St Helena

I radioed the ferry service to pick me up and take me to shore to do customs, immigration etc. The ferry landing area is challenging and requires; good timing, a deal of fearlessness and agility. The ocean swells crash against the sea wall raising the little ferry metres at a time. The pipe work and ropes at the landing area looked ominously like gallows. It was recommended to use the ferry instead of dinghies and I could well understand why. The ferry service runs every two hours starting at 0700. The formal procedures were pleasant other than prices had increased on April first. The people generally were amazingly friendly.

Jamestown Ferry ramp

I met up with Ollie and Merja on "Fagal Bla" who recommended the Napoleon day tour (12 pounds). Mac and the crew from "Moonbeam" were on the same tour. I confess that I knew very little about Napoleon Bonaparte. Even the two French crew from "Rhapsody" admitted to knowing little about their famous or infamous countryman. It was a fascinating tour with Robert, who like most of the St Heleneiens', otherwise called Saints, had the most unusual accent. When you listen to the Saints talking to one another it is hard to believe they are speaking English.  

Seeing the island from the sea it looked to be a large, hard, barren, volcanic rock. The interior of the island was picturesque with forests, verdant green pastures and small English like villages. This small rock in the middle of nowhere certainly has some history, having been visited by the likes of: Duke of Wellington, Captain Bligh, Edmund Halley, Charles Darwin, and Captain James Cook.

Sandy Bay and the St Helena crater

Supplies to the island are delivered by the fortnightly mail ship from Cape Town the "St Helena". There appears to be some contention over the proposed airport that is being constructed on the island at an approximate cost of 3 hundred million pounds. The population of the island is around four thousand.

The blog was not updated with pictures in St Helena as internet access costs nearly 7 pounds per hour.

Ollie and Merja told me of a solo sailor, recently arrived in St Helena, who had had a fracas with a big ship near the South African Namibian border. He appears to only have sustained damage to the rigging and spreaders - a lucky fellow. Apparently, he had observed the ship, saw it was not a threat and turned off the AIS to save power. The ship then turned across his bow toward shore.

The new mooring field was fantastic bearing in mind that the island rises rapidly 5,000 metres from the ocean floor. The swell around the island and clapottis waves from the sheer cliffs led to a few sleepless nights. 

All to quickly it was time to prepare to leave St Helena. This was a totally unique and pleasant stop over. It reminded me of a bygone era a nicer, slower time with no mobile phones - people actually talked to one another - novel concept.

Scuba diving.

While waiting for the ferry back to Sadiqi after clearing out and doing some shopping I spoke to Craig who runs the ferry service and scuba diving tours (30 pounds all equipment provided). I thought it would be too good an opportunity to miss and decided to do a scuba dive on Saturday. Fortunately, I managed to find my Naui dive certification card, otherwise no card no dive. It had been a good few years since I last dived using scuba tanks. The dive was pleasant - good visibility, some soft corals and many fish.

Namibia to St Helena

 Please note: there are various reasons for not posting to the blog via sailmail.

This can be due; to poor atmospheric propagation, too rough to use or work on the laptop, limited battery and even deliberate. The blog updates, while at sea, are not to be used as an indication of Sadiqi's safety. Please to not annoy any rescue services by contacting them if no blog posts have been made.

28-03-13 – Thursday

1400 Sadiqi departed leisurely from Walvis Bay Harbour after requesting permission to leave from Port Control on Ch14.

Engine: 1214.8 Hrs. Log 9184.9 NM.

The wind was 12 to 18 knots from the South West.

1530 Winds 18 - 25 Kts SSW.

Good sailing.

Changed time zone to UTC +1. Namibia is on perpetual daylight saving.

Water temperature 17 degrees C.

Skipper not feeling the best having lost his lunch over the side.

2300 Cold!  Confused cross seas. Winds were up and down during the night. Furling, unfurling the sails and watching for fishing boats.

29-03-13 – Good Friday

0600 spoke with Peri Peri Radio Net.

Andrew on Easyrider in Cape Town,

Roy on Good News II near Durban,

Paul on Northern Star near Johannesburg.

Rolling along North westwards in a cross sea - swell from the SW. 

