I last wrote early on the 5th, we are still here, at anchor off the port, with a number of other ships.

A South African warship takes a ‘tour’ around us.

On the 7th, we had to weigh anchor, (a 4:30 a.m. call from the bridge, haven’t had one of those for a while 🙂 )  We had to rendezvous with the Port Health boat once more, for another ‘swab’.  Pitch dark, pouring rain and 30-knot winds as we weaved our way through the anchored ships.  10 minutes drifting while the deed was done and then back to our anchorage spot, 2 hours after leaving it.

By this time the wind was so strong that we were ‘sailing’ on our anchor chain, making a long arc on the 810 feet/ 247m of cable which we had out.  Such erratic behaviour could pull the anchor out of the sand and so we resorted to going on our joystick and held her, head to wind for the remainder of the day and night.  Tendering would definitely have been be a no. 😯

Today, the 8th, we are slowly making progress, Pratique has been granted, one hurdle surmounted; now we have to wait for the departments of the port to their ‘bit’, we might even mange berthing tomorrow, if we’re lucky.  We’re disembarking 5 South African nationals while we have the chance, who knows if they’ll have another opportunity.  Fuel will be taken and some stores and fresh provisions before we leave.  I will update you all later.

Stay well and safe and thank you for your comments too!