATLATECH who have cleaned the hull, and International Paints who have donated all the paint that has been applied to the hull and substructure.

I stand in awe at what these “Farmers from Villiersdorp” have achieved, and am grateful that the AV is in safe hands even if ashore in the town of Villiersdorp. The Town Mayor has already asked what traditional days he must add to the Town Calendar to recognize significant maritime days !!! It just shows the enthusiasm amongst these folk.

The latest plan is as follows:

1. Wednesday 13/06/2012:              MME will start with the manufacturing of the 2 x support cradles (6m wide).

2. Friday 15/06/2012:                     The transport trailer from ALE arrive in Cape Town.

3. Monday 18/06/2012:                   MME will fit and weld the cradles to the AV on Monday  (+/- 3 days).

4. Thursday 21/06/2012:                 The AV will be shifted, jacked up and the syncrolift dollies removed from underneath.
The plan is to take the trailer through to the Port of Cape Town on the same day.

5. Friday 22/06/2012:                      The trailer will be positioned underneath the AV and secured.

6. Saturday 23/06/2012:                  The wheelhouse and other top structures will be removed with a 180ton crane and loaded onto lowbed trailers. The
Volunteer and sponsor banners will be fitted to the side of the vessel. (there is still space to donate and have your name on the hull)

7. Monday 25/06/2012:                    The AV will leave the Waterfront and Port and arriving in Villiersdorp on Thursday, 28/06/2012 or Friday 29/06/2012.

Route: Cape Town – Saldanha – Malmesbury – Mooreesburg – Riebeeck West – Hermon – Gouda (Nuwekloof Pass) – Wolseley – Worcester – Villiersdorp (+/- 420km).

The AV will be staged onto 1m high steel support stools at Dennis Viljoen Ingenieurswerke and the trailer removed from underneath.