A windy and rough night followed our departure from Reunion Island.  Typically, the forecast bore little resemblance to the actual weather; this often occurs when in more isolated areas of the oceans, a great deal of the information being based on ‘presumptions’.

Rain and 40 kt squalls from the south-east, hammered our port side and we shifted ballast and fresh water across to compensate for the resultant list. On the starboard side, because of the lower pressure (out of the wind), the salt spray  was reaching our upper superstructure; when the opportunity permits, we will have to wash down our paintwork to avoid the salt affecting it.

We passed 4 ships this morning, all heading north-east to various points on the globe and they were making heavy-weather of it, hence the image above.  Low in the water, their bows burying themselves into the swell and white-water over their decks; rolling too, no stabilisers for them…

Ah, it brings back memories of my days gone by and how luxurious to be ‘above it all’.  We are ‘moving’ though, one can’t defy nature, no matter how hard one tries, but stabilisers make wonderful additions  😀

I remember once, while on a cargo ship in the Bay of Biscay, which lies off the west coast of France, we hit a storm of monumental proportions.  We were carrying cargo in the holds, however on deck we had 500 tonnes of Spanish onions.  They were in bags and lashed down with ropes and netting across the deck.   A wave, much larger than its sisters, came rolling towards us; we could see it coming and so we ‘braced for impact’, legs apart, lean forward and hang on  😯

Wallop, the bow disappeared, the entire forward deck disappeared under a wall of water, the ship shuddered under the strain and it felt as if we’d hit a brick wall.  After what seemed an eon, the bow lifted, shaking herself free from the intrusion and lo, looking out of the Bridge windows, no more onions, the entire 500 tonnes was now on its way to some perplexed Frenchman, wondering where these ‘sea-onions’ came from.  O well, c’est la vie, (forgive the pun).

The morning after, still rough, but taking it well.

We have several VIPs joining us in Durban; My President and CEO, Carnival Cruise Line’s President and CEO, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife amongst many. The ‘airwaves’ are full of arrangements, timetables and heaven knows what.  One’s thing for sure, I’ll be eating my way round the South African coast!  😕

More about that later in the week, now I must leave you and study menus….now, I’m only joking!