snowleopard
Active member
following on from the piracy thread, the red sea option looks less and less attractive. on the other hand its a long way & rough round the cape to get from oz to europe. what does the team think?
which way round africa?
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
mirabriani
New member
Red Sea of course
They will never catch you Chris!
Erm, you could pack the Kevlar life jacket though
Thinking of sailing back?
Regards Briani
They will never catch you Chris!
Erm, you could pack the Kevlar life jacket though
Thinking of sailing back?
Regards Briani
Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
Round the cape ! !
It's the only way to go, especially on a cat. Seems even young lassies do it these days . . Hang on a minute, that was a cat and a half . . .
Mind you, the last time I personally sailed round Africa was on a 16,000 ton tanker - and that was in my youff. (long time ago !)
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Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
It's the only way to go, especially on a cat. Seems even young lassies do it these days . . Hang on a minute, that was a cat and a half . . .
Mind you, the last time I personally sailed round Africa was on a 16,000 ton tanker - and that was in my youff. (long time ago !)
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Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
jimi
Well-known member
Don't!!! You'll save a lot of time and trouble and it'll be a lot more interesting if you just go straight through it. Most of it sand cos a lot of it is Sahara and Gobi anyway ... and you're almost a sand yacht already .. all you need is 4 wheels, one for each corner and you'll be laughing .. and you can get out and push in the doldrums.. much better idea.
snowleopard
Active member
i stand a chance of getting swmbo to agree to a tradewind passage to oz with the incentive of seeing offspring at the far end. the return trip is going to be a lot harder to sell.
tonyran
New member
If your going to Oz why not just keep going in the same direction?
ChrisE
Active member
FWIW, the RCC Red Sea pilot, reviewed by yours truly for the CA, says that the risk of piracy, whilst present is not as great as percieved. I, too, am thinking of the same passage as you and currently would go Red Sea. The advice in the pilot is to stay well offshore, no lights at night and to go in convoy.
All the same the account is fairly scary but I'm not sure what the outcome would have been without the shooters on the yachts. Also bear in mind if you go anywhere nr SA you might be inflicted by stingo-alikes and I'm not sure which is the greater threat
All the same the account is fairly scary but I'm not sure what the outcome would have been without the shooters on the yachts. Also bear in mind if you go anywhere nr SA you might be inflicted by stingo-alikes and I'm not sure which is the greater threat
tcm
...
fairly scary
be honest, chris - the report is scary as heck! I mean, is the Cape really more dangerous that a bunch of loonies turning up with guns?
PS i hope you chargd the CA loads of money for reviewing their pilot, and that your review ran to a measly two pargraphs, the gits.
be honest, chris - the report is scary as heck! I mean, is the Cape really more dangerous that a bunch of loonies turning up with guns?
PS i hope you chargd the CA loads of money for reviewing their pilot, and that your review ran to a measly two pargraphs, the gits.
ChrisE
Active member
Possibly not
Whilst checking into customs at St. Lucia, I met an aging US person who was checking in a pump action shot gun and a machine gun plus 1000 rounds of ammo. My assessment was that if challenged he was going to cause a war regardless of the threat. I'm no yank-a-phobe but it is not an uncommon sight.
PS be honest tcm, you can't judge decent literature, I mean all of that diesel rots your brain. I review for free, as you have remarked before, I'm just a really nice bloke
Whilst checking into customs at St. Lucia, I met an aging US person who was checking in a pump action shot gun and a machine gun plus 1000 rounds of ammo. My assessment was that if challenged he was going to cause a war regardless of the threat. I'm no yank-a-phobe but it is not an uncommon sight.
PS be honest tcm, you can't judge decent literature, I mean all of that diesel rots your brain. I review for free, as you have remarked before, I'm just a really nice bloke
Benbow
New member
I am contemplating the same question. I would really like to see some figures on the number of boats making the passage and the number of incidents. Life is not risk free and everything we do is a balance of judgement. After all, sailing itself would have no attraction if there was not some element of risk, although I admit that taking on the risk of being shot by a drugged maniac in a RIB is not one of the reasons I go sailing.
