Thursday, 20th January 2011 (Leah & Nanna's Birthday)
You know how it is sometimes, you meet people and its a few days later when you really remember the meeting or chat or whatever. Well, last night at dinner in the Oriental Restaurant, we were joined by Dave and Angie from their yacht called Hurrah. They are sailing around the worlds oceans, and at present are exploring the Atlantic Ocean, Sham & Emily met them on the wanderings around St.Helena, and arranged that we would all go for a meal some night. The reason for bringing this subject up is we think we are great sailing around the world, but get put into our little box when we meet people like Angie, who sailed a Hilliard yacht over and back across the Atlantic in her early 20's on her own. That's impressive, and she is such a nice interesting person to boot.
Back to the World ARC, there are still boats arriving today, as we are preparing to leave tonight, having spent the mandatory 72 hours stopover. we stocked up with fresh veg and other bits of food, we can hardly get into the deep freeze again with so much food in it right now.
The Harbour (as mentioned previously) is just a big open bay, with a promenade or Quay wall running all along the front of Jamestown, the capital. There is a permanent swell or surge here at all times, some days it is worse than others, and the only means of going ashore is on the local water taxi (there is no place to land a dingy, or tie alongside).
The landing platform at the northern end of the promenade is constructed in different levels with a big steel frame overhead which has a dozen 1" ropes with plenty of knots hanging down from it. The reason for all this is when the ferry/water taxi comes alongside the landing platform, it is swept backwards and forwards, plus up and down with the huge swells (at least a meter or two at all times).
The passengers have to wait until the boat is close enough and at the right level to be able to grab one of the ropes and jump ashore before the taxi disappears from under your feet... and the feet usually get wet. It was all great fun and one had to be quick, otherwise in a split second, you could be in the drink, ohhhhhhhhhhhh.
Later, Sham went ashore and cleared the boats papers in preparation for leaving while skipper changed the oil and filters in the generator plus replace some broken catches on the lockers. Later, Sham and Emily played Scrabble on board Hurrah and then there was the BBQ ashore at the Yacht Club at 6pm local time. We only spent a few minutes there saying goodbye, as the ferry stopped at 7pm and would not be running again until the BBQ was finished, and we were leaving in the meantime.
22.22hrs (Cape Town) We slipped our lines and set sail westwards towards Brazil, there was little or no wind. Wild Tigris also left, more or less at the same time.
We really enjoyed our brief stay at this little paradise in the South Atlantic.
That's it for today
Signed :- Stephen Hyde (Skipper)