North from South Africa

Pearl of Persia
Andrew Lock
Mon 13 Jan 2014 20:56
Time in South Africa and Cape Town is coming to an end. We've been away from
the ocean for a month and already a slight tension is in the air as we
prepare to set sail again. It's been a total break from the routine.
Christmas and New Year in the sunshine with all the children...and
grandchild... made it special, so instead of night watches, sail reefing and
navigating it was wine tasting, eating in lovely restaurants, Table
Mountain, shopping, and exploring the land. For us both South Africa and
particularly the Cape gets a huge 'thumbs up'. The scenery is spectacular,
food wonderful, and everything so much cheaper than Europe, Aussie or the
Caribbean. In fact it must be the cheapest place we have visited since
leaving the UK with the possible exception of Galicia. A perfect place for
winter sun. The only sad part was the passing of my dear mum. She made 90
and was happy until her last moments. No pain, no drugs, no sickness. Oh, if
it could be like that for us all. Went back to the UK for a few days for her
funeral and also to see Sussanne's mum who thankfully is on the mend after a
long and difficult operation.
The last 24 hours have been spent fussing around with little jobs around the
boat. Topping off our water tanks, getting everything ready for the long
haul ahead. It will be a massive passage. 10 days to St Helena with
hopefully a stop at anchor, if the weather is kind and then across the huge
span of the South Atlantic Ocean, to Brazil, maybe 16 or 18 more days. Today
the wind has been whistling through the rigging, giving that eerie high
pitched whine, the boat tugging and straining at the mooring lines. I tried
to imagine what it was like 'out there' and decided 'in here' was better so
departure delayed for 24 hours but tomorrow morning we will be off. The
photos show Oliver fishing and the result, a nice tuna, Oliver on the fore
deck on approach to Cape Town, and what we would have seen just a few hours
later, and the two of us setting the cruising chute.


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