Year 3 -5 July 2026 -Departing Durban for East London/Port Elizabeth-South Africa
I could hear people moving about and got up about 5.30am instead of 6.00am which was when I had set the alarm. Others gradually got up and by 6.00am everyone was up and the kettle was on.
We got in the electric cable first and then turned the lines into slips. I contacted Durban VTS to get permission to leave the port which was granted. It was still dark but the light was coming up and so we slipped the lines and eased out of the berth at around 06.40am. We had the navigation and steaming lights on.
We eased slowly out of the marina and headed out toward the yellow buoy and I was following the route on our way in. We suddenly came to a halt and must have hit a sandbank. There was nothing on the chart, nothing marked and we were essentially on the same course. I reversed off easily and headed closer to the yellow buoy and were soon out of the area. Keith had been pushed forward when we hit and he had a cut on his leg which needed a dressing and plaster.
The guy’s got the fenders up and coiled the lines and they were stowed in their usual places. We motored round to the harbour entrance and followed some small fishing boats out. On the South side of the harbour entrance there is a sandbank/reef and you could see the waves rolling over it. There were a number of small fishing boats fishing in the area.
The sun was now coming up and it was a beautiful morning. We kept well clear of the sandbank and skirted round it and headed Southeast to get toward the Agulhas Current which was some miles offshore. There was little wind initially and then the wind rose from the West. John said that there is often an offshore breeze which then fades away as the sun warms up. We therefore put the sail up and were soon doing 7.5 kts in the right direction. However, this did not last more than about an hour and then we were motor sailing again.
I had emailed Des to inform him we had left and he replied. Dear Nick & co
Thanks for latest 0500UTC 5\7 just left Durban 29 53S 31 05E. Wind shows offshore W<10 - swell S2.0m@11seconds - cloud -sat clear - no significant current yet. By 1000UTC wind shows NNE12 gusts 17 - swell SE2.2m@11seconds - cloud f\cast clear - current SW0.3kts. By sundown at +- 31 00S wind NE13gusts 21 - swell SE2.0m@10seconds - cloud f\cast clear - current SW2.3kts. Overnight tomorrow wind N10 gusts 12 -swell SE1.6m@9seconds - cloud f\cast <20% - no rain - current SW2.2kts. No major changes from f\cast. Have a safe day. Best Wishes.
We saw some whales from a distance which was nice and then I saw a shark swim by with its fin cutting through the water with half exposed. I do not know what type it was but it was about 3m long I think. We also saw some Albatrosses and Shearwaters who fly so gracefully. They also sat in groups on the water as if having a meeting.
We motored on out and by 12.30pm we began to experience the Agulhas current. It took us a while to get properly into it and when we were fully in it we were doing about 9.5kts so we had 3.5-4.00kts under us.
By about 2.30pm the wind increased so we put up the genoa only as the wind was from right behind. We were then making 7 kts and over the next hour this increased as did the wind so that we were doing over 8kts.
We need to get to East London by morning and then Port Elizabeth on Tuesday morning due to adverse winds increasing that morning. This meant we need to average over 8 kts to make it. There is little bit of leeway. The wind initially was ENE and therefore enabled to keep on our course at 155 degrees off the wind. The wind did increase and we were managing 8.5-9 + kts most of the afternoon. As the afternoon wore on the wind became more NE and then was beginning to head more North which pushed us off course more as time goes on. However, we were still in the current and we knew we would have to gybe.
We had a lovely sunset and then it became dark and it was dark as there was no moon. Terry had kindly given us some prepared meals and so Keith heated up a chicken curry she had made which we had with rice and broccoli. The curry was delicious.
John and I were on at 8.00pm and the wind was still holding up. However, we will gybe shortly and get on to the other tack so we can reduce our cross-track error. In addition as the wind comes more North it should enable us to be on a better course on the other tack.
We hope the wind will stay but it is forecast to die down from about 3.00am so we may have to motor again.
The picture of the day is of the lovely sunset.
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