Author: Ulrich Fingscheidt

Leaving South Africa in low winds. For me, it has been a wonderful time in this country of contrasts. Easy is fully provisioned, the batteries are full. I am already tired since I could not get to sleep before 03:30. Luckily, the sea is pretty flat, so no seasickness so far.

Day 1 of the repair. Easy is enjoying some dry time on land with a view of the famous Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa.

Lots of vessels and crayfish fishery far off the coast required some attention. I could not really sleep much this night, just some 20-min segments.

On my way to Cape Town I round the Cape with the sun setting.

On our trip from Richards Bay to Durban we met a pod of whales in the morning hours.

I am motoring towards the not so friendly cold front with lots of rain. Hopefully no thunderstorm, not too strong gusts, just some wind to get me to Richards Bay.

No wind, I’m motoring and making water. The expected max. wind in the front will be between 20 and 30 kn, just for a few hours. Not long enough to build up big waves.

Only after the last tree has been cut down / Only after the last river has been poisoned / Only after the last fish has been caught / Then will you find that money cannot be eaten. Alanis Obomsawin in “Who is the Chairman of This Meeting?“, 1972
My photo shows the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and South Africa, which is plastered with fishers.

My day has been as pleasant as this sunset. Enjoy the vibe.

What a crazy night! Low #2 passed me with winds up to 48 kn for some 20 min. This is equivalent to force 10 on the Beaufort scale, storm. The first front (max. 36 kn) I hove to, the second I ran downwind under bare poles with the windvane steering. I was lucky to be far enough off the southern tip of Madagascar with it’s chaotic waves.