Rounding Cape #1 - Agulhas
Latest Position: 01/23/09 0450Z 35 06.489s 21 13.175E - Rounding Cape Agulhas
Hello from Cape Agulhas!
I took some time between ship watching to type up a bit about my trip so far from Moessel Bay.
After I pulled in to the Mossel Bay anchorage I spent the night rolling around on anchor. At one stage I had 40 knots blowing through the bay. It died down the next morning and I up anchored and went into the harbor to fuel up before heading out. I had called port control before entering the harbor as is the custom here and they told me to come into the harbor, that I would see a fishing boat and that the fuel dock was right in front of it. I pulled in to the harbor and there were nearly 100 fishing boats tied up all over - double and triple tied all over the place!
I motored all around the bay looking for what could be a fuel dock. I pulled up next to Kahlua, a boat that had left Mossel Bay at the same time as me and asked where the fuel dock was. It turned out that there was no fuel dock but that you ordered fuel and they brought it down to your boat. After I got that all worked out I fueled up and headed out.
I pulled out to 25 knots on the nose! I tacked out heading back towards PE to make my way offshore. I have been out for a little over 36 hours now and its a battle between shifting winds and lots of ships. Apparently this is very good weather for this part of the coast so I won't complain. I've got 3 ships on the 6 mile radar screen so I've got to go do that navigating thing. Still hoping to be in Cape Town at the V & A Waterfront Marina by Sunday evening.
Cheers,
Zac
Hello from Cape Agulhas!
I took some time between ship watching to type up a bit about my trip so far from Moessel Bay.
After I pulled in to the Mossel Bay anchorage I spent the night rolling around on anchor. At one stage I had 40 knots blowing through the bay. It died down the next morning and I up anchored and went into the harbor to fuel up before heading out. I had called port control before entering the harbor as is the custom here and they told me to come into the harbor, that I would see a fishing boat and that the fuel dock was right in front of it. I pulled in to the harbor and there were nearly 100 fishing boats tied up all over - double and triple tied all over the place!
I motored all around the bay looking for what could be a fuel dock. I pulled up next to Kahlua, a boat that had left Mossel Bay at the same time as me and asked where the fuel dock was. It turned out that there was no fuel dock but that you ordered fuel and they brought it down to your boat. After I got that all worked out I fueled up and headed out.
I pulled out to 25 knots on the nose! I tacked out heading back towards PE to make my way offshore. I have been out for a little over 36 hours now and its a battle between shifting winds and lots of ships. Apparently this is very good weather for this part of the coast so I won't complain. I've got 3 ships on the 6 mile radar screen so I've got to go do that navigating thing. Still hoping to be in Cape Town at the V & A Waterfront Marina by Sunday evening.
Cheers,
Zac
posted by Zac at
9:32 PM
21 Comments:
Great job Zac! Thanks for the info!
Right on Zac, keep reeling it in!
Ray & Deanna
Clovis CA
Awesome! Looks like you might just outpace the weather all the way through.
You'll be going past the famous Gansbaai shortly, which contains the densest population of great white sharks, famous for cage diving, so don't be dangling your toes or fingers in the water for the next while :-) also its a whale route from June through December, so keep an eye out for them as well even though we well into January.
Almost there, but stay vigalent till you rope up in Granger Bay.
Wow Zac.....so good to hear from you...for some reason didn't expect to just now. Thanks for taking the time to keep us up to date.Life sounds mega hectic out there but to think that the 'weather is very good for this part of the coast' for you, is just the best thing to hear.
So proud of you Zac... and to think your dad is just round the corner! Awesome.
Keep safe and keep vigilant.
UK friend
Getting there.... Sunday is less then 12 hours away! U will be sinking your teeth into a Cape Town cheeseburger soon! It's all north from here!
Ahh, the adventure continues! Sounds like you've got a handle on things, as always!
Be safe, keep your eye on the prize. Will continue to send prayers and well wishes your way.
Hugs,
Anita
Waterloo, NY
Captain SV "Wombat"
Hello Zac,
It sounds like you're doing a great job like always, what's new. Hopefully you didn't get very frustrated looking for that fuel dock that never was.
Have a lot of patience, you're in one of the worlds toughest sailing areas right now. Don't take things for granted, stay alert, and please take good care of yourself and Intrepid. Dad's isn't too far away by now.
Enjoy your time with Dad.
