My First Sail Leg from Cape Town to Walvis Bay/Namibia

The first few days of our South African team’s adventure were a bit of a blur. We were all dealing with seasickness and trying to adjust to the daily routines on board a tall ship. Our tasks included cleaning the deck, fixing sails, painting, and more during the day watch. We also had navigation watch, where we kept a lookout and took turns steering the ship. And let’s not forget the night watch and working in the galley, cooking three meals a day for about 50 people.

This sail voyage is an educational experience, like a floating classroom. Our South African students spend three hours each day working on their own school curriculum. They also get to explore subjects like Sociology and Seaman ship in classes alongside students from Canada. It’s a unique opportunity to learn and grow together.

It’s a real bummer, but I ended up getting super sick on the boat for the first three days. The smell of the kitchen and food made me puke right away, so I had to stay away. I was so tired and ended up sleeping most of the time. Teaching our two young students from Khayelitsha, who already finished Matric and were getting special computer and life skills lessons, was really tough for me. All three of us had a hard time focusing in the classroom. We would get dizzy and need to take lots of breaks just to make it through the sessions.

Arriving in Walvis Bay got me really excited, despite knowing that it’s not the most beautiful place. The industrial port where we had to anchor for the last 4 days, and the entire little town, don’t really have much charm. But even with that in mind, my disappointment was evident when I realized that almost everything was closed because it was Easter Monday. Walvis Bay felt like a deserted ghost town.

Thankfully, we discovered an appealing alternative for the next day – Swakopmund, a town up the coast that has a strong German influence and is surrounded by sand dunes. It was a breath of fresh air. There, we had access to the internet, enjoyed nice cafes and restaurants, met friendly Namibians, and, of course, soaked up the sun on the beach.

Over the past couple of days, we had an amazing experience exploring the local area with an enthusiastic and lively guide named Charlotte. She is well-known for her community tours and took us on an unforgettable journey. Our first adventure was a cultural township tour, which introduced us to families from various tribes, such as the Herero, Himba, and Nama.

When I visited a kindergarten in the township Mondesa outside Swakopmund, I was reminded of the lasting impact of Apartheid in Namibia. The scars of that painful history are still visible today. But amidst the challenges, I had the opportunity to be part of a so-called CARE community project organized by the Canadian team.

During the project, we had a whole afternoon filled with three different activities. Some of the team members were busy setting up a greenhouse at a primary school, while others kept the students entertained with fun games. I chose to join the cooking group, where we worked alongside students from a small college.

Together, we prepared a variety of delicious treats. We made cheese snacks, Mexican wraps, a mouthwatering apple cake, and irresistible chocolate cookies. The kitchen was filled with laughter, as we bonded over our shared love for food and the joy of creating something together.

In the end, we all came together to enjoy the fruits of our labor. It was a moment of pure delight as we savored the delicious dishes we had prepared. The day was truly amazing, leaving us with a multitude of positive impressions that will forever remain in our hearts.

Yesterday, I had such an amazing experience exploring the unique nature of the Namibian desert. One of the highlights was discovering the incredibly rare Welwitschia plant, which can live for hundreds of years.

Another stunning sight was the moon landscape, with its dark canyons that looked otherworldly. And to top it all off, we had a blast sandboarding down the beautiful sand dunes near Swakopmund beach.

Now, I’m getting ready for another exciting adventure! Today, I’m setting sail in the afternoon for a 10-day journey to St. Helena, an island located in the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean. It’s a stop along our way to Brazil.

If you want to learn more about my travels, feel free to check out our weblog at http://windjammers09.blogspot.com/.

Stay tuned for my next update from St. Helena!

Stay tuned for my next update from St. Helena!