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| Anchorage at East London. Buffalo River Yacht Club and Moorings. |
Departed
Richards Bay Friday 5th April at 4.30 pm, bound as far as we could go
in the available weather. Slow start as we tried to work the legendary
current. Went 20 miles out to find it but during the night a squall and
wind change forced us inshore again. We found good current only about 8
to 10 miles off. As we approached East London on Sunday night the weather advice was that we should pull in and await a better forecast
which is what we did. No real mishaps except failing to remember the
topping lift as we dropped the sail. Fortunately the vang held it
together till we were able to salvage the situation. It was totally calm
and the entry is very well marked and easy even at night. However when
we arrived we had to anchor and the anchor windlass wasn't working so we
hauled out the chain and secured it manually to be attended to in the
morning. Perfect anchorage, not a single movement siring the night. The
winch had to be removed, cleaned and electrics sprayed, there was a lot
of crud dropped out of the motor and the main case which is powder-coated
was very corroded. Alarming, as the winch was new from Hutton in
Australia only 16 months earlier. It looks older than the one we changed
out which lived and functioned there for twenty five years. What is it
with new stuff?? It's expensive crap. Working again and back in we at
least have a windlass again for how long?
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| Simple and effective little Pizza Oven |
On Wednesday night they did a German pizza night, flam kookin was an approximation of the name we were given but it was the yummiest pizza. We stayed too late and partied too hard but really enjoyed the hospitality
Taxi number Eagles Taxi 083 980 4815, 079 913 2315
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| Can you smell something?? |
Thursday
11th we departed East London for as far as we can get again. Its 570
nm to Cape Town which is about 4 days sailing. First 12 hours we knocked
over 95 nm but then the wind dropped and we were reduced to less than
6. We passed Port Elizabeth mid morning on Friday heading west. Very little wind all day but there were Seals! I thought it was cold!
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| Anchored at Mossel Bay |
On the 13th we decided to call into Mossel Bay and await a predicted blow. We have no harbors or shelter between here and False Bay nearly 200nm so better to stop and wait than play games with the gales of Cape of No Hope.
We are currently tied to a large concrete wharf with huge tyres as fenders...uuugh!! and the Pacific Gulls are looking at us like dinner!. There is a substantial sardine fleet here and they await the arrival of the boats in hordes!. Smell....did i mention the SMELL!
We have a few jobs we can do here while we wait for a decent weather window to carry on. David is trying to get the gen-set running....me sewing! always repairs.
RichardsBayToCapeTown Photos
RichardsBayToCapeTown Photos