Sail On Zac,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Hi Zac!
Keepon doing ur thing!
Just wanted to share the information that you are on your way becoming popular in Germany aswell.
In a magazine there was a report round about 3 pages.
On the sailing and yachting event "boot" in Dusseldorf they also had a lot of information on yachting around the world and just showed ppl you as an example.
Do u wanna get a copy/scan of the magazine? [By the way: The magazine article is written in English because it is for young Germans to motivate them leraning English]
Greetings from Germany
Stella
@ Stella.
Like to read that article. Can you e-mail that to me?? Thanks
Axel
heye@madisoncounty.net
Weather looks outstanding for the next 72 hours, under 10 ft & mph , seas and wind. What timing, as a mega monster 40 footers coming in middle next week.
For the other guy, looks like he's still 1500 miles away from Cape Town according to the last coordinates on his site. Don't think he will be getting there any time soon.
Zac, you are really a great person: you are always so optimistic and you never complain, even in tough situations! And thank you so much for your blog, awesome job!
Marianna
GO, ZAC, GO!
Google earth gives us an amazing view of the V&A Waterfront....I can almost see Laurence standing there waiting to wave Zac in!
UK friend
Awesome Zack!!!!!
Thanks for the update!!
Morgan
Montana
I've been following your blog for quite a while now - shortly after you left CA. I've been thinking about you quite a bit lately, rounding the Cape and wanted to know my thoughts are with you and your craft. Saludos from Mexico!
yowzers! Keep going Zac, you'll make it eventually!
-Halle S. in Oregon
skipper of the Dread Pirate Roberts
Sounds fun, Zac! ;-)
Steady as she goes to Cape Town.
Scott
:)
Mike Perham posted on his site today that he is indeed planning to stop in Cape Town for repairs on his rudder. Maybe you two can rendezvous after all! Not sure how long you are planning to stay in Cape Town but I think Mike could be a week away still.
Congrats on your progress... cheering for you here in Virginia! Be sure to stock up on biltong before you leave... last chance.
The whole thing is absolutely amazing :-)
First off who's Sunday time's are we referring to?
Right now at time of posting it's 2:30 am SA time. Which means Zac can be there in 5 hours time. However I suspect the times are Pacific time, which would be another 10 hours or so.
But what is incredible is Zac and this Mike and having just today read about a 15 year old Australain girl now also about to attempt this,
http://www.youngestround.com/
What's incredible is just attempting this, as in this youngster from Australia, but more so Zac, who's been at it now for coming very close to a year.
16 years old, 17 years old. Today anywhere in the world these are irresponsible, cannot even string two sentences together, drive, clean dishes, vacumn the house or mow the lawn, surly loud "punks".
Yet what we have is, and all you need to do is picture it in your mind, Zac, Taking responsibility for his very life. All alone on the open seas, in the pitch black darkness of night, contending with the almighty natural sea and winds and all that mother nature can throw at him, plus man's obsticals, boats, containers fallen off cargo vesseles, etc. where in the rest of reality and the world, 15, 16, 17 year olds, cannot even go to the shopping mall by themselves.
To me it's incredible. Not that there are people like Zac who can do it, but the speciallity of it all.
It's fantastic in more ways than one.
The big picture just appears to be 'some sailor with experience sailing for a long time', when you crunch the numbers, in teens who 'OMG' on the internet and text all day long and cannot even tie their shoe laces without their buddy with them.
It hits home. :-)
The Mother City is inviting Zac in the next 48 hours with full on private invitation.... safe and sound because he deserves it.
I think it would be great to hook up with Mike and swap stories over a meal or something. I'll be looking forward to seeing if it's possible.
By the way, I looked at Mike's course. Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit wonky?
Roll on Zac!
Scot
California
Thanks for the update Zac, always good to hear from you. I've been reading a lot about sailing around the Cape and finally realize the challenge you face.
As Douglas P so aptly stated you really need to stay focused and alert.
I chuckled a bit at the fuel dock that never was, cause this is likely to occur in some of the smaller Caribbean Islands
Glad that you are experiencing "very good weather for this part of the coast".
Keep Safe. Keep on keeping on and Dad will be there in no time for you to get some R&R .
I understand that you have to get across the Atlantic before the middle of June when the trade winds start to change. Hope you really take some time to enjoy Capetown
Sail on..
Sherna
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