I let Pieter steer over the sand bar
behind the breakwater into East London
Port and we tied up to the Yacht Club dock
in the early afternoon. I learned that the
other two boats were arriving the next
morning. I got out my little boat bike and
rode around town while the boys called
their parents before they met up with
some school friends early in the evening.
It would turn out to be similar in each of
the seven ports we were to enter during
the next few weeks. The boys would call
their parents when we arrived in each port
then show off WanderLust to their friends
in port.
We followed the consistent weather
pattern schedule, two or three days in
port while it stormed out in the current,
then two or three days of calm when we
The first leg would also be the longest. From Durban SSW would choose our safest day to sail to the next port. Unlike the
the only possible retreat from bad weather for more than first leg our stop-off points were regularly spaced about 65-85
180 miles was the small river mouth on the rocky coastline, miles apart so that an easy morning departure would always
opening up into the only deep harbour marina and port of East get us into safe harbor the next morning or early afternoon.
London. This would be our first test sail together and I let Marx I got a very pleasant surprise the following morning after
sail out the bay. We left with two other boats heading in the arriving in Port Elisabeth. Four beautiful young girls came
same direction. They each elected to stay along the coast line; walking down the dock arm in arm carrying a big wrapped
I wanted to take advantage of the 3-4 knots of positive current bag singing “Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Mike!”. The four
out in the Agulhas. It was only 20 miles
due south until we got into the current After leaving durban (above), Pieter and
and sure enough we were moving along
Marx are put on skipper duty.
at 12 knots toward East London, 4 knots
of that a “free ride”.
After an overnight of consistent winds
and no misfortunes we were still at
over 12 knots. We three agreed to take
two hours of skipper duties, then four
hours off-duty each. I had promised the
parents that I would be safety conscious
with the boys but not easy on them,
so I did not let them use the auto helm
for their watches. I was alert down
below but let the boys feel out the
characteristics of my boat for themselves
on deck. I don’t think they slept at all
staying out in the cockpit during both
their watches. My watch was easy, of
course, on auto helm.
44 YACHTWORLD.COM DeCeMbeR 2008
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