If you decide to come down the E coast, give me a shout. I am occasionaly in Kiliffi or Mombassa and any excuse to visit the coast is good enough for me.
If you decide to come down the E coast, give me a shout. I am occasionaly in Kiliffi or Mombassa and any excuse to visit the coast is good enough for me.
Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
[ QUOTE ]
. the return trip is going to be a lot harder to sell.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why on earth would you want to come back to this place ??
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. the return trip is going to be a lot harder to sell.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why on earth would you want to come back to this place ??
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snowleopard
Active member
a reasonable question and one we've asked ourselves a dozen times in during two recent trips to oz.
the answer is that (a) we like it here in cornwall and (b) most of our family is here.
the big drawbacks in britain are the weather which can be fixed by spending part of the winter down under or taking a cruise south. the vindictive government is a pain but almost every country has the same problem, you just don't notice it when you're visiting and don't pay taxes.
the answer is that (a) we like it here in cornwall and (b) most of our family is here.
the big drawbacks in britain are the weather which can be fixed by spending part of the winter down under or taking a cruise south. the vindictive government is a pain but almost every country has the same problem, you just don't notice it when you're visiting and don't pay taxes.
Das_Boot
New member
I am going through the red sea leaving this year. It is the least worst option. As for coming back I am a little worried that I might find.....
England covered in a thick layer of volcanic ash.
England covered in a thick layer of sand.
England covered by water.
England governed by the torys.
No England at all just a big bomb crater.
No England at all just a big asteroid crater.
I better enter a waypoint in my Gps might sail right over it and end up in Norway.
England covered in a thick layer of volcanic ash.
England covered in a thick layer of sand.
England covered by water.
England governed by the torys.
No England at all just a big bomb crater.
No England at all just a big asteroid crater.
I better enter a waypoint in my Gps might sail right over it and end up in Norway.
BlueSkyNick
Active member
You could take your current boat to Oz and leave here there, then come back and build another one. Then you will be able to fly to and fro and sail according to SWMBO's wishes and the best weather. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
ongolo
New member
Hi,
I would look at it from a point of how much time do you have? The east coast of africa is very nice. I would check out seychelles, comores, zansibar, madagascar, then go down he east coast to richards bay, after the crossong from NZ, you might need some repairs or parts and SA is the best place in Africa for that.
SA food stuff is excellent, the yacht club in Richards Bay has good people there, Durban is ok too, you could do a run to Krueger Park and Drakensberg. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the World. Take look at St.Helena and see where you british lot kept Napoleon. Angola you could do a bit of diving for Diamaonds, the rest of the west coast you could do some exploring, Gambia is poor very nice people, in Ghana you could acquire some very nice beads.
As far as Piracy, an italian yacht that eventually got stranded here got robbed twice by pirates near yemen and somalia.
But Irrespective of the piracy, I would choose the Cape Route. From a sailing point, it is more of an accomplishement. However, I am biased because I live here.
And, finally, I would meet a forumite and could have a face to face argument on some or other unimportant topic. Just for the hell of it. And I might take you for a bit of a run in the desert, but not sure if I am going to be around.
whatever
ongolo
I would look at it from a point of how much time do you have? The east coast of africa is very nice. I would check out seychelles, comores, zansibar, madagascar, then go down he east coast to richards bay, after the crossong from NZ, you might need some repairs or parts and SA is the best place in Africa for that.
SA food stuff is excellent, the yacht club in Richards Bay has good people there, Durban is ok too, you could do a run to Krueger Park and Drakensberg. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the World. Take look at St.Helena and see where you british lot kept Napoleon. Angola you could do a bit of diving for Diamaonds, the rest of the west coast you could do some exploring, Gambia is poor very nice people, in Ghana you could acquire some very nice beads.
