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Post by sheila on Dec 30, 2012 8:01:31 GMT
Wishing you both a very happy New Year Brian & Sue, with fair winds and safe sailing to bring you home soon. Can't wait to see you both again in 2013.
Love from Sheila & Vince
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Dec 30, 2012 13:48:15 GMT
Leaving Reunion passing south of Madagascar the Most obvious Dangers were the large amount of shipping  On 4 Occasions we were closer to the Bow of the ship than the Skipper one almost run us down from behind A quick Pan Pan Made him and any ship close by aware we were there with a very difficult decision to make as they are several times as wide as we are long.... With all the dangers storms winds waves and Ships I still reached my 50th Birthday   Sailing the cape very scary??? the weather does change very quickly both in wind speed and direction thought I'd take a few Photos of sea states throuhout the day in winds of around 40 Knots around the cape the Morning our trip over the Continental shelf starts smooth  only a Jet stream dashing our hopes of a fine passage tearing away the edges of a cloud moving in the opposite direction..... By evening a slight wind Change and a slight sea change but a lovely sunset  as the sun dissapears with a more noticable swell from the North east ? should we turn back to open sea or risk the huge waves? still being around 20 hours from the shelter of Port elizabeth 12 hours from east london weather really looks threatening...  The answer is an obvious one really south westerlies are the scary winds by morning a very lumpy sea  But not 20 metres more like 3 metres dissapearing as quick as it arrived for a settled port entry all that Anxiety wasted on sea conditions that can be replicated anywhere obviously this is a dangrous coastline the quick changing weather makes it so.... a conversaition with local sailor gave an indication to the reason such scare stories start mentioning a boat being rolled a few miles from port Elizabeth the Sea rescue saved all the crew and took the boat in Tow but was refused entry to a port wich was easier to reach WHY?  If the sea is that rough they cannot be refused entry unless it is dangorous to do so what size boat was rolled I asked the reply was a Ski Boat..... Oh!! rough enough to roll a Ski Boat that's bad If the owner of a Ski boat is silly enough to go out in rough weather he may be capable of rolling it in a slight sea with enough power....Is this one of the boats mentioned in the Guide book I read which put me off the area so much... Where am I now  |
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Post by simpleered on Dec 31, 2012 11:23:26 GMT
Belated Birthday Greetings Brian. I hope you and Sue really do have a great 2013. Your stories are so interesting, even to fishing members like myself.I trust you were able to sort out your electrics to make the rest of your journey less stressfull. Good luck to you both and a Happy New Year with pleasant sailing ahead. Brian King.
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Post by allan on Jan 9, 2013 11:20:09 GMT
Sue and Brian, I've just heard that Mojomo should be arriving at St Martins tonight. That will complete his circumnavigation.
Allan
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Post by duncanhall on Jan 9, 2013 12:44:50 GMT
Did you send any Cheese Jokes Allan?
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2013 20:45:57 GMT
for Brian blue bear waiting to hear where you are
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 14, 2013 3:23:37 GMT
Well Hard Bit is done Passed the cape of good hope.....moored in a lovely little area HOUTBAAI (Heart bay) another Yacht club and again very Friendly locals were now on the west coast of Africa..great to have the fear of gales and heavy seas behind us for a while.. from here a few thousand miles of trade winds a few hundred miles of Calm then hopefully Europe.... will post some Photos since internet here seems good
Thanks to Roger (ODALISQUE) for the Info on Houtbaai a good call the Sealife here great Place there seems to be so many Cruisers who arrive here and don't leave
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 14, 2013 5:25:44 GMT
Sue and Brian, I've just heard that Mojomo should be arriving at St Martins tonight. That will complete his circumnavigation. Allan Find his blog quite amusing great Guy |
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Post by sheila on Jan 14, 2013 8:17:38 GMT
Just had to go and look at the atlas. This is so exciting, in the whole scheme of things you are so nearly home!
