Here are some of my favorite pictures...
This is a shot off the stern of the boat at night. As the boat cuts through the water it disturbs microscopic organisms called phosphorescence which light up and produce what looks like a flaming blue-ish green tail off the back of the boat.
There's a saying in South Africa, "This is Africa" or simply "T.I.A." It's an ironic observation usually made when something is funny, out of place, or just doesn't go your way. Gun drop off at a casino in Port Elizabeth...TIA!
A bomb bag in a shopping mall complete with examples of Soviet bombs that could be left in the open; simply place bag over bomb to prevent injury. TIA!
A photo of a township near Port Elizabeth. Townships are shanty filled neighborhoods where the vast majority of South Africa's population resides.
Serenity in the sunrise in Mossel Bay, South Africa.
In 1488 Bartholomew Dias was the first European explorer to make landfall in South Africa. This tree stands near the springs where early sailors collected fresh water. The sailors used the tree as a "post office" by leaving their letters in an old shoe tied to the tree.
As we rounded the infamous Cape of Good Hope we finished crossing the Indian Ocean and were rewarded with this amazing sunset.
We hauled out the boat at the end of December to have her inspected for any weak spots or damages. We also had her bottom power washed and we painted the it with two fresh coats of special paint that sloughs off to help prevent marine plant and animal life from accumulating.
The mast was professionally removed so we could have all the standing rigging replaced. Standing rigging are the strong steel cables that support the mast to keep it upright.
Apart from those two large projects above we also installed a new water heater, had new galley cabinets fitted and installed, installed a new galley countertop and sink, replaced all running rigging (the lines and ropes that work the sails), buffed and polished the entire boat including all stainless steel and teak, repaired all sails and canvas, fitted new rugs for the salon, installed new chart plotter and GPS antenna, re-designed de-salinity system to more efficient layout, repaired both heads, and dozens of smaller projects thrown in for good measure.
Yeah. I sailed around that.
Penguins! You can sit right next to their smelly asses.
Hugh and I at the V&A waterfront in Cape Town with statuesque Table Mountain in the background.
Braai our friend Helene gave us yachties. We met her at a bar in Mossel Bay while she was there on vacation and she treated us like life-long friends while we were in Cape Town. Pictured from left to right myself, Helene, John, Patricia, Bastian (a yachty friend from Denmark), and Hugh.
While at Vortex, a crazy three-day music festival over New Years' we met Brother Gad, a bush doctor, family man, and generally good guy who volunteers with under advantaged children in the townships outlying Cape Town. He invited us to spend a day with them in Mitchell's Plain and while there we learned about local herbs, plants, and roots, one of the kids taught us how to break dance, we played ball games outside, and then had many of the kids clamber and climb all over us until we were worn out. Pictured from left to right are Hugh, myself, Brother Gad, Elizabeth (a yachty friend from France), and Bastian.
From the moment we saw Table Mountain Hugh and I decided we would hike up it and spend the night on the top. It was a blisteringly hot day and my massive backpack was full with only one thing, our three-person tent.
Once at the top it's really not as flat as it looks from the bottom. We found the best spot we could and sat around eating snacks, drinking wine, and watching the sunset. Pictured here is Bastian, myself, Helene, Elizabeth, and Hugh.
One of the views from the top of the mountain. Most days the mountain is blanketed in a cloud called the Table Cloth. We were lucky to be above the clouds.
We woke the next morning to pounding rain, furious wind, and a thick layer of fog all around...we were in the middle of the Table Cloth. Pictured here are Elizabeth, Helene, and Joe. Yes, we had six people plus gear in a three-person tent.
The city bowl of Cape Town as viewed from Signal Hill. Notice the Southern Cross pictured in the top right. The mountain in the middle of the picture is Devil's Peak, to the right of it, Table Mountain.
Our friend Eddy came to visit us for three weeks. Pictured here from left to right is Bastian, myself, Eddy, Hugh, Niamh (a yachty friend from Ireland), Helene, and Elizabeth.
Facing east on top of Devil's Peak, that's the Indian Ocean and yes, I sailed it all the way from Australia.
The west is behind me in this picture and also the Atlantic Ocean. Crossing this ocean is next on my to do list.
Cheers to you South Africa. You rock.
A little retro-active itinerary so you can see where we've been and I've also outlined where we'll be going next in 2008 and 2009. Keep in mind all dates and locations after Brazil are highly speculative.
2007/2008
o October 29th - November 20th
Port: Richards Bay, South Africa
o November 21st - November 29th
Port: Durban, South Africa
o November 30th - December 5th
Port: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
o December 6th - December 14th
Port: Mossel Bay, South Africa
o December 17th - March 8th, 2008
Port: Cape Town, South Africa
2008
o March 8th – March 14th
Passage: to Luderitz, Namibia
o March 14th – March 21st
Port: Luderitz, Namibia
o March 22nd – March 25th
Passage: to Walvis Bay, Namibia
o March 26th – April 1st
Port: Walvis Bay, Namibia
o April 2nd - Aptil 14th
Passage: to St. Helena Island
o April 14th – April 21st
Port: St. Helena Island
o April 22nd – May 15th
Passage: to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
o May 15th – November 1st
Port: Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
2008/2009
o November 1st, 2007 – March 2009
Passage: to Caribbean Islands (Island hopping! Specific islands are not yet known, however we've discussed visiting British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Martinique, St. Bart’s, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Kitts, and maybe even that one place that's off limits to Americans...)
o March – April 2009
Passage: through Panama Canal
o April – May 2009
Passage: to Galapagos Island
o May 2009
Port: Galapagos Island
o May – June 2009
Passage: to Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
o June 2009
Port: Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
o June 2009
Passage: to Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia
o July 2009
Port: Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia
o July 2009
Passage: to Hawaii, USA
o August 2009
Port: Hawaii, USA
o August 2009
Passage: to Seattle, Washington, USA
o September 2009
Passage: to Portland, Oregon, USA
