Lone Dutch Yachtsman seeks Tristan help Lone Dutch sailor Willem van Rij arrived at Tristan on Friday 19th December in his homemade yacht 'Way to Brisbane' for a five day stay during which his yacht was repaired and he received typical generous hospitality |
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Final 2014 Departure |
Shipping Update |
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The Yacht Tranquilo arrived
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MV Edinburgh's last 2014 trip - Baltic Trader due to depart with Christmas supplies and post on 13th November Report from Cynthia Green MV Edinburgh left Cape Town on Saturday 1st November at approximately midday local time and arrived at 19.30 Tristan on Friday 7th November. Passengers came ashore soon afterwards. On board were: Islanders- Dereck & Hilary Rogers, Benny, Sylvia & Janice Green, Rita Repetto, Anita Repetto, Nicky Swain & Andre Repetto; Chris Standing (Finance Officer) and Rosie Gordon (visiting her partner Charles Kilgour). MV Edinburgh's offloading was complete by 13.30 on Saturday 8th November and then the vessel proceeded to the outer island fishing grounds. The vessel will be the last shipping departure from Tristan of 2014, scheduled to leave on 12th December. Meanwhile MV Baltic Trader will carry the last incoming 2014 mail, cargo and passengers when it leaves Cape Town later this month. The ship is scheduled to leave Cape Town on 13th November so friends of the island may still be able to catch the last boat to Tristan for their Christmas mail if they hurry (international post and Cape Town Post Office permitting) despite the fact that it is now well past the last official posting date from UK. |
MV Edinburgh Departure Outgoing passengers were: Islanders Ken & Judy Green, Glynis Swain, Dilys Green, Andrew, Sonia, Natasha & Mia Williams (returning to their home in the UK), Kobus Potgieter and Rosemary Jordan. MV Edinburgh is scheduled to sail from Cape Town on 1st November for another extended fishing trip, followed by MV Baltic Trader which is the last sailing for Tristan da Cunha of 2014, due to depart on 13th November with crucial Christmas supplies and mail, the last for two months until MV Edinburgh makes its first 2015 trip two months later. |
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30th September Postal Conundrum in an Uncertain World : A Note from The Editor Of course mail arriving in South Africa in time for mainland Christmas delivery will not be in time for the last post which is scheduled to leave Cape Town on board the MV Baltic Trader on 13th November. It is doubtful if the Royal Mail's announcements have ever properly taken shipping arrangements into account and many instead rely on the Tristan shipping schedule and make their own decisions on when to post. So if you've missed yesterday's post don't despair. The situation is complicated by the long-running South African postal strike which prevented mail bags being unloaded onto the Baltic Trader for departure on 19th September. Other postal anomalies have occurred recently. For example copies of the Tristan da Cunha Newsletter, sent in two separate boxes at the same time, were separated in Cape Town. One box arrived aboard SA Edinburgh on 29th August and the second aboard SA Agulhas II on 10th September. So those friends and relations of the Tristan community may still choose to post Christmas Cards and parcels with guarded optimism knowing that: Firstly, what was called 'surface mail' now always travels by plane; Secondly air mail may well get from a UK post box safely to South Africa well before 13th November if posted throughout October; Thirdly that the South African postal dispute (which particularly effects the Western Cape) may be settled soon. Then Islanders may enjoy a Happy Christmas with their precious mail that may have missed the official deadline which passed yesterday. |
Busy Tristan Anchorage |
SA Agulhas II arrived back to Tristan from Gough Island |
Baltic Trader 's Arrival from Cape Town |
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Photos of the Baltic Trader arriving at Tristan on Sunday 28th September from Shirley Squibb |
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Baltic Trader arriving without post |
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Further photos from Shirley Swain show the motorised raft laden with passengers and their luggage making its way from the Baltic Trader to Calshot Harbour on 28th September. |
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Incoming passengers were: New Education Adviser David Clarke with his wife Ferne, returning Water Contractor Victor Cinamon with his wife Helen, Dr. Anja Smit. Marine Biologist Rob Mrowicki, and Dr Rosemary Jordan, who served as Tristan's Medical Officer from Sept 1991 - Jan 1992 and is returning again as a visitor. | |
MV Baltic Trader left Cape Town at 20.55 local time on Friday 19th September, a day later than scheduled. MV Baltic Trader is scheduled to complete two return cargo and passenger trips to and from Tristan during the 2014-2015 season. |
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MV Edinburgh's Delayed Arrival |
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Photos from Jim Kerr and Tina Glass show scenes in Calshot Harbour as the community waits anxiously for passengers to be safely brought ashore in very marginal sea conditions on Saturday 30th August |
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Six dogs also arrived including a Golden Retriever (being passed ashore above) - and five Border Collies including one for Tristan Glass (right) which made him very happy. The Border Collies are the most common dogs on Tristan as families (all of whom are farmers) use them to control sheep. |
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Perhaps the most precious arrival was baby Owen Glass. Jim describes his transfer from RIB to Harbour as 'heart-stopping' and his safe arrival was a cause of great celebration. |
Hamburg Sud Container Ship Santa Ursula picks up Tristan Passengers |
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Photos show the Tristan RIB setting out from Calshot Harbour and the awaiting vessel Santa Ursula |
MV Edinburgh's Quick Turnaround MV Edinburgh unloaded quickly and loaded passengers the day after arrival on Friday 4th July from 5pm and departed for Cape Town at about 7pm. Passengers were: Islanders Dilys Green, Ian Lavarello, Piers & Evelyn Hagan, Ches & Jeanette Lavarello, Norman Glass, Linda Lavarello, Elaine Mawer (after visiting relatives), Dr. Anja Smit, Holly Latham (Marine Biologist) and Victor Cinamon (Water Contractor). The prompt turnaround means MV Edinburgh is close to the original schedule after leaving Cape Town a week later than planned. The vessel's next trip is the first extended fishing trip of the 2014/15 season scheduled to leave Cape Town on 20th August and return on 22nd October. See the Shipping Page for the full schedule and fares. |
MV Edinburgh's July Arrival |
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3rd July was a cold day on Tristan with snow visible lying on the higher cliffs above the Settlement as shown in these two photos. Nevertheless sea conditions were good for prompt unloading. |
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Two views of MV Edinburgh offloading |
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A busy Calshot harbour as passengers are welcomed ashore after their eight night voyage from Cape Town |
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Celebrations: Left: Cynthia Green welcomes her grand-daughter Savanna Above: One lucky lad received a Jack Russell puppy and no doubt hopes it proves a good ratter! |