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC+1.0 

Lat: 21 58.86 S, Lon: 012 29.37 E

COG: 305 Deg M, SOG 5.5 knots

Winds: 15 to 20  Kts SE. Swell to 2 to 3 meters.

Engine: 1215.3 Hrs

Distance covered since Leaving Walvis Bay 125 miles.

Winds picked up during the afternoon to 35 Kts southerly.

Sailing with two reefs in the main only. Pretty rough! The skippers sea legs appear to absconded again. No blog update  due to the risk of having to fish pervading carrot bits out of the keyboard.

Beer o clock was skipped.

2010 The AIS alarm sounded, I recognised James on "Rhapsody" registered in Texas on a converging course. I contacted them on VHF. James asked if my GPS was still faulting and resetting. I said yes but only during the cold nights. He was having the same problem with his electronics. 

30-03-13 – Saturday

Woke in the morning to grey skies and lumpy seas.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC+1.0 

Lat: 21 05.78 S, Lon: 010 13.70 E

COG: 300 Deg M, SOG 5.5 knots

Winds: 20 to 30  Kts SE. Swell to 4 to 5 meters.

Engine: 1215.8 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 136 miles.

Water temperature 21 degrees C. Warming up - thankfully.

Beer o clock was skipped again.

Atlantic Sunset

31-03-13 – Sunday

Woke in the morning to sunny, warm skies

Winds 15 Kts SSE.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC+1.0 

Lat: 20 17.85 S, Lon: 008 14.39 E

COG: 305 Deg M, SOG 5 knots

Winds: 18 to 20  Kts SE. Swell to 4 to 5 meters.

Engine: 1216.0 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 121 miles.

Changed Time zone to UTC (Lon 007 30.00 E)

Dinner was steak, mash potatoes and vegetables. First good meal since leaving Walvis Bay. Beer o clock was enjoyed.

Winds were 10 to 12 knots during the night.

01-04-13 – Monday

Woke in the morning to sunny, warm skies

Winds 15 Kts SSE.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC (Zulu) 

Lat: 20 09.23 S, Lon: 006 04.81 E

COG: 290 Deg M, SOG 5.5 knots

Winds: 12 to 16  Kts SSE. Swell to 3 meters.

Engine: 1217.1 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 121 miles.

Wind increased toward evening, as it usually did from the south, 15 to 20 kts SSE.

Beer o clock was observed and enjoyed.

Dinner - Thai green beef curry and rice.

02-04-13 – Tuesday

Woke in the morning to grey skies - 7/8th stratus cloud cover.

Winds 12 to 18 Kts ESE.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC

Lat: 19 39.71 S, Lon: 003 50.10 E

COG: 290 Deg M, SOG 5.0 knots

Winds: 15 to 18  Kts SE. Swell to 3 meters.

Engine: 1218.2 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 130 miles.

2000 Winds 20 to 25 kts SE.

Reefed mainsail only - SOG 6 Kts.

03-04-13 – Wednesday

0030 Jybed to avoid a ship and make more northing.

Wind 18 - 20 Kts ESE.

Woke in the morning to grey skies.

Big swell and lumpy seas

Water depth 5 kilometres.

Winds 12 to 18 Kts ESE.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC

Lat: 18 39.60 S, Lon: 001 53.40 E

COG: 320 Deg M, SOG 4.5 knots

Winds: 15 to 20  Kts ESE. Swell to 4 meters.

Engine: 1218.2 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 125.5 miles.

04-04-13 – Thursday

Woke in the morning to grey skies.

Winds 12 to 18 Kts ESE.

Big swell and lumpy seas - again. The swell and wind waves come from different directions - SW and SE respectively. Every now and again these waves combine to form several monster waves which slap Sadiqi around like a cat playing with a toy. Most uncomfortable! Still, I'd rather be out here than sitting in rush hour traffic somewhere.

The sounds of the boat burbling or rushing through the water, the wind moaning through the rigging and Smithy (Windvane) happily playing pipe tunes is usually very pleasant. When the boat is being thrown around in the lumpy seas there is sometimes a lot more noise. For example; bottles and jars clinking together in boxes and shelves, a loose screwdriver rolling in it's cubby hole, creaking cabinetry etc. Depending on the conditions the noise combines to sound like a demented symphony. In an attempt to avoid going anymore insane, if that's possible, the noises must be hunted down and quietened. Being out here on the ocean one becomes acutely aware of ones surroundings - sounds, smells and sights - a change in a sound usually means something. Hence the need to quiet the unnecessary noises or attempt to.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC

Lat: 17 12.30 S, Lon: 000 36.74 E

COG: 300 Deg M, SOG 4.5 knots

Winds: 15 to 20  Kts ESE. Swell to 4 meters.

