SAA II Delivery - Day 26 / 02 May 2012

Hello All

As my kids said...only one more sleep!!

We came in thick fog yesterday afternoon into the St. Helena Bay anchorage and was actually quite surprised to find a handful of bulkies anchored in the bay, probably waiting on their berths to come available at the iron ore terminals in Saldanha. Well we found a snuggle spot to anchor for the night while waiting on some DEA personnel to come onboard the next morning early to brief us on our arrival proceedings.

We were lucky and the fog lifted nicely to allow us to run our FRB in and pick 3 delegates up this morning. We are also taking out some time to dress up the ship and prepare the accommodation ladder and so forth. We would not want to struggle with any of those things tomorrow.

After our last team supper tonight we will recover the anchor and make for our last leg to the Mother City, hold thumbs for a good weather day, please.

Have a good midweek and see you tomorrow.

All the best.

SAA II Delivery - Day 25 / 01 May 2012

Hello All

Yesterday we got hammered a bit by the north westerly gale, but luckily it subsided relatively quickly. It was difficult to adjust to a comfortable heading with the seas and mayor swell almost apposing.

We made radar and visual landfall yesterday after many days of not having any land in sight, quite a welcoming event. We are slow steaming along the west coast and abeam to Lambertsbay at the moment heading south.

This morning we woke to what we know at sea as "pea soup", thick fog which even closes in the foremast. One has to think of sailors back in the day without radar...sure they had hair on their teeth.

We even had cell phone signal for a short while last night and this morning. Needless to say everyone grabbed their phones to say a quick "hello" before arrival.

Enjoy the public holiday and all the best.

SAA II Delivery - Day 24 / 30 April 2012

Hello All

From a stunning day yesterday to a true South African howling north westerly wind today. We don't mind and feel right at home and was expecting this weather for this time of the year.

We crossed the Namibian/South African seaward border this morning at 02:42 in position 29°37'S 015°03.4'E. The first time the vessel enters her home waters, quite an event.

Well we have decided to hove too the weather for the remainder of the day further offshore to stay well clear of a lee shore.

The weather forecasts are predicting some rain for the next few days and in particular our day of arrival on the 3rd of May...who organised that? ;-)

Have a good start to the week and see you on Thursday.