Sailing Africa
- Thread starter Sea_Sense
- Start date
Talbot
Active member
There is a specific site for boating in south africa with lots of links and advice on pilots, unfortunately I dont know the address.
BrianJ
New member
Hi,
Go to .....http://www.cruiser.co.za .. they will supply you with all the info on sailing in that ( and many other regions)
They also put me on to Tony Herrick, who runs a fantastic service from Durban ( I already have purchased several charts and 3 x books from him )
Many cruising sailors depend on local advice.. this Tony gives freely and he is just so knowledgeable on the weather / storms/ etc in that part of the world.
So open up Cruising Log... have a look around , then go to visit Tony.
BrianJ
Go to .....http://www.cruiser.co.za .. they will supply you with all the info on sailing in that ( and many other regions)
They also put me on to Tony Herrick, who runs a fantastic service from Durban ( I already have purchased several charts and 3 x books from him )
Many cruising sailors depend on local advice.. this Tony gives freely and he is just so knowledgeable on the weather / storms/ etc in that part of the world.
So open up Cruising Log... have a look around , then go to visit Tony.
BrianJ
Das_Boot
New member
I am leaving some time this year but intend to go via Red Sea but this is not set in stone. Have you done any research on the western route.
Sea_Sense
Member
Re: Sailing Africa - das boat
No I have not done any reseach on the route apart from reading a few books by the like of Tilman etc. I have found one guide and I have started trawelling the net. This forum was one of my first port of calls.
Would be interested in discussing why you decided on the red sea route. The reason i was thinking west route was because I have friends in Ghana and in my naiveity I figured it would be relatively short passage (compared to the red sea route) and fairly safe if you kept your distance from shore. But I am willing to discuss it and learn!
No I have not done any reseach on the route apart from reading a few books by the like of Tilman etc. I have found one guide and I have started trawelling the net. This forum was one of my first port of calls.
Would be interested in discussing why you decided on the red sea route. The reason i was thinking west route was because I have friends in Ghana and in my naiveity I figured it would be relatively short passage (compared to the red sea route) and fairly safe if you kept your distance from shore. But I am willing to discuss it and learn!
Das_Boot
New member
Re: Sailing Africa - das boat
I want to hang arround the med for a while but I have no agenda only that my destination is Richards Bay (From Natal) on the east coast also want to cruise kenya tanzania chagos etc. on my way down. If you go the west coast route there are reasonably short hops Azores Canaries Ascension if I am not mistaken. Then St helena After that I have no familiarity untill the Namibian coast. I have read as many pirate reports from the west Coast of Africa as I have from the Red Sea so from that point of view I supose they are much of a muchness. However depending on the season the east coast route would save you beating into trades. If anyone else has exp of the west coast of Africa I would also like to hear from them.
I want to hang arround the med for a while but I have no agenda only that my destination is Richards Bay (From Natal) on the east coast also want to cruise kenya tanzania chagos etc. on my way down. If you go the west coast route there are reasonably short hops Azores Canaries Ascension if I am not mistaken. Then St helena After that I have no familiarity untill the Namibian coast. I have read as many pirate reports from the west Coast of Africa as I have from the Red Sea so from that point of view I supose they are much of a muchness. However depending on the season the east coast route would save you beating into trades. If anyone else has exp of the west coast of Africa I would also like to hear from them.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
On a west route, once you cross the ITCZ (doldrums) you will be against the current and wind all the way to Cape Town unless you head west and do the east coast of South America and then cross the South Atlantic well south - will be cold and probably very stormy. So in IMHO, take the east route through the Suez Canel and enjoy tropical sailing from Kenya south. Don't miss Madagascar and Mozembique, Maurituis, Seychelles....
Das_Boot
New member
This is my thinking if you time it right you can have the wind at your back most of the way on the East Coast route. My only concern when sailing is the wind. Beating does what it says on the can.
Bob
New member
Africa sailing websites:
Two websites for the region.
http://www.cruiser.co.za/africa.asp
http://www.cruisingconnections.co.za
Good luck.
Bob
Two websites for the region.
http://www.cruiser.co.za/africa.asp
http://www.cruisingconnections.co.za
Good luck.
Bob
Sea_Sense
Member
Re: Africa sailing websites:
Thanks for all the advice
Happy sailing
Stephen
Thanks for all the advice
Happy sailing
Stephen
AndrewB
Well-known member
One reason few people do it, I thought, was that between Morocco and Namibia, with the exception of Gambia and the Cape Verde Islands, is very insecure. Piracy particularly in the Gulf of Benin region, civil disorder in many of the countries with risk of kidnapping and very poor security for yachts in harbours, constant (armed) guard essential. The Foreign Office advises against visiting Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo, which doesn't leave much.
Am I being unduely negative? Otherwise coasthopping along the West African coast would surely be more popular. How many yachts do it? Its certainly a part of the world I'd love to visit.
Am I being unduely negative? Otherwise coasthopping along the West African coast would surely be more popular. How many yachts do it? Its certainly a part of the world I'd love to visit.
Sea_Sense
Member
Maybe - I have some friends who are currently visiting Ghana and Nigeria but on the whole I think you are probably right - Congo for example has been the forgotton civil war for more years than I remember!
I must admit i hate the fact that we seem to live in a world where some parts are too dangerous to travel!
However, reading Tilman - he just did it in one hop - which seems excessive but maybe safer!!
Oh to be in warmer climes!
I must admit i hate the fact that we seem to live in a world where some parts are too dangerous to travel!
However, reading Tilman - he just did it in one hop - which seems excessive but maybe safer!!
Oh to be in warmer climes!