Engine: 1218.8 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 114 miles.

1930 Sadiqi crossed the zero meridian into the Western Hemisphere.

Sea temperature 23 degrees Celsius.

Winds dropped during the night 10 to 12 Kts ESE

05-04-13 – Friday

Morning grey skies (seems perpetual)

Did chores - laundry, scrubbed cockpit, cleaned dodger windows, cut my hair and ran engine to charge batteries etc.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC

Lat: 16 34.14 S, Lon: 001 09.42 W

COG: 330 Deg M, SOG 4.0 knots

Winds: 10 to 15 Kts ESE. Swell to 1 meter.

Engine: 1222.1 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 108 miles.

Good sailing during the night. Full mainsail and jib.

Winds 10 to 15 SE

06-04-13 – Saturday

Woke to grey skies again.

1030 Winds 8 to 12 Kts ESE.

Raised Big Bertha the asymmetrical.

SOG back up to 6 Kts.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC

Lat: 16 08.54 S, Lon: 003 03.17 W

COG: 295 Deg M, SOG 5 knots

Winds: 10 to 12  Kts ESE. Swell 2 to 3 meters.

Engine: 1222.9 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 112 miles.

1515 listened for Peri Peri Radio net. I heard the yacht "Kiwi Rowa" sailing to Cape Town from The Falklands mentioning that they had problems connecting to sailmail Maputo . I had had problems connecting over the past few days. Paul from Peri Peri contacted Maputo and the connection problem was resolved.

2000 Winds 10 to 12 Kts SE

Big Bertha still flying - SOG 6 Kts

2100 Winds increased to 16 Kts SE - Dropped Big Bertha.

07-04-13 – Sunday

0100 Winds 8 to 12 Kts SE (downwind)

Nasty sloppy seas - SOG 3 Kts.

Put on safety harness and Raised Big Bertha again - SOG 5 Kts.

This was an attempt to make land fall 85 miles (St Helena) in day light.

0430 Winds 5 to 6 Kts E!

Nasty sloppy seas - SOG 2 Kts.

Mainsail slatting and banging!

Its not all plain sailing in the trades.

0630 Winds 5 to 6 Kts WSW

Mainsail still slatting and banging in the slop!

Big Bertha barely flying.

Skipper grumpy - 59 miles to St Helena.

Dropped Big Bertha and started the engine.

0915 Winds 8 to 10 kts SSW

Sailing with just mainsail and jib.

Land ho - spotted St Helena 50 miles out.

The forecast Through Andrew on Peri Peri Radio Net was for light winds.

The skipper decided to standoff and arrive at the anchorage on Monday morning. There was no point in rushing, the island wasn't going anywhere.

1115 Winds less than 5 Kts from somewhere.

Hauled down all sails - the silence was bliss.

Water Temperature 24.5 Degrees Celsius.

Did chores, went for a swim and wash, read Nelson DeMille's "Plum Island" for some ironic humour and slept.

Noon

Time: 12.00L UTC

Lat: 15 51.87 S, Lon: 004 55.24 W

COG: 0 Deg M, SOG 1 knot

Winds: not much. Swell almost.

Engine: 1224.2 Hrs

Distance covered since noon yesterday 109 Miles.

In the afternoon I did what big ships appear to be able to do and drifted under the auspice of "not under command". Sadiqi was very slowly drifting toward Saint Helena at about half a knot. 

1700 - 42 miles out - contacted St Helena radio to advise Sadiqi would be arriving at James Bay in the morning.

St Helena

08-04-13 – Monday

It was a slow drift/sail to Jamestown, St Helena with a partial jib only - SOG of between 2 to 3 knots.

0845 contacted Port Control on CH16 and was advised to pick up a mooring.

0915 Arrived James Bay, St Helena.

Engine  1226.1 Hours

Log 9530.8 Nm

Diesel used 11 Litres

Trip distance 1,200 miles in 11 days.