South Africa - Cape Town !

Villvind safe and sound  in RCYC ( Royal Cape Yacht Club)

Since we left the Falklands in the end of January we have been sailing for 6 weeks in the famous screaming  50-ies and the roaring 40-ies. In low temperatures,  gales and full storms we have sailed among icebergs, in mist and thick fog.  It has been a rough but  a  memorable journey where our visit on South Georgia with its nature, atmosphere, history  and spectacular wildlife topped it all.

The last night before arriving in South Georgia we were hit by a full storm,-  50 to 60 knots of wind. This should be the first of  more to come and we developed a  strategy  for  sailing is those  conditions which was to, take down the main, reduce  the genoa to 2-4 sqm ‘s and set the windvane for a plain downwind course. This way the boat managed well at all times without broaching with an average speed of 3-4 knots even if we sometimes surfed  in 15-20 knots.  In Cumberland Bay at South Georgia a Japanese survey ship messured  85 knots of wind that night.  An area definitely not for novices. 

 
We arrived in Cape Town , 27 days out from South Georgia . The last week in moderate conditions , sometimes sunny and in  a continuous rising temperature as we got north. Here in RCYC we were allocated a berth for  2 weeks with all the facilities you need. The last weekend in Mars,  Berit and I will sail  55 nm north to Saldanha Bay where  Villvind will be put on the hard for 10 month  before the journey  continue next January .

Until then,  have a funny  and prosperous  2016 !

All the best from Dag, Svein and Terje !