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Post by simpleered on Jan 14, 2013 9:05:11 GMT
Brian and Sue, glad to hear you have safely rounded the Cape. We all look forward to your photos and log details.Good sailing for the rest of your journey. Brian King
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 15, 2013 7:21:07 GMT
As soon as It was clear no Possibility of a Repair to my Autohelm and a Quote for a new course Computer and Display Head costing a whopping 39000 Rand around 3000 Pounds We left PE Saying our Goodbyes to the local yachtsmen It was a sadder time than most departures a good Clubhouse Barman (Franz) Brie (BBQ) facilities cheap meats and Wine, Roger, George, Tim and Franz had become good Friends all puzzled at our reluctance for them to let our ropes go.... previous departures usually take place before anyone wakes so no sad faces to see....... Africa a place to visit a tour of the Addo wildlife reserve amazing seeing the wildlife in Its own Habitat but a big downside the Animals hide themselves well but Elephants had no thoughts of hiding busy at a water hole  The Trip From Port Elizabeth to Hout baai (heart Bay) was not a Comfortable one without a autohelm we wanted to experience again our ability to navigate taking alternative watches on the helm in variable conditions should take around 4 days but the wind direction was such we took a large tack seaward Intendind for a second tack almost directly to Hout Baai but offshore a ridiculous amount of shipping made the course too Dangerous....  AND in a heavy sea we don't really stand out on their Radar Indeed the tankers are hidden from view on occasions.. this one only a few hundred metres away  and again another less than one hundred metres away...... back inshore Short Tacks were very slow going and no Depth sounder to Comfort me so start the Motor and Motor a direct Course soon be there around one and a half days at a fair cruising speed having passed Mossel baai hours ago... six hours later we made a little over Twelve miles and winds increasing Barometer dropping we decided to head back to Mossel Baai...Easy, a following sea and wind now in our favor sailing speeds of 7 Knots... mossel baai was close around 3 hours to round the point into the lee of the land.... wave heights and rolling waves were dramatically reduced around the point but the winds much stronger turning to the harbour full revs on the motor gave us less than two Knots to windward.. too slow to take my sail down cause more sail damage (really wearing thin now) and the harbour were reluctant to allow me to enter but Permission was Granted, but the Harbour master pointed out there are no spaces and I would find it Difficult to Tie anywhere, this taken into account I anchored in sand as close to the windward Shore as Possible a Danforth is at it's best in Sand I've grown to trust it without Question after Portugal and Grenada's gales... Two days repairing sail and resting waiting for the wind to blow easterly... The poor weather Preventing shore time... the tender would be too small for the winds and choppy water in the bay then a change came not good winds light SSW but we had good direction speeds a little slow for another day until Dead Calm so motoring again all the way to Houtbaii our Destination.. A Disappointing trip having used more Fuel than we used from Reunion to PE.... Entrance to Houtbaai  Houtbaai AMAZING!!! laid back but Thriving Fishing Port good Yacht club a few British Sailors abundant Sealife around ten miles from Cape town a good English Breakfast aboard Charlie's (Liverpool) boat SCWALBE  Then off for a little Exploring   Llandudno near here!!!  Because of the Joining of the Agulhas and Bengeula currents Sea life is amongst the best in the world Surfing waves as high as 14 metres attract the worlds surfers The area Is a Tourist Hotspot with regular Whale spotting even off the beach Seals Sealions Diving wrecks and Great Whites all Protected by the Nature reserves Inland Even More Nature reserves a truly diverse area A seal ripping a fish apart between the boats     and I'm Here AMAZING!!!!!! |
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Post by sheila on Jan 15, 2013 9:07:58 GMT
Wonderful photos and excellent account as always Brian. The elephants photo is fantastic. How are you ever going to settle back home again after this? Nice to see a little reminder of Wales in SA, does Llandudno SAhave a pier?
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 19, 2013 16:22:26 GMT
Preparing to move on? Main waterpump has a little too much play to chance the next part of our Journey so one ordered from ASAP uk DHL the carrier so a good test of the delivery system (apparently 3 days) for which we have had mixed Messages on delivery times from UK hence the reluctance to purchase the Autohelm from overseas...... The next part of the trip against the trade wind routes so long delays possible BUT If we Follow the crowd where's the skill everyone does the trade wind Circuits easy Predictable we will try to sail up the west coast of Africa as close as the Counter current will allow to give us a better angle to make Cape Verde or at worst Azores (or at the very very worst Caribbean) a big task which seems Impossible but a few have done it even in this Club so well See  Here while we're waiting for Parcels a trip to Royal Cape Yacht club gave me a little shock what a poorly located Place stuck at the end of the docks a very long walk through dubious areas well away from the town or waterfront areas shame soo much spent on the waterfront and everywhere else ignored really will try to avoid Cape town unless we hire a car the RCYC insist we will have to stay there to book out at a Minimum cost of 1000 rand Extortion!!!! and of course Car hire or taxi's Only Panama ranks more poorly so we will try to book out from here..... The Yacht Club Building Very nice VERY Expensive  The Marina Pretty Typical  not Many live aboards I could see The walk from the Yacht club to Cape town A nervous trip with some typical sites    the Shortest way from the Club most walked over on a very long bridge into the Railway station area with a few street dwellers and a few Lean to shacks made from Pallets and rubbish didn't dare Photograph here What a Contrast Hout bay catching Sardines off the Beach outside the harbour wall  ![]() and further around love watching Seals surf the waves  A helicopter sighted 54 Whales between here and Valse Baai so pretty certain to spot a whale and Valse baai has the Main concentration of great whites in the world DIVING WITHOUT A CAGE Encouraged? ? mad or what |
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 19, 2013 17:16:28 GMT
PS Sheila LLandudno no pier but very Pituresque will post asap a photo STUNNING coastline...
