Third Gariep Dam Adventure. March 2018.

If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path.

''Joseph Campbell''

March 2018

With an improved boat we were confident that we would get much further this time.

Preparing the boat for the trip.

140kg of survival equipment loaded, ready to leave.

                                                                         Technical

Improvements

We added a 3rd pontoon. The solar panels were once again placed as a roof over our heads. We installed another 250W solar panel alongside our original 90W panel at the front of the boat.The power system problem was resolved. A defective battery was the cause of the power problem and it was replaced. 

Vir beter drakrag het ons n derde pontoon in die boot se middel bygesit. Die sonpanele is weereens as n dak bo die insittendes geplaas, Dis die beste posisie daar sodat geen skadus daarop kan val nie. Die foutiewe battery asook n verbeterde metode van koppeling tussen die kompenente het die kragstelsel herstel en verbeter. Die boot kon nou al ons toerusting met gemak dra.

The further away from the dam wall the murkier the water became,
 hence the Orange river (👈 Read more about the
the Orange River here.) flowing into the dam.

Fully confident in the boat and the Pulot/Navigator, Ronél enjoyed the trip tremendously. 

The view to the front from the seat. Take note that very little sunlight reflects from the solar panels.

 

Without backup we cruised into the Gariep Dam's vastness.(👈Watch an interesting Kwêla KykNET Youtube video about the Dam, people and town here.)  This time we chose the end of March to hopefully have good weather. The boat really performed well and we cruised anti clockwise, beginning at the Yacht club. We cruised through the Main Basin, went through Porcupine Passage into Mud Plain Basin, back up again through Springbok Basin and late afternoon camped in Kiewiet's Bay.

Camping in Kiewiet's bay.

Ronél took the lead with the camping tasks, preparing our sleeping gear and food. 

The vastness of Middle Dam and we had it all of it for ourselves!

 The next day we went down south into Middle Basin and back up to Oviston Basin. While cruising we checked the weather update on Windfinder and the prediction was not good. It predicted strong north westerly wind and thereafter storms with  rain.  We decided to carry on to the Oviston Tower from where we would begin our return back towards FSYC. , spending the night nearer to our starting point.

Oviston Tower.  👈 Click here for more info
 and interesting facts about Oviston and the Orange /Fish river canal project.

The main reason the Gariepdam came into existence. Youtube video of 👉 The Orange/Fishriver canal project.

 The water depth in this area measured 85 feet.

This area near Porcupine Passage was named Zimbabwe
 as the stone formations resembles ruins.

The perfect little bay that we discovered.
Porcupine Passage(the narrow passage to the Main Basin) is far left and Springbok Basin to the far right.

                               Suid van hierdie unieke klein baai is die enorme Dassiebaai, maar ons kon geen         uitgang vind nie, dit vorm n hoe soliede klipkrans oral. Glens Creak daarnaby is n baai wat inloop in n skeur in die koppe en eindig in n digte woud. Daar het ons ook geen uitgang na die land gevind nie.

Unpacking and preparing the camp. We slept in a tent on shore. Between the high water line and the water there are no vegetation, thus safe to make a camp fireplace.

Lush green unspoiled veld. The entire  dam is surrounded
 by game reserves. Nature at it's best!

Near Porcupine Passage the day was ending and we discovered a nice little bay. It had a mere 12m wide smooth rock free entrance. Once again we camped in bushveld style and had a wonderful experience.

The next morning was perfect conditions for solar boating, but we knew we had only a few hours left before the predicted stormy weather would set in.  

On our return trip in Main Basin abeam Sonop Island the predicted wind hit us with force.  We had  however still full sunshine and thus full power and headed towards the northern shore for some shielding from the wind blowing in from behind the surrounding hills. West of Aerodrome Bay lay the dangerous Crocodile Reef. This forced us to go into the open waters again clearing the reef to avoid disaster. The rough waters were handled quite well by our Trimaran. The strong wind reduced our speed to only 2 knots at times, but we reached the safety of the Yacht Club without problems. Soon afterwards the might of the storm hit the area with heavy downpour.

With this trip we managed to explore 50% of the dam and logged a total of 88km's in only two and a half days, using only the sun as propulsion. 

What did we learn?

We realized that weather plays a major part in hindering our attempts to explore the whole of the dam. What we need is a boat that we can live in, safe from the elements, so that if bad weather occurs we can wait it out, living and sleeping in the boat until it clears and then continue to complete our mission. 

Ons het tot die besef gekom dat die weer elke keer ons poging om die hele dam te verken in die wiele ry. Die dam is net te groot om in slegs n paar dae deur te vaar en te verken. Ons boot het ook nou sy maksimum krag potensiaal bereik omdat sonpaneel oppervlak nie verder uitgebrei kan word nie. Om in n tent iewers op die oewer te skuil vir n paar dae is seker moontlik maar dit sou baie ongerieflik wees. Vir die rede het ons die weer dopgehou en liewers betyds teruggekeer na die beskawing. 

Ons wil tog die hele dam deur vaar as n uitdaging en om die haalbaarheid van n sonboot te bewys. Ons benodig dus n rompboot soos n seiljag met n binne kajuit waarin mens veilig kan skuil teen reen, wind en koue. waar mens kan kosmaak en slaap terwyl die boot aan n boei vas is, geanker is of aan n mooring vas is terwyl n storm woed. So n boot kan ook meer vrag dra wat beteken dat meer sonpanele  gedra kan word vir meer kraguitseting om sodoende  teen baie sterk winde uit te kan vaar.

Next: Preparing The Small Yacht 

So gesê, so gedaan! Ons het n verwaarloosde klein seiljag opgespoor en aangeskaf en met n solar krag ombouing begin. 👆 Hierbo is meer info daaromtrent.