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On the 29th March, the day which the whole ships company had been looking forward to for months, HMS ENDURANCE sailed up the South African Coast into Table Bay and then into the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. Family and friends were waiting to welcome us on the quayside most having flown out to meet us. A busy first day ensued with most trying to get their work dealt with in the first day in order to depart on leave (or at least overnight to a hotel). The traditional first night in cocktail party was busy with a mix of local dignitaries and family of the crew.
The cocktail party also provided the opportunity for the ship to meet some guests with a particular link to the crew. Mr and Mrs John James, Mr and Mrs David James and Mrs Margaret Grodner all came on board for a tour and the Cocktail party. The James’s father Reginald James was Ernest Shackletons physicist on the original Endurance in 1914. Philippa Wordie (who also came on board) is the granddaughter of Jock Wordie, the expeditions geologist. All live in Cape Town, and this was the first contact hey had had with the ship. After a tour of the ship they were each presented with a ships crest by the Captain. Mr John James kindly presented the ship with 3 photographs made up from the negatives of James Hurley (the expeditions photographer). These will be framed and displayed on board after the refit. The ship was also presented with a framed page from Reginald James almanac, which again will be displayed on board after the refit. It is hoped that the association between the ship and the families will be continued.
The hectic first day over, the ships company departed to explore the delights of Cape Town. After the long time away and limited availability of civilisation Cape Town was heaven indeed! An abundance of restaurants and bars as well as shops were within 100m of the ship. Suddenly the prospect of having saved much this deployment seemed to be shrinking. A significant proportion of the Ships Company were able to take leave, some the first week of the fortnights visit and some the second. Personnel scattered as far a field as the Cedarberg Wilderness (a mountainous area where the San busmen used to live and where their dwellings and rock paintings can still be found), the Kruger National Park for safaris, as well as up to Victoria Falls. And of course almost all of the ships company visited the winelands, and many a pleasant day was spent sat in the afternoon sun, sampling a variety of the local vineyards produce. Many of the vineyards run restaurants and B&Bs in addition to their wine production, and with the stunning scenery and weather it would be perfectly feasible for weeks to pass by before boredom set in, if indeed it ever did.
Very early on the morning of the 10th (Easter Saturday) 14 intrepid members of the ships company boarded a bus to take them to the Kirstenbosch area of Cape Town to participate in the Two Oceans Half Marathon. A 0625 start for the run meant a 0500 start from the ship! A gloomy start in the dark and rain led into a damp day as the rain continued intermittently through the race. In reality it was far better than the baking sun that had characterised the preceding days. The Two Oceans is the biggest run in South Africa there was approximately 8 thousand entrants in the half marathon, and that again in the ultra marathon a 32 mile race that began 25 minutes before the half. The ship acquitted itself well considering the limited training opportunities on board and the number of hills in what we anticipated to be a flat course. OM Fearnley was the first across the line in a mere 1 hour 39 minutes. He was closely followed by POMA Eden, and the Royal Marine contingent, LCPL Gallagher, Mne Eddles, and Mne Stewart who ran as a group. POAEM Lapworth was next followed by WO Flannagan, and then AEMs Hollingsworth and LA Baker. PO Turner was next follwed by SR Lister at just over 2 hours and then the MO, Surg Lt Wilmott, and Surg Lt (D) Hamilton (who had flown out from Norway where he had been deployed with 42 Cdo to spend his Easter leave with his fiancée Surg Lt Wilmott). AEM Powell was the final member of the ships company to cross the line. The rain had turned the university playing fields to mud, and after a quick drink and T shirt purchase most of us were ready to board the bus to return to the ship for hot showers and dry feet.!
One of the most memorable parts of the visit to Cape Town, certainly for the flight was the 2 April, when amidst glorious sunshine POAEM Lapworth and his fiancée Tracy were married on the top of table mountain. A very moving day for all concerned.
All in all the ships company had a great time in Cape Town. Batteries were recharged on all fronts, and the ship now looks forward to a short passage home via St Helena and Ascension to land the advance leave party.
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