Year 3 -17 August 2026 -Cape Town-South Africa

It was a grey misty day when we woke and we woke early at about 7.00am. We had a cup of tea and then by 7.30am we prepared the lines to leave the pontoon. We had to take the electrics off and called the Bascule Bridge at about 7.35am in order to get them to lift the bridge by 7.45am so we could go to East Quay to get the mast fitted. The bridge said it would open and so by 7.40am we got off the pontoon and then waited for the bridge to open which it did. We eased through the bridge and motored round to East Quay (about 100 yards away).

Paul had walked round and was ready to take our lines for when we arrived. We eased round the pontoon and alongside and were soon moored along the pontoon and ready for the crane to arrive to lift the mast on.    

We waited for the crane and had some breakfast in the meantime. Chris and his team (the riggers) were there and getting things ready. We waited for the crane and apparently it went to the wrong place first.  It eventually arrived about 9.30am and it was driven by a lady who was very professional and operated the crane very well. We all got ready and they put a harness on the mast and the crane began to lift it up and several people had to hold various rods and bits as it lifted. They put the base on a wooden trolley so it took the weight as it was lifted.

The whole mast was lifted and it was soon vertical and then they had to move it over the wall and platform and then down to the deck of Stormbird. There were many bodies involved in all this process but over the next hour the mast was lowered carefully on to the deck footing and the rod rigging was then connected to the fittings on the deck.

We stood around and watched as the workers connected various parts of the rig. They then craned on the boom and then fitted the vang and backstay. This all took about an hour and a half and then we fitted the staysail and put it up. This was followed by the genoa.

However, the wind had got up a bit so we eased out of the mooring and then turned the boat around and brought it back to the same mooring so we were facing into the wind. We then eased up the main slowly putting in the battens and ensuring it went up smoothly. Once it was up like the other sails we then furled them away.

The hydraulic guys came and connected all the hydraulics. The electrician came and connected up all the electronic leads in the mast which provides navigation lights, anchor light, wind instruments, deck lights, VHF etc.

The riggers finished about 3.00pm and said they would be back in the morning and we would do a test sail tomorrow pm. The electrician finished about 3.30pm and so we called the lifting bridge about 3.35pm and asked to return to the marina about 3.45pm which we did. We returned to our berth and moored up and put on the electrics and chilled.

I sorted out departure documents and tidied up and put all sorts of things away that had been used in the mast exercise- for example sail bags, ties, rags, assorted ropes etc.

We were all tired and had had a long day. We showered and shaved and some went to do some work. We needed to try and leave on Wednesday if possible so we can get John’s staples out in time at St Helena.

When we were all ready we had a drink. Mark went for supper with his cousins and Julian had to work. The rest of us went for supper. There is a lot to sort out tomorrow.

The picture of the day is of the mast vertical before it is lifted down on to the deck.

 Need/Opportunity Year Three

I am now on the way to Durban and will then head for Cape Town and then on to St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com