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 19, 2013 17:42:09 GMT
Hout bay looking towards the Marina |
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Post by duncanhall on Jan 20, 2013 4:42:02 GMT
Brian Have you considered the following option from Mojomo's blog for transportation of the autohelm blog.mailasail.com/mojomo/581Note the link does not seem to work well hust copy blog.mailasail.com/mojomo/581 Into the the browser It was posted ion 24 October 2012 |
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 20, 2013 8:16:46 GMT
Brian Have you considered the following option from Mojomo's blog for transportation of the autohelm blog.mailasail.com/mojomo/581Note the link does not seem to work well hust copy blog.mailasail.com/mojomo/581 Into the the browser It was posted ion 24 October 2012 Yes an agent can be useful but generally they are better employed in the receiving country especially if the native language is not English they will visit the authorities on your behalf etc but Recomendation is a must We are tracking our Parcel which has left heathrow will arrive Cape Town Today THEN? Customs...... up to 3 months I am told Indeed a parcel marked Yacht In Transit and then Boats name was held up because the authorities called the boat In transit so when given the boats real name had no Idea where it was..... Down to Luck |
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 22, 2013 7:20:48 GMT
Parts held up in Clearance formalities 2 days already Counting and not holding my breath as I do so seems the stories are true That will mean no Autohelm but we'll see
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 22, 2013 15:35:20 GMT
UPDATE Part held in Customs DHL informs me It has to Go to a South African Citizen and Dues be Paid via a South African Bank Account incuding import Duty..... Yacht in transit has no Meaning here it seems,,,,,,and DHL willnot accept Payment by uk bank card (security reasons) after Much complaining Security through the window Pay in Cash at any bank no Questions asked....... the real problem is I cannot now Import Essensial Auto helm Parts without risking servere Expensive Problems SHAME ON AFRICAN Authorities.....
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 24, 2013 5:54:31 GMT
Reading some other yacht related Websites I feel I have given some Fellow sailors the Impression that weather and Sailing out of season is not a Big Deal with my none conforming sailing schedules But I am really Cautious and research weather History For the areas I sail as well as the Current weather.....If you are caught out, there is no help I am pleased that friends of ours (Who are very Experinced Long range Cruisers) have arrived Capetown To give an Idea of what Bad weather at sea can be I've included thier Email To Me
Dear Sue and Brian,
here are the news from „AMY“: We arrived Cape Town at 16.01.2013 after 32 days sailing from Reunion and lie now at the Royal Yacht Club with view on the table mountain. We have to repair the boat (2 Mainsails, 2 genuas, the boombrake etc. had to be fixed..) and in between we enjoy the city. I think we will stay here 3 weeks and hope to see you.
We had during the trip bad weather, but every day two times a weather forecast via sat-eMail from the sons of Hans, so we decided in the storm to refuge direction east. It needs a week to go back to our regular course. And crossing the Cape of Good Hope in the night, it was although very stormy and with heavy waves. But now we are relaxed. Yesterday it was windy with 28 Bft. here in the marina, the wind comes down from the table mountain. We enjoyed to be fixed on the berth with 6 lines and many fenders.
When do you come to Cape Town? What´s your plans? Let us know, so we can cool enough beer (we have southafrican red vine too).
With best wishes
Conny & Hans
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If the sea is that rough they cannot be refused entry unless it is dangorous to do so what size boat was rolled I asked the reply was a Ski Boat..... Oh!! rough enough to roll a Ski Boat that's bad If the owner of a Ski boat is silly enough to go out in rough weather he may be capable of rolling it in a slight sea with enough power....Is this one of the boats mentioned in the Guide book I read which put me off the area so much...
