Durban lies 275 miles ahead of us and we are planning for a pilot at the uncivilised hour of 4 a.m., in part because the pilot’s shift change at 6 and secondly, because we have an intensive South African immigration procedure; our guests need to be cleared in time to have sufficient hours to enjoy their tours.  many are leaving us for ‘overland’, the majority of which involves Safari in the Game Reserves of South and East Africa, they will be rejoining us in Walvis Bay.  I’m envious, I must stay within 2 hours travel of the ship, which rather reduces my choices  🙁

Since I last wrote, the ‘potholes’ continued until late Tuesday afternoon, then I had sufficient sea-room to alter course more to the west, without hitting Madagascar  😎 Strangely enough, there are reefs that exist and extend almost 60 miles to the south of the mainland itself.  The slight alteration made a world of difference to the movement of the ‘Amsterdam’ and conditions became much smoother.

Our days are filled with ship’s business in various guises and preparations for the impending arrival of our VIPs. The forthcoming days are going to be filled with various functions and presentations, many involving my presence and additionally, I have the day-to-day management of the ship to contend with, weather conditions and the consequent routeing.  I am watching, in particular, a large swell off the southern Cape, generated by a storm much further south, which could cause challenges in regard to our ‘movement’; fortunately it is just that, swell, without too much wind.  Early days yet, in terms of prognosis and I’ll continue to keep an eye on it.