Thursday December 12^th   2013,

 Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa,  33 54.5S 18 25.2E 

Today's Blog by David (Time zone UTC +2.0)

Late on Tuesday afternoon,  we rounded Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. This marked our leaving the Indian Ocean and arriving back into the South Atlantic.

We arrived in Cape Town early Wednesday having now logged 7,188 miles since leaving Cairns and 31,113  miles since we left the Hamble in July 2011. Just c 10,000 left!

Many yotties have had a pretty torrid time in various parts of the Indian Ocean, a big swell from the south west  often combines with strong winds from the SE making for a very uncomfortable ride.  At risk of tempting fate, the Indian Ocean was kind to us – whatever I might have written earlier -  we have had a pretty good weather and only been delayed in Durban a week while waiting for a window.

The sail from Durban broke many records. In addition to the “Most Miles in 24 Hours” I spoke of on Tuesday,  it was also the quickest long passage we have ever accomplished. We made good 811 miles in three days 19 hours. Interestingly, we only actually sailed 701 miles – 110 miles was provided by the current.  

So we are now in the V&A Marina; the sails have gone to be surveyed, there is a rigger inspecting the rigging and we are gradually packing the boat up for Christmas.  We fly home in a week’s time but hope to do some serious sight-seeing before we leave!