Allan & Ursula Ward: Port Owen, Cape West Coast, South Africa.

Shearwater 39:
- L.O.A. 43ft (13.22m)
- L.O.D. 39ft (12m)
- L.W.L. 34ft (10.3m)
- BEAM 13ft(3.9m)
- DRAFT 6ft(1.8m)



HOW IT ALL BEGAN .

I placed my order on Nebe Boats on the 19/10/1992 for what was initially planned to be a complete factory built yacht that l would sail home to Durban from Capetown once she was completed. Unfortunately due to the demise of Nebe Boats in the early days of her construction it did not turn out that way, so l decided to truck her home to Ramsgate on the KZN South Coast to finish building her in our garden at home.

For many years we could proudly boast that we had the most expensive piece of garden furniture in town, but at the time l had no idea of how massive this project would turn out to be. As anyone who has built a blue water cruiser will tell you, particularly if she is kitted out with all the systems and the equipment that a modern cruiser has onboard these days, it is a daunting task . Looking at the positive aspects of this project, l know the boat intimately in that l designed and installed the systems, so from a repair and maintenance perspective l have no issues carrying out the work that is necessary from time to time.



The big day arrived on the 29/8/2008 when we craned her out of the garden onto a rig to truck her through to Durban for launching . What followed was three months of preparations to ready her for the maiden voyage to our home port in Port Owen on the Cape West Coast.

We had a fast passage down the South African East Coast including a storm off the notorious Wild Coast and arrived in Port Owen in dense fog. Windward had passed her first test with flying colours and since then we have enjoyed some great sailing on the West Coast.


The master plan has always been to go cruising, so our plans are to leave for Brazil via Luderitz and St Helena Island at the end of February 2014. So far everything is on track although the “To Do“ list still grows each day.

The purpose of this blog is to record our adventure for ourselves, family and friends. Although it will probably end up being a brief summary of events while we are cruising, we hope you will enjoy and share some of our experiences with us.

LIVING THE DREAM .

Saturday, December 15, 2018

CRUISING IN THE CARIBBEAN.

                                                    PEAKE YACHT SERVICES, CHAGUARAMAS, TRINIDAD.                                                         FINAL INSPECTION BEFORE LAUNCHING.

LOADED AND READY FOR THE TRAVEL LIFT.

LYING IN THE SLINGS WAITING TO GET HER BUM WET. 

   SCOTLAND BAY, TRINIDAD. 
LYING AT ANCHOR RIGGING SAILS AND COVERS.

    PRICKLY BAY, GRENADA.
WE HAD A FAST OVERNIGHT PASSAGE FROM TRINIDAD, NO PIRATE ISSUES.

LANCE AUX EPINES BEACH, GRENADA.
BEAUTIFUL BEACH FOR A DIP.

THE REGULAR CRUISER'S JAM SESSION AT SECRET HARBOUR MARINA, GRENADA.

     FORT GEORGE, ST.GEORGES, GRENADA.
THE BEST VIEWS IN TOWN.

   PORT LOUIS MARINA, GRENADA.
LUXURY FACILITIES OVERLOOKING THE CARENAGE.

CONCORD FALLS, GRENADA.

SAILING UP THE GRENADA COAST ON ROUTE TO DIVE THE UNDERWATER SCULPTURE PARK.

SURVEYING THE SCENE IN TYRELL BAY, CARRIACOU.

CARRIACOU ISLAND WITH SANDY ISLAND IN THE DISTANCE.

 TYRELL BAY, CARRIACOU.
SUNDOWNERS AT ANCHOR.

OUR MORNING DIP, GREAT WAY TO START THE DAY.

                                                             SANDY ISLAND.                                                                       GREAT SNORKELING SPOT WITH EXCELLENT VIZ.

LYING AT ANCHOR OFF SANDY ISLAND READY FOR ANOTHER DAY OF UNDERWATER ADVENTURES.

TOBAGO CAYS IN THE GRENADINES.
TURQUOISE WATER, WHITE BEACHES AND PLENTY OF REEF SYSTEMS, A SNORKELER'S PARADISE.

