Year 3 -6 August 2026 -Cape Town-South Africa
It was another cool grey day when I woke but there was little wind this time. I had my usual breakfast and then put parts away and sorted out my cabin after the services of the engine and generator.
The hot water tank guy was coming back as he had to fit another bracket to stabilise the cradle for the tank and to test the engine and generator to ensure their hot water systems were working. What they do is pump hot coolant around the tank and this heats up the water.
I had time so after breakfast and tidying up I went to do a little shopping and to collect the laundry which I did and I was back by 11.00am.
I was meeting Howard and Christine and their children at the aquarium at about 12.55pm as they wanted to come and see the boat. The tank man arrived at about 12.15pm and it took him a little time to fit the bracket. I also asked him to look at the door lock on the double cabin as the door was not shutting. I had got out the spares I had for the doors.
I went to meet Howard and Christine and brought them to Stormbird. They had a good look around and the 3 kids climbed everywhere as kids do. We had started the engine so we could test the water heating part and the man said watch the coolant levels as it may take some coolant to go into the pipes so you may need to top it up. This seemed to work and I will check the generator later.
After we looked round the boat we went to the café in the Watershed where Alex and I had had breakfast and we had some lunch. After lunch Christine went shopping with a friend and Howard asked me to come with him to the aquarium where they have annual membership. It was another hour of looking round whilst trying to watch 3 young kids running around and preventing them getting lost!
I returned to Stormbird and then started the generator and brought it up to temperature. I then paid some bills and to do some admin. I have been contacted by David Smith, one of my pending crew who has arrived in Cape Town and he will come to say hello tomorrow.
I had time for a shower and went to meet Chris Bock and Warren Fraser for a meal and to have a chat. Warren said the goods had now been shipped from the UK by Selden and we should have them in the next few days. The hydraulics are all done and will be returned tomorrow and it may be that the spreader engineers may be quicker than they thought. This was encouraging and I think they are trying to help as much as possible. I have to leave them to get on with it and cannot pester them. We had a good dinner and chatted about boat stuff etc. Chris and Warren do some of the largest rigs in the world including the Clipper, World Arc, Oyster, Skip Novac’s boats (who they know well) and all Leopards Catamarans, Kinetics etc. I think I am in good hands and I hope we can reduce the potential delay.
I returned to Stormbird and feel each day we are making some headway and things are getting done. It always takes longer than you think.
The picture of the day was of me showing them round Stormbird at the navigation station as taken by Howard.
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