Year 3 -8 August 2026 -Cape Town-South Africa

It was a rather grey damp morning when I woke and I had papaya, granola and yoghurt for breakfast. After I had done the blog I went to get a few things from the shops like beer – as you cannot have 6 guys on board in a harbour with no beer! In addition some air freshener for the clean heads and all that sort of stuff. Paul Jackson (who had previously been on board from Thailand to India earlier in the year) and his wife Judith (who came to join our tour of Sri Lanka in January/February) were driving to Cape Town and I was to meet them by the marina. They had taken a small apartment nearby for a few days and Judith will fly back to the UK on Monday evening.

The shops were not that busy and I wheeled a trolley all the way to the marina gate and got things on board. I tidied up a bit and then decided to go and visit the market which is open on a Saturday and Sunday and which is on the edge of the V&A. It is called the Oranjezicht City Market.

Established by Oranjezicht City Farm in 2013 and relocated to Granger Bay within the V&A Waterfront precinct in 2015, this farmers market has become the largest of its kind in Cape Town. Supporting over 40 local farmers and 80 artisanal food traders, it attracts 8,000 to 12,000 visitors each weekend. The market is a hub for promoting local food systems and innovative retail practices, including efforts to reduce food waste and plastic use. 

It provides critical infrastructure and business support, helping vendors reach restaurant and retail customers while fostering entrepreneurial growth. Recognized globally, including being named one of the top 20 farmers’ markets worldwide by The Independent (UK), since 2017 the market has operated independently using the OZCF brand under licence, and continuing its strong ties with our farm.

I was not sure what to expect. I had walked past it before when it was closed as it is only open 8.30am -2.30pm Saturday and Sunday and 4.00-9.00pm on Wednesday. The first section of the market is trade stalls selling clothes, South African Artifacts, perfumes, etc etc. and then you go past that and you are then into the food area. This was most impressive and the best food market I think I have been to. There was an area for buying fruit and vegetables which looked fantastic and all were very fresh and obviously what was in season. I bought some pineapples and strawberries.

There was then a sweet section with cakes, brownies, flapjacks, cheesecakes and a fantastic choice of almost any cake/ desert you can think of -crepes being made for example, ice cream, strawberries with chocolate on top. You get the picture- you would not go here if you were on a diet as it was all so tempting.  

There was a drinks area where you could have coffee, tea, smoothies (of all types) and then an alcohol area/bar -where you could taste wines etc.

There was then a savoury food area with masses of stalls selling different types of food around the world – all looking very tempting and you can just buy and sit at the large area of tables and enjoy. It was very full and many South Africans were wearing their Springboks shirts and hats as there were playing Argentina this evening.

I wondered round with my chin on the floor and my mouth drooling. I was going to have lunch on the boat but decided this was all so easy and tempting. I therefore had a Harvey Specter – which was bacon, brie, rocket, tomato and pesto on ciabatta from the Bacon and Brie stall washed down with a cool beer. Sounds delicious and it was. I thought it would be good to bring the crew here as the choice was spectacular.

Once I had had enough and resisted other delights I returned to Stormbird and looked at my notes for the forthcoming passages and consulted Noonsite (set up by Jimmy Cornell) which gives you useful information about different countries and Islands. One of their recent articles was about AEW- African Easterly Waves which I have talked about before and they were saying activity is predicted to be low toward the end of the year which is helpful. I did notice a change that when we get to the Azores in accordance with the new EU rules we will have to get our picture taken and fingerprints etc done.

Paul rang me about 2.30pm and said they were at their apartment in Cape Town and would wonder down in about an hour. They rang again at 3.30pm and I went to meet them and brought them to Stormbird. Judith had not seen her before. It was good to see them and to hear about their great holiday they had had over the last two weeks in South Africa. They planned to go to Robben Island the next day and whilst we were having tea Judith received a phone call from the organisers saying the tours were cancelled for tomorrow due to bad weather. I know a bit of a front was coming through but I did not think they would cancel. It was rearranged for Monday am but I did not think the weather will have improved by then but they can see and hope they can go.

Once we finished tea and our chatting we went out and I showed them a bit around the V&A, where Stormbird’s mast was and where they would need to catch the boat from for Robben Island. I suggested instead that they take the hop on hop off bus tour tomorrow and perhaps do the option to go to Gran Constantia to do some wine tasting.

We then went for supper at Den Anker again and had some superb tuna which we all enjoyed. We had a good old chat and a laugh and then they caught a taxi back to their apartment in the rain. It had been raining all afternoon. That wet sort of drizzle that makes everything so wet.

As I got back to Stormbird relatively early – I watched the film Love Actually which is a lovely film and it made me think of all my loved ones at home and how much I miss them. I will be back reasonably soon.     

 I meant to take a picture of the three of us at dinner but I forgot so the picture of the day is of a scene inside the market.

 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