Next day, Nancy flew home. I joined her six weeks later to help care for her mother. The approach to Richard's Bay, South Africa was our introduction to the famous Wild Coast with it's unique combination of strong dominant south going currents opposed by severe north bound storms, a steep continental shelf and precious few hiding places. This coast is one of the most dangerous in the world. Stories here are not legend, they are facts of 90 foot waves and tankers broken in half.
Every sail becomes a race against weather, waves and current.
Tethys isn't a quarter horse and short sprints are not our forte. Oceans, open spaces, blue yonders that is our Tethys world. The approach and then the 800-mile trip still to come down the coast tainted our normally optimistic spirits, to put it in printable terms. For the next year, Tethys sat unattended and streaked black in coal dust. We stayed with Nancy's wonderful mother in her small home on Whidbey Island, until she passed away.