Zebra sails in the East Cape easterlies
Fleck
Wed 5 Dec 2012 11:19
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Wednesday, Dec 5th, 2012, 12.30 Ships time, 10.30
GMT
Position 34:13S 25:30E Off Recife
Point.
Delighted to be back at sea at first light this
morning, with a reasonable forcast for the next day or two, and we will see how
far we can get. Getting out of Port Elizabeth involved a motor slog into the
wind, but now we have dodged the rather ominously named Thunderbolt reef, off
Recife Point, and we have squared off and are making good progress east. Sadly
there is no current to help us, but no counter current either, so we must not
complain. All sails set just now but it will be windy later, and we will douse
the mainsail. This will afford an uninterupted view of our new Zebra sails:a
permanent legacy of our visit to the filthiest Port in the World so far. We got
the Manganese dioxide off most of the boat, but the furled forsails just soaked
the stuff up, and where exposed, each sail 'wrap' is now black. All the halyards
and sheets were also black, but we have removed these and washed tham all: now
they are a uniform grey, but at least don't stain our hands. Yesterday I had the
sails down and tried to wash them too, on deck, but this stuff is better than
'Dylon!' Time is a great healer, and my rage has settled somewhat. A Finn, in
the boat opposite had new sails and new canvas work, and he has not been out of
the YC bar since finding what the stuff had done. A Kiwi boat also had new
sails, but black sailcloth. They were very smug until they lost the rugby
match!
Geoff and I have been promenading up and down the
Tourist beaches waiting for weather, and calming my mood. Geoff has his man bag,
and we are received with odd looks as we stop off for coffee and cakes at the
beachside cafes! This area of Town is clean, and not unpleasant, although the
coast itself is flat here and uninspiring. Again excellent supermarkets (a Spar,
of all brands, got up like Waitrose), and excellent food at the YC: last night
to celebrate our departure and my wedding anniversary(!), I had snails, a fish
combo (hake and calamari) and lemon cheescake. So I really deserve Mal de Mere
this morning, but touch wood we are both well, and looking forward to lunch
(cheese sandwiches, to lower the tone)
The YC is efficient too, last night with the
restaurant packed with office Christmas party folk, there was a power failure,
candles suddenly everywhere, and not a falter in the service. An odd boat,
decked out like a funfare, was just leaving the harbour and we had a fine view,
noting the name 'Calamity Jane' So we googled this name and got all the
info: a cable laying vessel, and live updates from the ship even gave us a
weather forecast. We oldies still find the internet amazing
Will update tomorrow, weather permitting, best
wishes to all
Richard and Geoff.
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