               CLIFTON, UNION ISLAND, GRENADINES.
                                           POPULAR BASE FOR KITE SURFERS AND DIVERS.                                                                                                                                                                

CLIFTON'S SMALL MARINA MAINLY USED BY CHARTER BOATS.

UNION ISLAND, GRENADINES.
TYPICAL CARIBBEAN BEACHFRONT SETTING.

TOBAGO CAYS, GRENADINES.
UNDER A FULL MOON WE COULD SEE OUR ANCHOR CHAIN LYING ON THE BOTTOM IN 8m OF WATER.

MY LITTLE GIRL EXPLORING WITH HER DAD.

UNDERCOVER PALM SHADED PARKING FOR OUR DUCK.

A VIEW OF HORSESHOE REEF FROM THE TOP OF PETIT BATEAU.

THE CHANNEL BETWEEN PETIT RAMEAU AND PETIT BATEAU.

TOBAGO CAYS, FAMILY POSING IN A TROPICAL PARADISE.

DITTO.

NEGOTIATING THE NARROW CHANNEL OUT OF THE CAYS.

MAGNIFICENT SAILING ON ROUTE TO MUSTIQUE.

THE ICONIC BASIL'S BAR, HOME OF THE MUSTIQUE BLUES FESTIVAL.
THIS PRIVATE ISLAND IS THE DOMAIN OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS INCLUDING SOME FAMOUS MUSICIANS LIKE MICK JAGGER, DAVID BOWIE, BRYAN ADAMS, SHANIA TWAIN E.T.C, E.T.C.

THE VIEW FROM THE DECK OF BASIL'S BAR. WE TIMED OUR VISIT PERFECTLY AS WE WERE ABLE TO PARTY AT THE FINAL " JUMP UP " AT THE LEGENDARY OLD VENUE BEFORE IT WAS DEMOLISHED TO BUILD THE NEW PLACE. THE END OF AN ERA ACCORDING TO THE LOCALS.

 MUSTIQUE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE ULTIMATE PRIVATE HIDEAWAY AND THE ROYAL FAMILY TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND .

PERFECT DAY FOR A SAIL.

THE FAMOUS MATING TORTOISES OF MUSTIQUE.

THE LIKES OF MICK JAGGER, BRYAN ADAMS, TOMMY HILFIGER AND OTHERS OWN HOMES ON THE SHORES OF THIS BAY.

PLENTY OF UNINHABITED ISLANDS IF YOU HAVE THE BUCKS.

PALM BEACH, TOMMY HILFIGER'S 6,5 ACRE BEACHFRONT HOLIDAY HOME ON MUSTIQUE.

 BEQUIA ISLAND.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY USE THESE BOATS TO HUNT WHALES.

PORT ELIZABETH, BEQUIA, VERY POPULAR WITH THE CRUISING FRATERNITY. 

ANCHORED OFF PRINCESS MARGARET BEACH, BEQUIA.

THE NIGHT I BECAME A RADIO PERSONALITY, LONG STORY.

VELSHEDA, THE FAMOUS J-CLASS YACHT WITH HER SUPPORT VESSEL BYSTANDER IN THE BACKGROUND.

REACHING TO SAINT LUCIA WITH THE UNMISTAKABLE PITONS UP AHEAD.

THE LUXURIOUS MARIGOT BAY RESORT & MARINA, SAINT LUCIA.
ONE OF THE MOST EXCLUSIVE YACHTING DESTINATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN.

BEING GUESTS IN THE MARINA WE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY ALL THE FACILITIES FOR FREE.

MARIGOT BAY, A WELL KNOWN HURRICANE HOLE WAS ALSO THE SITE OF A NUMBER OF BATTLES BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE BRITISH. IT WAS ALSO THE SETTING OF THE FILM DOCTOR DOLITTLE IN 1967.

MARIGOT BAY, SAINT LUCIA.
A BEAUTIFUL SETTING LIKE NO OTHER.

WINDWARD HANGING OUT IN STYLE.

RODNEY BAY MARINA, SAINT LUCIA.
THE FRUIT & VEG GUY DELIVERS TO YOUR BOAT.

