Vasco da Gama – Leg 1
By Daniel Skriker
“It’s the set of the sails and not the gales that determines the way you go”
As true as this may be, when there are no gales you cannot set your sails…
This voyage has been an interesting one to say the least. On Friday, we set out from Cape Town at 17:30, two and a half hours after our expected time of departure due to engine problems.
We were bound for Mossel Bay on a cruise that would eventually take us to East London and Durban before taking part in the Vasco da Gama Race, from Durban to PE.
At the start we had a crew of 8. Grant was our skipper and the crew consisted of two scouts being myself and James Rogers from 1st Bergvliet and 5 others (Daniel, Neil, Mark, Nadia and Meg).
Leaving Cape Town, there was no wind and it continued like this for the next day or so.
On motor, we plotted a course to Mossel Bay but before even reaching Cape Point we found ourselves on land again. Nadia, had fainted and had a sore ankle. Her signs and symptoms indicated a sprained or broken ankle so we put in at Hout Bay where she and Meg got off.
Turns out she had a broken ankle…
Approaching Hout Bay, we had a whale suddenly pop out of nowhere! We couldn’t see it in the dark but it sounded dangerously close.
With a crew of 6 we departed from Hout Bay at approximetly 00:00 after a scrumptious dinner of chicken wraps prepared by Daniel and James who earned himself the nickname “One Onion Rogers” after being very eager to start cooking immediately once we were underway but took a nap after peeling just one onion!
What followed after Hout Bay, was rather dismal sailing conditions. A heavy swell, no wind and a sea-sick crew. Despite the seasickness we all stood our night watches and sailed the boat.
My first night watch involved rounding Cape Point, which I hadn’t done before and proved to be good fun even in the dark. Shortly after rounding the point my watch ended and off to bed I went.
3 hours later the sun was up and as I peered through the companion way I saw we were about half way between Cape Point and Kaap Hangklip.
That morning Daniel and Grant, had been on the sunrise shift and to their horror when they trimmed the jib sheets found someone’s vomit all over it!
As the day went on we gave up on sailing without the motor and some of us started to find our sea legs. This was also One Onion Rogers, 17th Birthday! Unfortunately, he spent most of his day in his sleeping bag still suffering from sea sickness.
After rounding Kaap Hanglkip, Daniel squared where on watch and the fishing lines started making a noise. Daniel R sprung up and reeled in some type of Tuna, landing his first fish!
The crew enjoyed a delectable fish for dinner that night.
At about midnight on Sunday, we rounded Cape Agulhas, which was a great sight in terms of the lights of the town and then at about 05:00 Sunday morning, our so-called bullet proof tractor engine failed.
Fortunately, by this point we had a solid 15-20 knot southerly wind which built to a 25kts later that day allowing us to get some descent speed under sail which is far more fun than on motor in any case.
Our top speed for the day was 15.3 kts while surfing a wave with Daniel R, at the helm!
Approaching the Port of Mossel Bay, Neil, got in touch with the NSRI who agreed to tow us in.
We rounded Cape St. Baize at approximately 18:30 and rendezvoused with the NSRI about an hour later outside the harbor entrance.
By 20:00 we were alongside and it was time for a much desired warm shower and cooked meal!
Tomorrow (Friday), we depart for East London and then Durban.
Overall, leg 1 of this journey has been awesome and I can’t wait for the rest! Thanks to Grant and the entire crew for the great journey!