Exody - Days 316 -321: Riding the Agulhas Current

Clad in warm snugs, long pants with foul weather gear at the ready, we are disappointed to be only doing 7.5 knots this sunny Saturday (28th November) heading virtually due west along the bottom of Africa with a Force 6 easterly directly astern! 12 miles off Cape St Francis, the mighty Agulhas current has weakened now to one knot and gone offshore beyond the widening continental shelf. Exody is under genny alone since we have learnt that flying the mainsail dead downwind is not conducive to our wellbeing- even at the expense of a bit of speed.

Monday evening (23rd) we had joined the general exodus from Durban southwestwards following a forecast weather window, supported by an impromptu seminar with the owner of a German weather routing outfit who just happened to be there on his cat!

The Agulhas runs close to Durban so we were soon being 'lifted' southwestwards with a bonus of up to three and half knots at times- we got used to 9.5 knots for several hours and peaked at 10.2. We completed the 260 miles, 50 of which were 'for free', in 36 hours of which only three without engine. We anchored in the murky Buffalo River, East London early Wednesday morning, one of 16 arrivals including four ARC boats directly from Richards Bay. After a quick phone call we were lucky to secure one of the few alongside berths at the Buffalo Yacht Club, saving us the hassle of exhuming the dinghy. The friendly club with hot showers, organised a braai (barbecue) and bar for us that night and it was good to connect up with several non ARC boats as well as some of our own fleet.

I dismantled and rebuilt the genoa winch once again and several other jobs filled the very damp and rainy day that followed. A club member provided transport for us all to fill our diesel jerry cans. Aretha booked a fine Italian restaurant for a thanksgiving dinner. Friday dawned drizzly again but by early afternoon about ten boats had departed after waiting for huge car carrier Serenity Ace to turn and dock in the narrow river - they build Mercedes C Class for the USA market here.

Today, Saturday, and for a few hours only, all the World ARC fleet are at sea simultaneously using the weather 'window' during the free cruise. The front group on the last lap from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town; us, the middle group from East London heading for Mossel Bay/Cape Town; the last group now heading southwest from Richards Bay.

We are still to decide our destination - Mossel Bay or Cape Town.

Peter (Skipper)