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Cleone - in Knysna



Knysna is one of the most attractive places we have been to, in every way.

By juggling the sail-plan, we arrived off Knysna at exactly the recommended time.  The friendly local NSRI station is always happy to give advice, and they confirmed that conditions in the notorious Knysna heads were ideal, so in we went.  Even so, the leading marks took us remarkably close in to the rocks on the eastern side of the entrance.  Just alongside us, the swells broke impressively, and a cross-current meant that we had to steer about thirty degrees to starboard to keep the marks in line.  Luckily the rear mark was lit, even though it was daytime, otherwise we would have had great difficulty in picking it out atop its slender post.  But soon we were safely through, and realised that whatever the dangers (and many vessels and lives have been lost in this entrance) our surroundings were stunning.  We turned hard to port, and carried the last of the tide into what must be one of the finest natural harbours in the world.  Despite the narrow entrance, it is deep inside, and big clippers, mainly from England, used the port in the 19th and early 20th centuries to load timber.  We threaded our way up the channel, and were beckoned in by a large welcoming party waiting on the yacht club jetty.  Willing hands made fast our warps, and beers were thrust into our hands even before we could finish tidying up the boat!

We spent a very relaxed couple of nights, with a day in hired cars spent driving up the coast to a monkey and bird sanctuary.  The monkeys live freely in 12 hectares of enclosed jungle, and our guide gave us a fascinating tour.  But this was nothing compared to the aviary next door.  Their claim to be the largest enclosed aviary in the world must be true; and the number and varieties of birds flying freely was simply stunning.  We spent a very happy afternoon, and arrived back at the Yacht Club in time to say farewell to our hosts and exchange burgees and a drink!

Today we left with the tide at 6 am.  Conditions through the Heads were again benign.  We were within less than a half hour of high tide, but even so, we motored hard against it.  It is hard to imagine trying to enter or leave in slightly less-good sea and weather conditions.  We motored for an hour or so, and now we have the spinnaker driving us forwards in a desperate but doubtless futile attempt to try and catch Quasar V!  Hopefully, we will arrive in Cape Town sometime on Friday.

All well on board, and best wishes to all

James & Marcel.
Yacht Cleone
34o17'S 022o30'E


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