What an experience . From the moment we arrived it was magical.Unbeknown to us we sailed in 10 minutes before the authorities were about to close for the weekend and knowing that we were due anytime via my radio call, they had decided to clear us in to avoid having to come into work on the Saturday.We had Steve the ferryman alongside us before l could shut down the instruments and after stepping ashore at their famous landing using ropes to swing onto terra firma , Brian the harbourmaster was waiting for us in his car to rush us to Immigration and then to his office to sort out mooring fees . Then we arrived at Customs to clear in and we met our first Saint . Julie Balchin the customs lady completed the formalities and then asked us casually if we had a couple of hours to spare. Not knowing really what she had up her sleeve we all nodded.What followed was the first of three tours that she took us on in her Landrover showing us every square inch of her island . She was born on the island and has never left it and has no desire to ever leave it . She spoilt us rotten with gifts everyday and spent many hours with us making our stay very special . She heads up the SPCA on the island and we even got involved with micro-chipping dogs on the second day . Many thanks Jules , you are a special Saint .
In general the reason the islanders refer to themselves as saints is because they are saints in that they are the nicest , friendliest people and they can't spell the word crime.What blew us away is that this remote community has no crime .While we were on the boat we listened to their radio station , Saint FM which carries all the news of whats on around the island . While we were there a local guy was fined 300 pounds because his dog as the magistrate put it , was " irritating the poultry ". It was wonderful to know that in this day and age , people can live without fear of being robbed or murdered and can trust each other to maintain the status quo.
We visited Longwood , Napoleons last residence while being held by the British.
It was eerie standing next to the bed in which he died and walking about in the house where he spent his final years .We also spent time at the Boer cemetry where the age of the prisoners at their time of death ranged between 16 and 74 years .
I took on the famous Jacob's Ladder which is a steep staircase of 699 steps ,up and down.Eish.
We bumped into fellow cruisers at the famous Anne's Place including Peter and Cathy ,S/V Leto who spent time in Port Owen while passing through.
In the entire time we were on the island , we did not meet one saint who was in favour of the new airport opening next year .
We are very grateful that we were able to experience this remote island with these wonderful people before it all changes and the consensus is that it will never be the same again .
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.
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 .
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