By six in the evening, we were all ready to let go of the ropes that held the ship in position. The anchors were clear for letting go, bridge gear tested and decks secure. Nolan and Remon had spent the afternoon up the main mast working on the whistle. Once the ship pulled away from the berth, and Pete put the engines ahead, I sounded a farewell blast to my home and family. Kirsten, Kiana, Kai, and grandparents were all on the quay to wave me goodbye and blow kisses across the widening gap that came between the ship and shore.

"Cape Town port control, this is the Esperanza passing the breakwater, outward bound and heading north towards the fairway buoy" I called over the VHF radio. "You are clear to proceed Esperanza, fair winds". We came out rolling, it was good to feel the motion. When Robben Island light-house was abeam and to the north, I walked off the bridge leaving Pete to stand the first watch as I started my rounds of the decks and accommodation. The blue gal came up to full speed on the main engines for an hour to blow the cobwebs from the turbo-chargers, before settling into the soothing pitch on the E-drive (diesel electric).

Remon and I took the hook of the starboard crane with a chain block, securing it with boom in the air for it had broken down on departure. I continued on my rounds and with Edward we lashed the 'plastics sampler' and all it's bits to the deck. It had been unwrapped with enthusiasm and left as a child would do at Christmas by our scientist on his first trip to sea. I found sea-sick tablets for the photographer and stopped a shower door from banging in the area of the bow on the main deck.

At midnight I read a text message from Kirsten on my cell phone, and noting that we had lost reception, turned it off for the next three months.

- Mike