Cape Town, South Africa, September 2018
After 2 long flights and a 6 hours layover in Zurich, we landed in Cape Town, South Africa. First time for both of us in the Southern hemisphere and on the African continent. We are very excited by the fact that this year we are going to have Spring and Summer twice!
I had mixed feelings about Cape Town, and didn't quite know what to expect. About a year ago I read a New York Times article describing the terrible water crisis the city was experiencing, with government limiting water consumption to 13 gallons a day per person. The article mentioned a Day Zero, when most taps were expected to be shut off and residents would have to line up at distribution points for their daily allotment.
Luckily they had more rain this winter and water reservoirs are now 75% full. Water conservation policies worked remarkably well. Something that California maybe should start considering.
Cape Town's water restriction notice — 87 litres per person per day
We found a vibrant city with a beautiful water front and very nice and hospitable people. While exploring the town we run into this charming neighborhood called Bo-Kaap.
Colorful houses, cobblestone streets and a music festival going on with kids with their faces painted dancing and having fun. What better way than this to get introduced to a new Continent and Town?
Cobblestone streets and colorful houses in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood
A local woman in the streets of Bo-Kaap
Cultural art on display during the Bo-Kaap street festival
A woman and child sit on the steps of a painted doorway in Bo-Kaap
A festival performer with painted face from the Baruch Brass Band
Two young men with elaborate face paint at the Bo-Kaap festival
The Bo-Kaap street parade — dancers, musicians, and feathered costumes
After spending the first night in an airbnb, we were ready to get introduced to our new boat, S/V Oroboro, patiently waiting for us in a berth at Cape Grace!
Oroboro at her berth at Cape Grace marina — a brand-new Leopard 40
Oroboro alongside at Cape Grace, with the Cape Grace Hotel behind her
The Leopard 40 logo on the mainsail and Leopard Catamarans branding on the hull
Yuka signing the delivery documents — Oroboro is officially ours
Exploring every inch of the boat was like unwrapping a very large present. Everything was brand new and still wrapped from the factory.
Yuka discovering her forward cabin for the first time
The saloon — L-shaped settee, folding table, and full-height windows
The saloon looking aft — the layout that drew us to the Leopard 40
The saloon's forward-facing windows looking out over the trampoline
The view from the cockpit through the large sliding saloon door
The galley stove and oven — still wrapped from the factory
The galley oven cabinet and storage drawers
The nav station, with the foredeck door leading to the trampoline
Looking forward through the foredeck door from the nav station
The helm — wheel, winches, and sail controls
The cockpit and helm station from the aft deck
The aft platform and cockpit viewed from the dock
Oroboro tied alongside at the Cape Grace dock
The anchor locker and chain hawse pipe at the bow
An open deck hatch revealing the hull storage space
The water tank in one of the hull lockers
The starboard Yanmar diesel engine — fresh from the factory
The port Yanmar diesel engine, seen from above
Looking forward from Oroboro's foredeck toward the Cape Grace marina
The furled mainsail on the boom, with the Leopard 40 logo
Oroboro at Cape Grace at dusk, the hotel glowing behind her
What better way to celebrate than oysters and a cold beer at a waterfront restaurant, with Table Mountain looming overhead?
Oysters and Belgian beer at a waterfront restaurant, Table Mountain behind
During our first sea trial we took Oroboro out into Table Bay to put the sails and engines through their paces.
Francesco and Yuka at the helm during Oroboro's first sea trial in Table Bay
The Cape Town dry dock seen from the water
Cape Town kept revealing new sides of itself. The famous yellow photo frame at the V&A Waterfront frames Table Mountain perfectly — and displays the exact coordinates that give this post its title.
Yuka at the iconic Table Mountain photo frame at the V&A Waterfront
The South African flag flying in front of Table Mountain from the water
Inside an African art and curios shop packed with masks, textiles, and carvings
We hiked up Signal Hill above the city for sweeping views over Table Bay. At noon, the Signal Hill Noon Gun — fired every day since 1806 — rings out across Cape Town.
The Signal Hill Noon Gun officer prepares to fire the historic cannon
Cape Town's V&A Waterfront and harbour from Signal Hill
Yuka with the historic Signal Hill cannons overlooking the Atlantic
Cape Town's Sea Point coastline seen from Signal Hill
Cape Town glittering at night, seen from Signal Hill
Then we tackled Table Mountain itself — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Lion's Head peak viewed from the summit of Table Mountain, with the Atlantic beyond
The Atlantic coastline far below the cliffs of Table Mountain
Rock climbers ascending a face on Table Mountain, Cape Town suburbs spread below
Sandstone formations on the summit of Table Mountain
Yuka on top of Table Mountain — Cape Town and Table Bay laid out below
Back at the marina, we had a very distinguished neighbor on the dock.
A Cape fur seal napping on the dock right next to Oroboro at Cape Grace
Oroboro at Cape Grace marina from across the dock
The V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain from the water
The V&A Waterfront swing bridge lit blue at night
A day trip down the Cape Peninsula brought us to the very tip of Africa.
At the start of the Cape of Good Hope Scenic Walk
Francesco and Yuka at the Cape of Good Hope — the most south-western point of the African continent
African penguins at Boulders Beach, Simonstown
A colony of African penguins on a granite boulder at Boulders Beach
Hout Bay — a perfect horseshoe of mountains and sea
Hout Bay panorama from Chapman's Peak
The rugged coastline of Chapman's Peak Drive
Before setting sail, a final drive through the Cape Winelands.
Vineyards in the Constantia Valley, mountains rising behind
S/V Oroboro GPS track — Cape Town, South Africa — Sep–Dec 2018 • GPS data from Raymarine chartplotter • Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Every anchorage — Cape Town, Sep–Dec 2018
Three months at the V&A Waterfront outfitting Oroboro for the ocean crossing.
| Stop | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V&A Waterfront — Cape Grace Marina | Sep–Dec 2018 | Oroboro delivery · full outfitting · sea trials in Table Bay |
Anchorage maps
Zoomed chart of the Cape Town V&A Waterfront berth.
V&A Waterfront — Cape Grace Marina
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. GPS tracks from Raymarine chartplotter, archived Sep–Dec 2018.