MAIDEN VOYAGE

27 AUG 22

Our maiden voyage was from Cape Town to Luderitz, Namibia return.

We took another 2 crew with us, Gary Runtzler a highly sought after international skipper and our good friend Paul Van Ass.

Gary helped us tremendeusly by checking and going though the entire boat and gave us heaps of information about the Leopard 45's.   

Day 1:  27 Aug 2022

We left Cape Town at 7h30 am, Wind was NW/NNW 10 - 13 Kts, sea state 1.5 - 2 m swells, lumpy seas, confused with no rhythm.  The weather windows to Luderitz is probably never favourable, if not blowing 40 knots then no wind with heavy fog. So we motor sailed for most of the day as the wind was on the nose and backed round 18h00 to SW 7-9 kts.  It was very cold, luckily for our enclosure by North Sails, it made all the difference.

Day 2: 28 Aug 2022

06h00 Wind SSW/S  13 - 16 kts, motor sailed with 1 engine.  Sea 1.5m swell less lumpy. We tried out our Oxley Parasail as the wind was very light though the day.  Conditions pretty much stayed same throughout the night and sea state became more steady.

Day 3:  29 Aug 2022

10h00 Wind increased to 16 - 18 kts, sea state 2 meter swell, following seas.  We had our Code 0 up at the time and we were doing speeds well over 12 kts.  By 13h00 luckily we took the Code 0 down, wind gusted to 32 - 35 kts and building. Sea increase to 3.5 meter swells.  By 16h00 we reached our top speed 18.4 with a double reefed Genoa plus 1.7 kts current from behind The night was very uncomfortable and sea building to 4.5-5 meter swells with winds gusting up to 42 kts.  Was a bit of a anxious day and night as wind sustained round 38 kts.

30 Aug 2022

Was still breezy well into the 20-23 kts but as soon as we turned into Luderitz harbour early morning all quite and picked up a mooring buoy.  We could relax, check in at Customs and immigration.  Had breakfast at a local restaurant and walked around the town.

1 -4 Sept 2022 Return to Cape Town 

We pretty much motored sailed most of the time as there was a storm approaching Cape Town and we needed to get back by Sunday round 11h00.  Wind NE - NW 4 - 6 kts or no wind at all.  We had a full moon with beautiful sun rises and sun sets.  

4 Sept 22:  As we pass Robben Island the sea state increased, very choppy and could see the storm approaching.  Luckily we docked back at the V&A Marina at 10h20 and as we disembarking round 12 noon the storm arrived with heavy rains and winds gusting up to 40 kts.