A new swim challenge

You may remember our Robben Island Freedom swimmer Luke... who managed to complete the 7.5km swim to Blouberg. Well now in aid of a different Charity see here, Luke aims to swim an amazing 11,5km from Robben Island to 3 Anchor Bay (Next to the mini golf course in Sea Point).

The swim is in aid of the rehabilitation of nine year old Cameron Els. Details of the charity are attached. Donations to the cause are also available on the website.

Conquest will be accompanying Luke as he attempts this amazing task.

Swim dates are planned for the 23rd or the 24th October...if you are interested show your support by meeting at the finish line.

Good enough to be used in Antarctica

So, on our way to our latest charter we see that MCM (Marine and Coastal Management) have been inspired by us and the LEGENDARY ZANGETSU.It was enough to give the members of Conquest Charters Marine and Tourism a warm fuzzy feeling.

In summary they have a Gemini Wave Rider 850 with two Honda 225 engines as the work horses (sound familiar). But being monitoring vessels they went with the bright RED color scheme.

Since each boat has a single hoist point, they will undoubtedly serve as tenders to the larger marine fleet. Who knows they might end up in the antarctic aboard the SA Agulhas.Did I mention that warm fuzzy feeling? ....and that Zangetsu is a legend!

Conquest Charters on Facebook

If you follow the updates here then why not join our Facebook group as well. Click the link below to find out more.

http://tinyurl.com/yeu3bad

End of year run

The end of year brings the TEAM together and there are many ideas thrown around on how to spend your day with the TEAM before you leave and enjoy your own holiday.

The EGS department of UCT decided to spend their end of year party with Conquest Charters. My previous professors, colleagues and their children joined us for a sunset cruise on the Atlantic Ocean.

It started out as a cruise with drinks, snacks and swimming at the relatively warm Clifton Bay and ended up with some high speed jumps and turns. What a way to end the day. Thanks guys again!

The arrival of a German U-Boat

For those of you who have been to see the new stadium, as seen from the Sea Point area, you might also have noticed the commotion in the ocean.

Namely a German U-boat (submarine), a Tug boat and many little worker boats ferrying precious resources to the mother hive.


Here are some close-up pics of a German WWII movie taking place in Cape Town. I am not sure of the details (we only had to carry the all important German Press) but it allowed us to get pretty close to the dangerous submarine, although only a replica I believe.

Also included in this post is the get-away boat! Enjoy.

Lights, Camera, Action

It's been a while but this some of things we've been up to?

Cape Town is a favoured destination for movie makers and a recent German mini-series being shot here saw Zangetsu being required for some all important media shots. The all familiar movie crew, the grips and production agencies bustling around the streets of Cape Town often spill over into the sea.




Here are some photos of a recent media shoot. You might notice that the original Highlander (Christopher Lambert) appears in some of the pictures!

Sunset or Sunrise?

It is an amazing thing to watch the sun set across the vast Atlantic Ocean. And I am sure you have your favourite place in Cape Town to do just that where you can enjoy the colours that go so well with the surroundings. I recently enjoyed one from the top of Kloof Nek Road overlooking Camps Bay.
(Picture taken from Kloof Nek)
(The colours seen from home)

But putting the land lubber in me aside, to see the sun rise above the Hottentots Holland mountains aboard a boat is truly another thing altogether. Unfortunately for this experience to come true you have to be at sea 530am. It’s early, I know, but a cool experience as you ride from Table Bay to Hout Bay in the calm of the morning. The early activity of the birds and seals is always a treat.

Enjoy some of the early morning photographs and my favourite, Lions Head shielding the sun from view…for just a bit.

(Lions Head Sun Rise)
(Making the most of great morning...coffee in Hout Bay next)

GO BIG OR GO HOME... we go forward

Cape Town “2008” was awesome!

We saw our fleet double from one to two boats. The slow build of "Zangetsu" was worth the wait! The awesome 8.5m Gemini really performs well and is more than capable of handling the rough seas around Cape Town (although we prefer NOT to test those capabilities). The weather was great making the boat trips fun and the tourists were really rewarded by a bumper whale season as well as a relatively mild south-easter.

Another reason to be joyous was the latest upgrade to "Zangetsu" - two brand new Honda 225 outboard motors provide massively more power. We are now able to keep up with the big boys in the industry. I guess it’s a case of go big or go home.

On the sea-side of things: on our recent trip to Hout Bay we spotted, not one but two sunfish soaking up the rays, a pod of dolphins and plenty of seals. Also a southern right whale off Sea Point (although we thought it was a bit late in the season). It might have been this one (follow the link) who ended up in the paper not too long after we spotted him. Well done to the brave divers who jumped in to help, one of them being the skipper who took the pictures of our Red Bull BIG wave experience (see below).

http://travelblog.portfoliocollection.com/Blog/Divers-Help-Whale-out-of-a-Tight-Spot

We look forward to 2009 and having you experience Cape Town the Conquest way.

Red Bull Big Wave Competition

The Red Bull Big Wave Competition celebrated it tenth anniversary at Dungeons in Hout Bay South Africa. The waves were big, the sound of crashing waves thunderous but the skill of “special” kind of people out there (those doing the surfing) was amazing.

It was the first time being out there with the waves that big! Normally on our seal island runs you wouldn't think twice about the wave but that day! OMG! They were truly impressive. Even more so with so much action going on, in and under the waves.

We were tasked with pleasing some photographers, which allowed us to get up close and personal to the surfers and the waves. Also VIP access to the after party....Schweet. and did i mention there was loads of RedBull?..Nice.

Luckily a fellow skipper (Rod Smith..thanks for pics) managed to get some pics of us doing our thing and more. Enjoy some pictures and our feeble attempt to get some big wave air of our own.

Yip that is us in the far righ corner of the picture...oh what a drop!