More Cape Town…. Saturday, 07/06/2025
I hired a little Hyundai i10 last weekend and drove around Cape Town and it’s surrounds. First was some shopping – it’s handy to have a car when you are buying heavier stuff (such as beer!). Then I drove to Kirstenbosch Gardens, which I thought worthwhile to revisit. It’s a stunning location, situated on the slopes of Table Mountain. Very well maintained, and has lots of signage concerning plants and trees, making it interesting. Although it’s much younger, established only in 1913, it’s right up there with London’s Kew Gardens – in fact it’s difficult to think of another large and really outstanding botanical gardens in the world. I had the time, so I actually walked quite high above the gardens, where various tracks leading up and around Table Mountain pass.
On Sunday, I drove down the coast south of Cape Town as far as Llandudno, where I walked a way along the beach, and then headed back north, stopping in Camps Bay, which is backed by the Twelve Apostles, where I took a longer walk. This west coast is stunningly scenic (again, to make an international comparison, I can think only of California’s Big Sur coastline south of Monterey).
On Monday morning I had to take the boat to the Royal Cape Yacht Club, about 20 minutes of motoring away. Unfortunately the boatyard had some sort of problem, so I sat tied up to a jetty waiting, until at 4pm it was clear that she would only come out of the water on Tuesday morning. I moved to the boatyard’s jetty where I overnighted – not unpleasantly, given that there’s a very decent bar/restaurant at the club. Sunrise is late in Cape Town, at the moment about 07:45, but that didn’t stop the boatyard guys from starting to prepare Manuka to be lifted in the dark at 07:00. As it became fully light we were out. The weather was horrible, constant rain. I was out assisting the mechanic, so ended up pretty wet. He then left to attend a course, returning just after 4pm. More work, and then at about 18:45, by which time it was pretty chilly, I suggested that he stop and that we get a beer and something to eat.
He finished up early on Wednesday morning – new seals fitted, antifoul paint applied to the outer part of the sail drive – and then it was back in the water. It was a sunny day, so a lot more pleasant, although a stiff wind was blowing through the marina. I had to get out through a narrow gap between two boats, so insisted that a couple of guys were stationed on the boat that I was likely to be blown against, plus another guy stood by in a dinghy. Good foresight on my part! – pulling away at slow speed the wind blew me towards the boat, but the two guys on it could push me off. Then, with speed picking up, I was alright manoeuvring out of the marina. I then had to wait outside in strong wind while a large cargo ship was pulled out by a couple of tugs. It was a relief to get into the small harbour en route to the V&A Marina, which is a lot more sheltered. The marina itself is nicely surrounded by buildings, so was surprisingly calm, making it easy tying up back here. I must admit that I felt quite exhausted from all this – and adrenaline was coursing through me.
The weather has been adverse the past couple of days, but looks more suitable by the middle of next week. I am making preparations to leave Cape Town then. I will post a brief notice before I leave.