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After more than 1,800 miles and two weeks at sea, we have arrived to a small patch of land, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean… the tiny island of St Helena. And wow... it feels good to be here. Waking up with the anchor down in warm sunshine and crystal-clear water is about the best welcome we could have hoped for. The passage from South Africa had a little bit of everything. From riding out a gale to spinnaker sailing for days on end, It was an unforgettable journey. But after two weeks at sea, it feels nice to have the anchor down and resting before setting off on the next leg of the adventure. First things first though... we need to make clearance into the island, stretch our legs, and restock the boat, because our last green vegetable disappeared a few days ago....
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After 13 Days & 1800 Miles... LAND HO! | Sailing South Africa to St Helena Island... Ep 4497/7/2026 Use the discount code: SAILINGNANDJI to get 5% off on eSIMs and 10% off on Holafly Plans (for the first 12 months) 👉 https://hfly.co/1927p Happy Travelling Over a week has now passed since we left South Africa and the safety of land behind, we have now sailed far enough north to be enjoying the warm weather and steady consistent trade winds. The Atlantic Ocean has transformed from the angry cold southern waters and faded into a calm deep blue, the skies have cleared and the strong wind has softened into a gentle breeze. The Days drift by under the warm sunshine and it is to feel the warmth again Now more than halfway to the island of St Helena. Our first destination across the Atlantic is beginning to feel within reach but being surrounded by the endless blue, it still feels a world away… A THOUSAND MILES From LAND & NO WHERE to HIDE! | Sailing South Africa to St Helena Island... Ep 4487/4/2026 Five days into our passage, our plan was simple, keep pushing north, make miles, and try to outrun this weather. But the ocean doesn’t give you the option to escape... With nowhere to hide and no way around it, we found ourselves directly in the path of the blow. As pitch black night from cloud cover and heavy weather are a completely different experience. You can’t see the waves building behind you, you can only feel the boat climb, crash, and surf into the unknown. The wind howls through the rig, the cockpit disappears into darkness, and every movement becomes a reminder of just how small we are in this vast ocean. It’s loud. It’s unpredictable. It’s uncomfortable. And for hours, all you can do is trust your preparation, trust your boat, and ride it out until sun rise. But this is exactly why we love Nandji 2. When the ocean turns against us and conditions become challenging, she looks after her crew. She carries us safely through the chaos, keeping us comfortable even when the world outside is anything but. By now with the sun well and truly up, the gusty 40-knot winds had eased back to a more manageable 25 knots and Nandji 2 was flying After more than 12 months exploring Africa, we have finally waved goodbye to the continent and pointed Nandji 2 north west toward the Caribbean. Now, 48 hours into our Atlantic crossing, we're settling back into life at sea. If all goes to plan, it should take another nine or ten days to reach the remote island of St Helena. The winds have been lighter than forecast, and with much of the sailing upwind, our progress has been slower than we'd hoped. But the calm seas have been a welcome trade-off, giving us time to find our rhythm again, settle the nerves, and ease into what will be a very long journey ahead. With a Gale on the way, the nerves build.... OFFSHORE & INVISIBLE - ATLANTIC OCEAN CROSSING Sailing South Africa to St Helena ... Ep 4466/19/2026 With our first night at sea behind us and the fatigue of offshore sailing already beginning to settle in, our mornings move slowly. We relieve each other from watch, trying to find our rhythm and slowly adjust to life offshore. Resetting our body clocks to match our new watch schedule, is one of the most important parts early on of a long passage. The calm conditions are helping for now, but in reality, only time at sea can truly make the routine feel natural. The nerves need to settle and we need to get sleep At 32 degrees south, we are still a long way from where we need to be. Thousands of miles of open ocean lie ahead, before we reach our first landfall — the remote island of St Helena at 15 degrees south. This opening stretch of the Atlantic crossing we expect to be the most challenging, whilst calm now, we need to work our way north out of the shifting high and low pressure systems to reach the more settled and predictable trade winds. And this is only the beginning… By the time we arrive in the Caribbean, we will have sailed more than 7000 nautical miles, crossing from 32 degrees south all the way to 12 degrees north. It is an enormous piece of ocean to cross… To learn more about Keane Insurance and to seek your bespoke boat policy check them out here 👉https://keanespecialty.com/get-a-quote?pid=YSN 🫡 For months, Nandji 2 sat still, held fast to the dock while we tore her apart and brought her back to life. But now, she’s moving again. The lines are off, the engine is purring, and we’re finally back where we belong, out here on the open ocean, with nothing but horizon ahead and miles disappearing beneath the keel. This is the beginning of a 7,000 plus, nautical mile journey across the Southern Atlantic, bound for the Caribbean. After not sailing for so long, it is A distance that feels almost too big to comprehend, unless we break it down, one passage at a time. And it all begins with this first step, 50 miles north to a small island off the coast of South Africa. Know the weather before you go! Check out WeatherPro here - https://weatherapp.sng.link/D5ay0/ooix?_smtype=3 For months, Nandji 2 sat still, held fast to the dock while we tore her apart and brought her back to life. But now, she’s moving again. The lines are off, the engine is purring, and we’re finally back where we belong, out here on the open ocean, with nothing but horizon ahead and miles disappearing beneath the keel. This is the beginning of a 7,000 plus, nautical mile journey across the Southern Atlantic, bound for the Caribbean. After not sailing for so long, it is A distance that feels almost too big to comprehend, unless we break it down, one passage at a time. And it all begins with this first step, 50 miles north to a small island off the coast of South Africa. To learn more about Keane Insurance and to seek your bespoke boat policy check them out here - https://keanespecialty.com/get-a-quote?pid=YSN After nine months tied up to the dock in Hout Bay, our new Yanmar engine is in and we are back out on the water for our second sea trial. Everything feels a little different now. The way the boat handles and lets be honest, It’s been a while since we’ve sailed... so before taking on the miles ahead, we just want time with Nandji 2 and getting a feel for it all once again. Cape Town weather isn’t something to take lightly. During summer, the high-pressure systems can bring strong relentless south east wind and 50 knots is not uncommon. Then in winter, the lows bring a South west wind and massive ground swells hammering the coastline. With a strong south-easter building and no easy way back into Hout Bay, we had to change plans, head north and find shelter. Which is how we’ve ended up right in the middle of Cape Town city. |
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