CASTRIES, THE CAPITAL OF SAINT LUCIA.

 GROS PITON & PETIT PITON, SAINT LUCIA.
           STANDING AT WELL OVER 700m TALL, THE PITONS ARE A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.                                                                                 

SAINT-ANNE, MARTINIQUE.
A VERY QUAINT, VERY FRENCH TOWN ON THE COAST.

VIEW OF THE ANCHORAGE FROM THE TOWN DOCK.

A USUALLY VERY FESTIVE TOWN SQUARE, CHURCH INCLUDED.

LA PLAGE DE LA POINTE BEACH, MARIN. MARTINIQUE.

DIAMOND ROCK, MARTINIQUE.
THIS ROCK HAS A FASCINATING HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE NAPOLEONIC WARS. THE BRITISH RENAMED THE ISLAND HMS DIAMOND ROCK WHICH IS AN INTERESTING STORY IN ITSELF.

MOUNT PELEE, MARTINIQUE.
THIS VOLCANO ERUPTED IN 1902 DESTROYING THE CITY OF SAINT PIERRE AND KILLING 30,000 PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS. THE SUMMIT IS NORMALLY SHROUDED IN CLOUD BUT AS WE SAILED AWAY THE PEAK APPEARED THROUGH THE CLOUD, A RARE SIGHT.

BROAD REACHING TO DOMINICA.

OUR RASTA FRIENDS OWNED A TINY RESTAURANT ON THE ROCKS IN PORTSMOUTH, DOMINICA WHERE WE ATE AND DRANK AND HAD SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LIFE.

THE RAIN FORESTS AND THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF DOMINICA WAS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE MARIA, NOW REGARDED AS THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER ON RECORD TO AFFECT THE ISLAND. 

OUR RASTA FRIENDS WHO SHOWED US THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND MADE OUR STAY ON THEIR ISLAND VERY SPECIAL.

PORTSMOUTH, DOMINICA.
KNOWN AS THE NATURE ISLAND, DEFINITELY MY FAVOURITE CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

INDIAN RIVER, DOMINICA.
THIS IS THE HIDEAWAY OF TIA DALMA (CALYPSO) IN THE MOVIE "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN".

THE ATLANTIC COAST OF DOMINICA IN KALINAGO TERRITORY WHERE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND STILL LIVE TODAY.

EMERALD POOL, DOMINICA.
GREAT PLACE TO COOL OFF AFTER A LONG HIKE.

THE IMPOSING ENTRANCE TO FORT NAPOLEON, TERRE-DE-HAUT, ILES DES SAINTES.
THIS FORT HAS HAD AN INTERESTING PAST AND TODAY IS A MUSEUM.

LES SAINTES BAY, TERRA-DE-HAUT.
THE MAIN TOWN IS A SLICE OF FRANCE IN THE CARIBBEAN

MY FIRST MATE GAZING OUT AT OUR FLOATING HOME IN THE ANCHORAGE.

ADIX LYING AT ANCHOR OFF ILET A CABRIT, LES SAINTES.
SHE WAS ON ROUTE TO ANTIGUA FOR THE CLASSIC WEEK.

PLAGE DE POMPIERRE, TERRE-DE-HAUT, LES SAINTES.
AFTER A LONG, HOT HIKE EXPLORING THE ISLAND THIS WAS THE PERFECT BEACH TO COOL OFF.

KEEPING OUR UNDERBODY SPOTLESS, LIKE MOWING THE LAWN BACK HOME.

A DOWNWIND PASSAGE UP THE LEEWARD COAST OF GUADELOUPE ON ROUTE TO DESHAIES.

DESHAIES, BASSE-TERRE ISLAND, GUADELOUPE.
WE USED THIS ANCHORAGE AS OUR BASE WHILE VISITING THE ISLAND. APPARENTLY THIS SPOT IS PRONE TO KATABATIC WINDS BUT FORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T SEEM TO SUFFER MUCH FROM THIS FEATURE WHILE WE WERE THERE.

