On Tuesday 21st February 2006, the TOURISM GRADING COUNCIL of South Africa, held a prestigious function at the recently graded 5 star Au Jardin Restaurant at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town. The event, which was attended by the Who's Who of the tourism industry, celebrated the significant achievements of the Grading Council over the past five years and the role which grading will play in making tourism the gold of South Africa. The day was also used as an opportunity to present grading certificates to the first restaurants to be graded in the country.

The Minister of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, the honourable Marthinus van Schalkwyk was the guest of honour at the celebration and added his congratulations, "The reason that these achievements are such a cause of celebration is the key importance that quality assurance and standards play in our industry. It is gratifying to see that we are on track in the run-up to 2010 in respect of grading all aspects of the tourism industry when 95 % of all accommodation, 55% of all conference venues and 40% of all restaurants will be graded, although there is room for improvement to accelerate this process in the uptake by the industry and in areas such as government procurement. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa has a vital role to play in the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiatives of South Africa ( ASGISA ) over the next six months and beyond.

Jerome received the Certificates on behalf of the Featherbed Company. The PADDLE CRUISER is not only SA's first paddle driven vessel but now the first floating restaurant to receive a 4 STAR grading. This indicates not only the quality of the food on the boat but also the level of professionalism and service rendered on board.

Jerome also received the certificate for the CRUISE CAFE RESTAURANT, which also received a 4 STAR rating, so Jerome was proud to return to Knysna with EIGHT STARS! The CRUISE CAFE RESTAURANT is based at the Featherbed Ferry Terminus, just off Waterfront drive in Knysna. With the best sun downer deck and cocktails in Knysna, the Cruise Cafe offers that stylish Cafe ambience during the day, offering speciality coffees, delightful breakfasts and healthy lunches. In the evening a more chic formal atmosphere prevails with fine dining and an excellent selection of Cape Wines.

The bride and groom, Ashleigh and Craig Dabner on their wedding day in Knysna. The reception was held on the Paddle cruiser. Doesn't it look romantic?

Some news from the Skipper Helen Smith on the specifications of the Yacht and some comments :

Our new catamaran, Heads Explorer, has added a new dimension not only to the Featherbed Company, but also to my life. As the skipper of this beautiful boat, there is never a dull moment and always a learning experience. Having started out on small boats, racing Gypseys and Lasers from a very young age, yachts became my passion after high school. Starting out in Port Elizabeth's coastal waters and then moving on to do my skipper's licence in the rough waters of the Cape Peninsula, Heads Explorer has added yet another chapter to my logbook. Bringing this vessel from Cape Town, with a great crew of friends, was an experience of heavy and light weather. The Heads looming in the foreground as we approached seemed almost inviting and to me, the yacht was home. Commercial sailing is very hard work but the people that you meet make it worthwhile and take the sweat out of all the cleaning and chores required. Sailing is a great and exhilarating pastime and the thrill in my work is making it that much more accessible to all.

The blue duiker appears on the Endangered List and is facing extinction in its natural habitat. The destruction of approximately 200 000 ha of the Southern Cape’s indigenous forest over the past two hundred years, has severely limited the blue duiker's range and has impacted heavily on their breeding status. It was with this in mind that the owner of Featherbed Nature Reserve decided to start a breeding programme in 1985. This programme has been a great success.

The size of the breeding camps, although seemingly small, are ideal to encourage mating while providing adequate shelter and protection. The electrified fencing serves to protect he Blue duikers from their only natural predator on the reserve, the Lynx (Caracal / Rooikat).

The blue duikers in the breeding camps are fed sheep pellets; fruit; leaves and soft stems of the rooikrans (acacia cyclops) branches.

The public is not permitted into the main breeding encampment on the reserve. The intention of the encampment at the restaurant area is to allow the visitor to see only a few of the blue duiker easily. These blue duiker have become accustomed to limited interaction with people, which has made them quite tame. Sometimes they may even lick your finger through the fence... enjoying the taste of the salt on your skin. Sweet natured and beautiful in appearance, the blue duiker deserves every conservation effort.

The following are some interesting REPTILE pictures taken on Featherbed Nature Reserve, sent to us by a visitor - Mr M. Walsh from Potters Bar in England - who recently visited Featherbed Nature Reserve.

Brightly coloured. Small slender with rounded head and short tail. Patterned in black and yellow with bright red dorsal stripe ( Western cape ) It burrows underground, eats other snakes & legless lizards. Lays up to six eggs in December. Venom causes pain, but not fatal. Only found in South Africa.

Body plump, covered in granules and scattered spines. Head broad with rounded snout, wide mouth, small scales. Tail tapering, cannot be shed. Crest along backbone. Forms small colonies on rock outcrops. Breeding male has bright blue head. Female, juvenile drabber. Lays 7 - 12 eggs in summer.

The Featherbed Company is very proud of Cornelius - his commitment and dedication to his very important role does not go un-noticed. His skill and knowledge as a skipper is a valuable asset to the Company. Many visitors from all over the world have cruised to the famous Knysna Heads under the helm of Skipper Cornelius. So when in Knysna and paying a visit to the Knysna Waterfront Quays (the berth of the John Benn) pop by the Classic wooden boat and call out for Cornelius, who is always happy to meet visitors, and give that friendly Knysna local smile !