Richards Bay to Cape Town
Eowyn
Fri 19 Nov 2010 09:46
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Éowyn is under way just West
of Port Elizabeth, South Africa in
position 34:03.241S 026:30.489E
Andrei has now left us as his
wife arrived in South Africa so they could have some holiday together.
We left Richards Bay on the
14th November after waiting for the essential weather window to negotiate the
Aghulas Current. In company with Tzigane, A Lady and Thor VI we had quite bouncy
conditions to Durban where we tied up in the Marina and enjoyed the facilities
of the yacht clubs. Again we had to wait for the necessary weather, repeatedly
visiting local guru, Tony Herrick to seek his advice. Finally a window appeared
which might take us all the way to Cape Town. The only downside that we might
have to endure NE gales for 12 hours.
Bad weather forecasts are
always correct so we had many hours of force 9 winds, but as they were in the
same direction as the current, sea conditions were tolerable. The 5 knot current
meant that progress was rapid for 24 hours, covering 220 miles in that
time!
Now, Friday, we have no wind
and are motoring towards Cape Town. We hope to arrive Monday
afternoon.
Rui on Thor VI was less lucky
than us as his genoa "exploded" in the gales. When he went to start the
engine, the impellor shredded. All is well now and at least South Africa is the
cheapest country in the World to buy quality
sails!
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