Position: 33 58.03'S 025 38.17'E
Time: 14:30 UTC

We made it to Port Elisabeth !!! Atlantis is on a walk on mooring at the end of the jetty of the Algoa Bay Yacht Club, another step closer to Cape Town. Atlantis and crew are safe after an eventful sail with some technical problems....

The mainsail came loose and the reefing lines and battons broke...no other option than to motor al the way to Port Elisabeth. Although we had reserve fuel in jerrycans, the seas were to bumpy to fill the thanks. After checking the charts we decided that the best option would be to seek a sheltered anchorage North of Bird Island to fill the tanks and get some rest.

We reached Bird Island at 12:00 UTC and dropped the anchor in 7m of water. Crew and boat were fine. The water was crystal clear and the citizens of Atlantis and a thousand birds were the only inhabitants...at least that is what we thought until a dinghy of Nature Conservation approached us because Francois dropped his fishing rod in the water!!! Must say that he was very hungry at that time. (read Helen's story)

At 05:00 UTC we left Bird Island for the 33 NM trip to Port Elisabeth, motoring all the way. The swell was still high, but more comfortable because we were sailing in the Algoa Bay. No major incidents... Dieter a German sailor who travelled twice around the world helped us to
moor Atlantis. The sailor community is always available to help. Mission accomplished !!!

Happy New Year to all Atlantis fans!

Marc