As far as Piracy, an italian yacht that eventually got stranded here got robbed twice by pirates near yemen and somalia.
But Irrespective of the piracy, I would choose the Cape Route. From a sailing point, it is more of an accomplishement. However, I am biased because I live here.
And, finally, I would meet a forumite and could have a face to face argument on some or other unimportant topic. Just for the hell of it. And I might take you for a bit of a run in the desert, but not sure if I am going to be around.
whatever
ongolo
Sea Devil
Well-known member
Re: which way round Africa?
As you would guess I would not go the Red Sea route again - the statistics are 1% of boats robbed in the Gulf of Aden / Southern Red Sea - about 200 make the passage each season. (More boats attacked but sometimes the coalition forces help out and some boats have enough power to make a run for it!)
Forgetting the pirate issue the red sea was interesting but not fascinating. Frankly most of the Mesas and anchorages are a bit like sand pits - not too much beauty. Eritrea and Sudan are fine to visit but so poor. Egypt is OK except the officialdom is a real pain. It is a bit of a challenge - good company though - 200 boats spread out along the Sea and normally just one net running. Trouble is you pop out into the Mediterranean early in the Season and if you have already cruised the Med then it becomes a long passage across it to the Atlantic or even just the canals.
Next time I will do Africa.
As you would guess I would not go the Red Sea route again - the statistics are 1% of boats robbed in the Gulf of Aden / Southern Red Sea - about 200 make the passage each season. (More boats attacked but sometimes the coalition forces help out and some boats have enough power to make a run for it!)
Forgetting the pirate issue the red sea was interesting but not fascinating. Frankly most of the Mesas and anchorages are a bit like sand pits - not too much beauty. Eritrea and Sudan are fine to visit but so poor. Egypt is OK except the officialdom is a real pain. It is a bit of a challenge - good company though - 200 boats spread out along the Sea and normally just one net running. Trouble is you pop out into the Mediterranean early in the Season and if you have already cruised the Med then it becomes a long passage across it to the Atlantic or even just the canals.
Next time I will do Africa.
Otto
New member
Re: which way round Africa?
It really has to be the Red Sea for the experience. But go in convoy.
The first hand experience of a couple who did the Red Sea and were attacked is here:
http://www.heartsong3.com/firsthand_reports.htm
It really has to be the Red Sea for the experience. But go in convoy.
The first hand experience of a couple who did the Red Sea and were attacked is here:
http://www.heartsong3.com/firsthand_reports.htm
Sea Devil
Well-known member
Re: which way round Africa?
Not really practical to go in convoy up the Red Sea - Gulf of Aden it is but I am not convinced it will give the protection imagined.
You can view my daily Red Sea log on my web site. It is not that demanding but on the whole not that attractive or interesting compared to other stages of a circumnavigation. Mind you everybody has different ideas of beauty and interest - thank goodness...
Not really practical to go in convoy up the Red Sea - Gulf of Aden it is but I am not convinced it will give the protection imagined.
You can view my daily Red Sea log on my web site. It is not that demanding but on the whole not that attractive or interesting compared to other stages of a circumnavigation. Mind you everybody has different ideas of beauty and interest - thank goodness...
yachtbits
Member
Re: which way round Africa?
having been to many African coastal states, on all coasts, I'd pass via Panama canal!
kev
having been to many African coastal states, on all coasts, I'd pass via Panama canal!
kev
CharlesM
New member
Around the Cape is the looong way. By my reconing you have to head up the west cost, then cross to South America, up through the Caribbean, up a bit of the East cost of North America before crossing to UK.
phew...
for my part I think it would be more interesting. Perhaps it depends on how soon you want to get home. (Although I would like to cruise the eastern Med)
Charles
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yes - 7 sleeps... (but probably 6 by the time you read this /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
phew...
for my part I think it would be more interesting. Perhaps it depends on how soon you want to get home. (Although I would like to cruise the eastern Med)
Charles
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yes - 7 sleeps... (but probably 6 by the time you read this /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
