After the hype and buzz of Paraty , we decided to head for some of the quieter anchorages and sailed for Ilha do Cotia . The perfect anchorage for a bit of R & R , catch up with a bit of reading and listen to some music . We have about two hundred albums on our boat with a really nice sound system , so we are methodically working through them . The anchorage is very sheltered from all winds and the holding is good . We had it all to ourselves for a day and then a very pretty schooner arrived and shared the tranquility with us .
We then sailed for Ilha do Cedro , another pretty anchorage and just before sunset a number of small fishing boats arrived and anchored for the night , leaving at first light the next morning . Providing a bit of protection to the anchorage is a small island with a narrow channel separating it from Cedro with a couple of small houses and a little beach where the following morning we sat sipping our coffee while watching a fisherman repairing his net with his dog lying at his feet , oblivious to the fact that at that point in time there were millions of people sitting in traffic jams or similar stressful situations . How different some people live compared to others .
Our next destination was Itanhanga Island where we anchored off a very island style looking restaurant in a very nice setting . We had no sooner set the anchor when a guy in a small boat came alongside waving a menu in the air suggesting we visit his restaurant and that we should give him a time and he would personally come and pick us up in his boat and then drop us off later after our meal . We were fetched bang on time and arrived at his private dock in front of this beautiful rustic bar/restaurant to find out that he was in fact the owner of the island and a fellow sailor .
He has a magnificent golden retriever who is the official guide on the island and he suggested we first explore the island with his dog before sitting down to a meal . The pooch led us around the island even waiting patiently every time we took a pic and then continuing with the grand tour . He was fantastic , we even started apologising to him for keeping him waiting .
We eventually returned to the restaurant and sat down to an amazing meal with starters and a couple of cold beers to wash it down .
Later we were chauffeured back to our boat with enough food left over for lunch the following day .
This cruising life is all about unplanned events which makes it so enjoyable .
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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