'Jutten'
W2N 'Where to Next?'
Rob 'Bee' Clark
Tue 19 May 2009 10:20
Just a quick note to tell you that I'm still in Saldanha but have very nearly finished all the work on 'Canasta' and will soon be moving on. Actually, I make that sound like I've been working hard when, in fact, that's not entirely so! Nevertheless, my engine should be back together by the end of the week, I've just fitted a new (second-hand) Navman GPS receiver that's talking to the electronic charts and I've replaced some running rigging. I've upgraded the battery bank with three new deep-cycle batteries and fitted Navtex as well. All good then.
Right, I'm going to go into a little more detail in a separate blog entry but I must tell you what happened on Sunday...
A storm passed through the western cape this weekend and left some huge seas. What luck then that I was invited to spend Sunday first on the Pilot boat and then, tranferring at sea, on one of the tugs. Needless to say, it was an unbelievable experience that I will remember for a lifetime. Saldanha Bay is South Africa's largest and deepest bulk carrier port and is the main terminal for ore, oil and containers. As such, although the two ships we were pushing around were small by comparison, they are no less intimidating viewed from the deck of the Pilot boat on 6m waves.
As I say, I'll write more about it as it was such an experience but for now, thanks to José, the Tug Master, to Ahmed, the Pilot and to Etienne for sorting it all out.
Bye for now,
Bee