JARDIN BOUTANIQUE DE DESHAIES.
THE MAGNIFICENT BOTANICAL GARDENS, A PERFECT PLACE TO CHILL IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY.

THE SPICE MARKET, POINTE-A-PITRE, GUADELOUPE.
THIS LISTED HISTORICAL MONUMENT IS WHERE YOU CAN BUY FRUIT, VEGETABLES, FISH AND OF COURSE SPICES. THE AIR IS SCENTED WITH CINNAMON AND VANILLA.  

POINTE-A-PITRE'S COLONIAL PAST IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE.

THE STATUE OF VELO.
MARCEL LOLLIA KNOWN AS VELO WAS A MASTER GWOKA DRUMMER AND PERCUSSIONIST.

HERITAGE QUAY, ST JOHN'S, ANTIGUA.
TAKING A STROLL THROUGH THE ISLAND'S CAPITAL. 

ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB, FALMOUTH HARBOUR, ANTIGUA.
ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN YACHT CLUB'S IN THE CARIBBEAN AND HOSTS OF THE ANTIGUA CLASSIC WEEK & ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK, ONE OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER SAILING EVENTS.

MAGNIFICENT SAILING VESSELS OLD & NEW.

ENGLISH HARBOUR, ANTIGUA.
PACKED WITH CRUISERS WANTING TO HAVE FRONT ROW SEATS FOR THE SAIL PAST OUT TO THE RACE COURSE AND BACK EACH DAY.

THE ANTIGUA CLASSIC REGATTA.
WATCHING THESE BEAUTIES UNDER FULL SAIL WAS AMAZING PARTICULARLY WHEN THE WIND GOT UP.

A MOUTHWATERING COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CLASSIC YACHTS.

THE MALTESE FALCON.
A VERY UNUSUAL SELF-STANDING THREE MASTED SQUARE RIGGER AND POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST TECHNICALLY COMPLEX YACHTS IN THE WORLD.

SHAMROCK V.
SITTING IN THE HEART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL J-CLASS YACHT. SHE WAS COMMISSIONED BY SIR THOMAS LIPTON AND LAUNCHED IN 1930.

OUR STRANGE LOOKING NEIGHBOUR FOR NEARLY A MONTH IN FALMOUTH HARBOUR.

GREEN ISLAND OFF THE EAST COAST OF ANTIGUA.
WE SET SAIL FROM HERE FOR BARBADOS.

UNDER FULL SAIL WITH ANTIGUA RAPIDLY SLIPPING OVER THE HORIZON.

ANTIGUA TO BARBADOS, OUR BEST SAILING OF THE SEASON.
FAST PASSAGE-MAKING IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
 

CARLISLE BAY, BARBADOS.
ONE OF THE FEW ANCHORAGES OFF THE WEST COAST OF BARBADOS.

BARBADOS YACHT CLUB.
THE VIEW OVER THE ANCHORAGE IN CARLISLE BAY.

PORT ST CHARLES MARINA, SPEIGHTSTOWN, BARBADOS.
THE FANCY MARINA WHERE WE BASED OURSELVES WHILE EXPLORING THE ISLAND.

THE FINAL PASSAGE OF OUR CARIBBEAN SEASON FROM BARBADOS TO TRINIDAD.
LOOKING OUT FOR ANY BOAT RESEMBLING A PIRATE VESSEL.

GREAT DOWNWIND SAILING APPROACHING BOCAS DE MONOS AND THE GULF OF PARIA.

PEAKE YACHT SERVICES, CHAGUARAMAS, TRINIDAD.
ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST BOATYARDS IN THE CARIBBEAN CONVENIENTLY OUT OF THE HURRICANE BELT.

WINDWARD GETTING HER BOTTOM POWER-WASHED AND READY TO BE TRANSPORTED TO OUR ALLOCATED SPOT IN THE YARD. 

AFTER A WONDERFUL, TROUBLE-FREE SAILING SEASON IN THE CARIBBEAN, WINDWARD TAKES A WELL EARNED REST IN THE HIGH SECURITY COMPOUND WAITING FOR HER NEXT ADVENTURE AT SEA.

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