The skipper had an anxious watch from 01.00 to 5.000h during which time the haze thickened and the aircraft noises proved to be the sound of breakers, as the current was setting us inshore. He pinched "Penelope" and managed to steer a more southerly course at a tangent from the land.
Soon After, I went below, we lost Dassen Island light and failed to pick up, in the haze, the red and White occulting light on Robben Island, which should have winked through before Dassen Island Lighthouse was out of range.
At 06.00h I awoke and saw Juan's sea-booted legs on the ladder leading to the Navigation room. The sound of breakers was very loud and Juan was just about to call the skipper. It was then daylight, the haze had lifted and "Penelope" was just making way (estimated speed 1.1/2 knots) about 300 metres from a lee-shore at Blaauwberstrand, with collosal (sic) breakers pounding on the sand and the rocks to port. We called the skipper quickly, threw off the guys and jibed to starboard, whilst the skipper dived into the engine room and got the diesel moving with incredible rapidity. We slowly drew off the land and I made a cup of tea for all hands, with fresh brown bread, butter and cheddar cheese, bought at Saldanha.
Soon Afterwards Robben Island became visible through the haze, about 1.1/2 miles to starboard and we proceeded under sail and power into Table Bay.
At around 09.00h the haze lifted, Table Mountain came into view, we lowered sail and picked up the pilot.
By 10:30h we had passed through Duncan dock and were moored to a buoy in the Yacht basin, overlooking the handsome Royal Cape Yacht Club dependencies.
Our long voyage was over.
Yet another vessel had reached her destination and the readers of the "Shipping Intelligence" column of "the Times" on Monday might notice the brief announcement: "Penelope arrd. C'town 10th".
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Chapter 3 - J: Friday 9th March - Logged Nil
Spent the morning cleaning up "Penelope" with midshipman Pretorius, who is to sail down to Cape Town with us, with another middie, whilst the skipper and other crew members went off to the Guano Islands to film the birds.
After lunch ashore, we all went back on board the ketch to prepare her for sea. At 15.30h Commander Johnson and two of his senior officers came on board and we opened the bottle of champagne which had been reserved for our call at Tristan. Whilst they were looking over "Penelope" a signal came in from the Admiralty at Pretoria vetoing the trip of the two midshipmen, much to everyone's disappointment. Red tape again, presumably. As soon as our visitors departed, we hoisted "O V F" ("Thank you" in the International Code), slipped our moorings and put up the canvas. Soon we were reaching merrily down the harbour accompanied by the navy's biggest and best launch with Commander Johnson, officers, and men circling round us.
Nearing the heads, the launch came almost alongside, caps were raised and we received a resounding "Hip Hip Hurrah". We returned the compliment and as they wheeled to return to their base, we (barring the man at the wheel) sprang into the rigging and waved our farewells from the mastheads. The skipper climbed hand over hand up the mizzen crosstrees. An amazing feat for a man of his age.
Picked up a light North Westerly wind and set abroad-reach course to pass 5 miles outside Dassen Island.
The weather report says some fog but otherwise fair.
I was on watch from 19.00-01.00h
At midnight we had Dassen Island light abeam to port estimated distance off 5 miles.
At 23.30h the 26,000 tons S/S "DOMINION MONARCH" passed North 2 miles to starboard of us, a blaze of lights. Hazy
The Skipper and I heard also, sounds resembling aircraft.
Penelope logging 5 knots.
After lunch ashore, we all went back on board the ketch to prepare her for sea. At 15.30h Commander Johnson and two of his senior officers came on board and we opened the bottle of champagne which had been reserved for our call at Tristan. Whilst they were looking over "Penelope" a signal came in from the Admiralty at Pretoria vetoing the trip of the two midshipmen, much to everyone's disappointment. Red tape again, presumably. As soon as our visitors departed, we hoisted "O V F" ("Thank you" in the International Code), slipped our moorings and put up the canvas. Soon we were reaching merrily down the harbour accompanied by the navy's biggest and best launch with Commander Johnson, officers, and men circling round us.
Nearing the heads, the launch came almost alongside, caps were raised and we received a resounding "Hip Hip Hurrah". We returned the compliment and as they wheeled to return to their base, we (barring the man at the wheel) sprang into the rigging and waved our farewells from the mastheads. The skipper climbed hand over hand up the mizzen crosstrees. An amazing feat for a man of his age.
Picked up a light North Westerly wind and set abroad-reach course to pass 5 miles outside Dassen Island.
The weather report says some fog but otherwise fair.
I was on watch from 19.00-01.00h
At midnight we had Dassen Island light abeam to port estimated distance off 5 miles.
At 23.30h the 26,000 tons S/S "DOMINION MONARCH" passed North 2 miles to starboard of us, a blaze of lights. Hazy
The Skipper and I heard also, sounds resembling aircraft.
Penelope logging 5 knots.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Chapter 3 - I: Thursday 8th March - Logged 16 Miles
Awoke with an early morning cup of coffee, followed by a whopping breakfast.
Went on board "Penelope" to fetch the movie camera, films and our soiled clothes which the Navy has offered to wash for us.
The Skipper then showed some films of the earlier part of Penelope's voyage and gave an impromptu talk in the auditorium of 300 officers and men of the base.
Latter(sic) we filled up with fuel and water at the jetty and went into Saldanha village to buy some fresh fruit and vegetable for our final voyage to Cape Town.
My Sister Eda rang through from Cape Town to the base, having read of our arrival in the Cape Argus. I had previously sent her a telegram to Mossel Bay telling her we were at Saldanha. Unfortunately, we cannot send international cables from here so we must wait until we reach Cape Town for the "safe arrival" cables to Brazil.
In the evening there was a cocktail party and buffet supper in the Ward Room, partly as a send-off for one of Commander Johnson's chief administrative officer Flick, who is leaving the base to join the "Good Hope" and partly in our honour. All the officers were present with their wives- very interested in the wild bearded men from Brazil! After the usual speeches, the skipper made a further resume of the trip helped by a blackboard and maps. He is accustomed to giving lectures and quickly obtains the interest of his audience.
Juan, who can only speak Spanish and a few words of French, had a whale of a time, consuming vast quantities of food and drink particularly a mixture of South African Brandy and Van de Hamm, an excellent local liqueur. He has learned a few words of Afrikaans already. Fortunately, perhaps, no one other than Oliver and I understood his final impassioned conversation with one of the officers' wives. He told her at great length that she had such wonderful blue eyes, rose-bud lips, delicate hands, etc. and that he really wanted nothing more than the privilege of taking her to bed with him.
The party thus ended happily and hilariously.
Slept again in our luxurious surroundings.
Our hosts at:
S.A.S. "DROMMEDARIS" (the official name of the base)
P.O. Saldanha
C.P.
are:- Commander James Johnson
Lieut. Comdr. Bierman
Lieut. Roy Kingon
" J. Johannsen
" Peter Ayris
and others
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