This coastline from Richards Bay round to Cape Town
has a very bad reputation for rapidly developing lows, strong currents (upto 4
to 6 kts), gales galore and steep seas (4metres quite normal) etc.. Anyway upto
now it is living up to its reputation! The 24 hour before arriving here
conditions were close to the worst we have had all year. At one point we
seemed to be cresting waves with the bow then descending nearly vertical into
the trough with the sea covering the deck and crashing into the
sprayhood. Also we were apprehendsive about our mast as a shroud had
snapped and wasn't as well supported as we would have liked. Luckily our
cockpit is enclosed and so long as the covering does not blow away we will
manage to keep reasonably dry. We didn't eat that evening.
We have been here 6 days now and plan on leaving
6am tomorrow and going down to Durban or maybe, weather permitting, pressing on
to East London or Port Elizabeth. We are moored in the Zululand Marina and the local
yacht club are our hosts. They could not have done more to make our stay
here outstandingly pleasant. They put on a BBQ on the first night and kept
us entertained and sustained until 4am as yachts continued to arrive - 3
guitarists and many slabs of free beer. The following day Peter (old
school friend who I haven't seen for the past 30 years) and Jean Turton came to
the yacht with a cold box of wine and beer and they also took me out for a late
lunch.
Following evening the YC arranged an official
welcoming party; the mayor presented prizes, sons and daughters
(topless) of past zulu warriors danced to the drums and a non-stop whisky
tasting (Talisker) event help the evening go with a bang. Next day we went on a
trip to a game reserve and saw many animals (everything except lions I suppose)
in their natural habitat. Possibly the highlight was seeing about 50
vultures circling or devouring a rhino carcass.
Been preparing the boat all morning (shroud has
been replaced) and we will be watching international rugby matchs this afternoon
prior to an early night - well that is the plan. Thinking of you
all. Love/chow. Keith (and Ann)