QUESTION:
I am currently doing a circumnavigation (solo) in my Cape Dory 25D. My folks are worried about pirates and traffic via the Red Sea and worried about bad weather via Cape of Good Hope. I would like to go Cape of Good Hope route. Any suggestions and places to get info to put my parents at relative ease?
ANSWER:
Perhaps you could give your parents a gift of Tania Aebi's book, "Maiden Voyage"
And "Dove" by Robin Graham.
And possibly "Lionheart" by Jesse Martin
Though that might make them worry even more.
You have a sturdy boat, and I assume you have the experience and stamina to make such a trip. I also hope that you have the patience to wait out bad weather. Many small boats have made the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope; South Africa is a welcoming country that everyone I've met has been happy they visited. The usual trip around entails harbor-hopping during good weather, waiting out the bad weather.
Here are a few web links to help:
South Africa welcomes cruisers:
http://www.cruisingconnections.co.za/sailinglogs11.htm
Sail Africa:
SailAfrica
Free "Welcome to Durban, a Sailor's Guide" ebook:
http://www.cruisingconnections.co.za/ebooks.htm
Indian Ocean Sailing Newsfeeds.
News
Fair winds,
Jeanne