Galatea 2015 trip completed!

S/V Galatea update
Neil Scott
Thu 10 Dec 2015 20:28
Apologies to all for such a delayed update to the Galatea Blog. Things seemed really busy and technical problems with my SatPhone prevented emails out while underway.

We had a wonderful 4 weeks in the Richards Bay/Zululand area. We spent almost 2 weeks visiting the Bonamanzi, Hluhluwe, Umfolozi and Lake St Lucia game preserve areas. It is a very special part of the world. They are struggling with a terrible drought the highlight was our 4 day bush walk/camp in the outdoors with no fences etc expedition through the Umfolozi reserve. Very special experience, and we got to see all the big 5, barring the leopard.

We departed from Richards Bay at 9am on Saturday the 28th of November and arrived in Simons Town safely on Saturday, December 5th at 1.30 pm. All in all a great trip. Fast, with the help of the Agulhas current, and good weather. Averaged 9 knots and up to 200 miles a day for a long way.

Couple of mishaps along the way. On the second day out of Richards bay, somewhere between Durban and East London, scott and i were forward moving the whisker pole from port to starboard. The wind was gusting 35 knots from behind, the auto pilot tripped back to standby, the boat crash gybed, the preventer block strop bust. Checked things out and could only see damage where the flying block gouged the cabin roof gel coat. Went on our way, but now wary of the auto pilot.

30 hours later, pulled in the genoa, dropped the whisker, furled the main to begin motoring the last 20 minutes into PE. Crash, the boom dropped from the mast - bust gooseneck, obviously compromised in the gybe. Miraculously the deck was not touched, with the boom swinging from the topping lift and the mainsail outhaul line. We tied the boom down and motored in the dark to the marina. Got in there at about 9pm on Monday night.

The next day Brian, our buddy on Scraaatch produced a spare gooseneck. At the same time a mechanic guy arrived and said he would shim it to fit Galatea. Net, net, we had the replacement fitted and departed from PE by 7pm on Wednesday evening.

Had another good trip down to Cape Town, but at 2am on Saturday, scott and I went forward again to again move the whisker from port to starboard, scott on the forward end, me at the line controls. I raised the pole so we could move it behind the staysail. Aft end of the pole parted company from the pole gooseneck and came crashing down, only to hang up on one of the mast winches. I fiddled with the latch and put the two together again, tested by pulling outwards, all seemed ok. Raised the pole again. Pole parted company again and crashed down, this time onto my head. Stars, tweet tweets, etc and blood all over.

Tied the pole down, pulled out the medical kit and realized we had no idea as to what to do. Anyway, after some time, got the wound bandaged and got on our way again.

After getting into Simons Town at 1pm, went to a local clinic and had to get 6 head stitches and a tetanus injection.

We have had several wonderful days here. Simons town is beautiful and the weather stunning. On Monday scott and i picked up the rental car and then went to the fancy marina in Cape Town. We had lunch there - Tappas style, cheap, nice wine. Scott paid for my lunch for my birthday. Then we went to look at SA-made Leopard catamarans, specifically the 40 foot one, parked in the marina. I quite liked it, and quite reasonable in price.Then we had dinner back in simons town with brother Ian and his wife, julie.

On Tuesday ben, scott and I had a nice breakfast at a nice place near the marina. Great coffee and wonderful food. Then we went to the clinic to have my wound checked. All ok they say and stitches to come out next Monday. Then we went to a couple of beautiful wineries in the Constantia area for wine tasting and then to a lovely old hotel for dinner.

On Wednesday we drove 80 miles or so up the west coast to Saldahna bay to check out a boat storage place. Interesting trip and had a nice lunch at a restaurant on the beach at a small town, Pater Noster, just north of Saldahna. Then had a nice dinner at Ian's place.

Today Scott and I visited the Robertson and Cain factory to see how they build the cats. Pretty impressive. 4 huge places each turning out a boat every 4 days. Then we went across to the Royal Cape Yacht club to meet up with Brian, the guy who lent us the gooseneck, and had lunch there. Returned to Simons Town late afternoon and took a nap.

Food and wine is dirt cheap here. We have been eating and drinking non stop. All quite tasty, but not good for the weight.

Scott parts company on Sunday afternoon after his wife, Lynn's arrival into Cape Town. Ben and Wally leave on the 17th. Bailey and I will return to Durban on the 20th for Xmas etc.

That is it for now. Another update in a week

Neil


- S/V Galatea
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