Sailing from Durban to Cape Town not for the faint harted

Details a little hazy, but it looks as if was it the for'd hatch that failed ? Sad event but no lives lost.
 
davidej said:
Never sailed anywhere near there but isn't the area notorious for heavy seas?

A bit careless not to secure forward hatch or did a latch break?
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There is a north to south offshore current that runs like a river.
A low pressure can then force waves up to 30 metres.
Large tankers have vanished in such conditions.
 
For info the MCA regulations for commercial yachts insist that we carry a solid square of wood that fits over the forward hatch and a means to secure it in place over the hatch if the cover is lost. It's a pain to carry but a useful bit of kit to have.

Since I carry this square I'm going to carry a few extra fittings for it so I can attach it to my spinny pole as a jury rig rudder too.
 
alant said:
There is a north to south offshore current that runs like a river.
A low pressure can then force waves up to 30 metres.
Large tankers have vanished in such conditions.
Click to expand...

As I well remember. Thought I had seen 'big waves' until I went down there :)
Life buot ghost strapped on the arse end upto my chest in water. Upper deck out of bounds. Gawd know why
we had to do that job because nowt could be done if someone went overboard. Rather frightening but a great experience. Glad to arrive in Simonstown in one piece
 
The Cape of Storms was renamed Cape of Good Hope when its name started putting off potential settlers. When I went there the wind a seas put me right off pleasure sailing in the area.

I lost my fore-hatch off Barry in a Westerly 25 in that steep short chop which forms wind over tide. Fortunately a combination of the boat hook and a berth cushion lashed over the hatchway got us out of trouble.
 
This particular part of the coast is called the wild coast and not for nothing.

No bolt holes between Durban and East London so if you get caught out no where to run to.
 
A quick google of Bencruachan cape roller gives an insight into how powerful those waves can be.
We called her the Benconcorde for some reason:D
 
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sarabande said:
Details a little hazy, but it looks as if was it the for'd hatch that failed ? Sad event but no lives lost.
Click to expand...
Just been watching Delos, the bits approaching Madagascar and then on down to Cape Town, testing sailing and superb sense of apprehension that they havent showed before!
Stu
 
Picked up newly built 12m cat in Durban in March 2005. Port Control would not give ok for us to leave until we had a decent 3 day forecast. Via East London and Port Elizabeth we got to Cape Town despite the usual snagging issues.
Arrived Woodbridge August via St Helena, Ascension, Azores and Falmouth.
6 hours of slightly iffy weather. Count myself a lucky man.
 
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