Rounded Cape Agulhas
17 December 2006 | Cape Agulhas
Chris
Sitting in the cockpit at 8:00AM, the sun is out but it is a blustery day with lots of low grey clouds. The weather is chilly because the moderate southerly is bringing cold air from the south. I am enjoying a warm cup of coffee and I can see the Cape Agulhas lighthouse just aft of our beam while Cisnecito reaches along through a moderate swell heading just north of west.
We have just rounded this cape, are back in to the Atlantic, and are the furthest south we have sailed. All three are significant milestones in our cruise.
While not a challenging passage for us, I do feel the warm glow of pride as this cape has a horrible reputation among mariners throughout history. This infamy is evident from the number of wrecks plotted on the charts of the area. Of course modern weather forecasting and communication technology have made it a lot easier.
Our thanks to Fred and team on Peri-Peri radio for their expertise and guidance. Their "go or no go" decisions were spot on for us.