Year 3 -3 July 2026 -Durban -South Africa

We woke about 7.00am and gradually got up. It was quite cool but as the sun came up the temperature rose. We had breakfast and we waited for the laundry man to arrive. Keith and Jenny got on with cleaning of the cockpit and sorting out the final provisions.

I had been looking at the weather and thought Sunday morning 5th July 2026 would be a good time to leave. I had been emailing Des about our plans accordingly.

Des responded -  

Dear Nick & co

You have 250nm to East London with SW3.5 - 4.5kts current guaranteed but any SW\S wind against that current becomes fatal. This is possibly the most lethal part of the trip so can't afford to take a chance. I am sure you will average 200nm + daily but it takes time to get out of Durban and into the current +-35nm down the coast at Scottburgh. The gribs show W25 along the coast today and gusting 35 offshore. The swell is f\cast to get to 6m+ and is a no-go zone until that settles. The f\cast shows swell down to SE2.3m on Sun 5\7The wind drops off on Sat night 4\7 and by Sun morning NE<10.By midday NE10+ gusts maybe 14. By Sun night NE19 gusts 24 - swell down to SE2.1m@ 9secondsMon morning N13 gusts 23 - swell SE2.m@9seconds.East London shows Tue morning offshore wind NW<10 gusts 13. This is the usual precursor to a radical switch to SW which comes through with SW15 gusts 25+. If you can get out of Durban sundown Sat you have a pretty good shot at it. Your deadline into East London is Tue midday - at worst 48hrs. Would look at it again tomorrow but would set the wheels rolling with checkout etc. You can always cancel if things change too radically. Please keep me posted and will update again tomorrow. Best wishes Des.

I responded and had a look at the situation and saw no reason to leave on the Saturday and saw Sunday morning as much more realistic and emailed him with my thoughts. Des responded- Dear Nick & co The latest gribs 0400UTC show wind offshore SW35 gusts 45+The local radio stations are warning the public about waves 5m + and all the surfers are celebrating - decent waves for a change! The gribs show swell drops to SSE2.6m tomorrow Sat4\7 sundown and Sun morning SE2.2m@ 10econds. The wind f\cast less clear - Sat sundown S<10\variable - Sun morning variable <10 with W slant -Sun midday shows NE<10 - sundown NNE17 - swell SE1.9m@9seconds. East London shows NE 10 on Mon sundown. Assuming you get out by Sun sundown latest you have 24hrs but in all probability an additional 12hrs max. Will update again and monitor.

I therefore thought that my plan to leave about 7.00am -first light on the Sunday 5th was a good one and we should be well into the port before the next weather system.  I therefore as suggested went to file online our passage plan to go to East London which is a legal requirement. This is sent to the port in Durban and East London and the relevant authorities as if you do not arrive in time then they may need to consider coming to find you. It is a pain in one way but very sensible. I needed to pay with the marina and they in turn sent the forms to the Port Authority who then give you permission to leave. This took most of the morning.  

I emailed Des with my plans. He responded   

Dear Nick. Thanks for latest. I am assuming you have read my cruising notes on Noonsite dealing with the run to Cape Town. I lost my copy when my laptop crashed in 2023 so can't send a copy. Many yachts on approach to East London extend the run with the extra 130nm to Port Elizabeth. I have a sneaky suspicion you will have the same opportunity. If not you have a long haul if you elect to bypass Mossel Bay BUT there are two "unknown" safe spots if you get caught - Witsand\Cape Infanta - 34 24S 20 52E and Stillbaai 34 22S 21 26E

These are both emergency hide aways if all else fails but safe and well protected in SWwind only. Once it starts shifting SSW\S the swell wraps around into the bay and then you are in deep trouble. Let’s hope you can make Port Elizabeth in the initial run. Best wishes

I had not realised this was an option to go on to Port Elizabeth which is 130nm South of East London. I looked at the weather again and as Des has suggested this may well be doable as the Agulhas current is so strong. This would mean we would get in on Tuesday morning -7th July. We need to be in somewhere as there is a buster coming up on the evening of the 7th /8th.

This all meant that I needed to think ahead. If we can get to Port Elizabeth in one go then this makes sense as we are then half the way to Cape Town. I know in an ideal situation we do not rush on the other hand this is one of the most dangerous coasts in the world and if you have the chance to move down it in safe conditions you should take it.

I looked at it and thought potentially it would be good to hop down in one go. This may mean that we will need to change our passage plan. We will just have to monitor the situation.

Having filed my initial passage plan I went to the marina office and filed the documentation which they required. I paid the marina bill and they said they would send me the port authority clearance which came a few hours later.

I was waiting for Mark Spittle to arrive who said he should be here at 1.30pm. In fact he arrived at 12.30pm and Mendy from the office brought him to Stormbird. I welcomed him and introduced him to Keith and Jenny as Hisham was elsewhere.

 Jenny prepared some lunch which we had and chilled. Hisham had enquired about a tour of Durban so Hisham Keith and Jenny went off on the tour and I stayed behind.

Mark and I went through the boat from the front outside to the compete inside. I went through the general briefing procedures.

We then relaxed and I got on to with contacting the marinas and representatives in East London and Port Elizabeth to check whether they had a mooring space for us whichever we decide. This took some time and email seemed to be asked less quickly than WhatsApp. In short both should accommodate us depending on what we decide.  

If we can get to Port Elizabeth then we are halfway to Cape Town from where we are. I think we should see whether there is any change in the morning.

Hisham, Jenny and Keith returned from their tour and w we chatted and waited and then they went off to the Royal Natal club. Thor the fan guy came back at about 5.20pm and said he would fit the new fan and suggested I go with the others to the bar and he will bring the key.

I therefore went off to the Royal Natal Yacht Club with the others. We had a drink and a nice meal and eventually Thor came to give me the key. He had finished and the fan was in position and working.

After the club we returned to Stormbird and to finalise the evening.

John has kindly invited us to his house for a barbecue.  This should be great before we move on.

The picture of the day is another picture of Durban harbour.

 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. 

I am now in need of 1 additional crew from Cape Town to the Azores. The new crew member would need to be onboard by 10 August and it is likely we would get to the Azores by late September or early October. If at all interested in joining me please contact me on my email below or WhatsApp +44 7931360372.

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