Ashe's no good

The effects of the volcanic eruptions in Iceland have finally filtered down to Conquest Charters in the Cape Town.

We recently received these two emails regarding future bookings:

Mail 1:

Hi ghgjje,

Our client kjhjkhkre, from Switzerland has cancelled its conference on Tuesday due to the volcanic eruption and fallout.

ALL delegates are stranded in Europe and can’t get on to flights.

This is out of anyone’s control and they are extremely stressed and disappointed due to this crisis.

Please relay to the other company that we need to cancel all reservations.

They have the conference once a year, so they won’t be able to reschedule for anytime soon

They have however, guaranteed to come back next year and do these activities.

Kindly reply should you have any questions

Mail 2:

Hello

Unfortunately due to the volcanic ash scenario in Europe at the moment, Thursdays charter is postponed until later in the year because the clients are stuck in the UK!!

Many thanks

We are but one company that has only recently been affected and I wonder how the rest of the world is dealing this. Especially those cannot afford to so.

Cute and cuddly..or sleek and agile - behold the Dolphin

Dolphins Dolphins Dolphins everywhere! That is what can be said on a recent trip for Laurens Birthday Outing. The sea condition were great and the waves were few. However the the flat sea allowed us to notice the abundance of marine life in the bay. Seals, Penguins, Dolphins and Whales...all in one trip.

Enjoy some of the pics that follow:

For when you dont have a camera...a cell phone will do

It seems that the blog site can serve as a useful platform for those groups that do not have cameras aboard. Unfortunately I only my cell phone, but you can make out everyone aboard the trip.

I really enjoyed that one!

Doing it on V Day

We are in Hout Bay this Sunday and what better way than to take part in our "Alternate Valentine's Day Plan" special.

(event over)

All Smiles at Cape Point Coffee Shop

Although a fairly strong South Wester was blowing in False bay, carrying a few showers with it, it did not stop us from heading out to Cape Point.

After a stop at the Seals, the birds nesting in the cliffs and getting airborne we reached the majestic Cape Point.

This was a UCT Zoology holiday workshop group with students from USA, WITS, Rhodes etc. They were on a one way trip departing from Millers Point to Buffels Bay inside the Cape Point reserve. There aim was to explore the rocky shores of Buffels Bay during low tide, examining the various creatures that make their homes in these dynamic and dangerous environments, guided by the esteemed Professor George Branch.

But personally I think they enjoyed the boat more that what was to come. Photographs taken at Cape Point Coffee Shop.

More of the Volvo Ocean Race Cape Town Leg

I recently recieved some more photographs of the Volvo boats leaving Cape Town. Enjoy these photo's courtesy of Michael North!

If you need a photographer (outdoor, underwater, indoor etc.) let me know.

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.

The Atlantic Experience

Recently we have been undertaking the True Atlantic Experience by going from Hout Bay to Oceana and vica versa. This route takes in all the great sites along the Atlantic seaboard: Table Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Sandy Bay, Maori Bay (named of the sunken ship in 1909), Seal Island and Hout Bay. Some pictures from our latest trips are posted!

VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2008/2009

We were lucky enough to work on the start of the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. In a strong South Easter many boats joined in to wish the brave sailors on their way. Its funny how the Volvo Circus captured many peoples hearts and it was evident in the support shown on the day of their departure.

Eight awesome machines arrived in Cape Town some three weeks after leaving the port of Alicante in Spain. After roughly two weeks at the V&A Waterfront and transforming the harbour area into a giant workshop as well a hive of product showcases (thanks to PUMA, VOLVO, ERICSSON), action and well positioned branding, the show was about to hit the road.

I’ll skip the history section about the event and cut straight to our adventure at sea. Joined by two crew and passengers from Cape Classic Charters we headed for the start line. I must stress that had i had eyes in the back of my head, it still would not have been enough to prepare me for maelstrom I had entered.

(Pic courtesy of Michael North)

Buzzing every which way the Volvo boats tacking for position, private yachts, boats jet skis and paddle boarders all made it there mission to be part of the action.

We followed Ericsson three for a bit then tagged the Puma boat and just before they left the Cape we said our goodbyes to the rest of the boats.

It was really a great experience and unlike last year we did not have to follow the boats miles off shore! A great day had by all!

Charters on the GO

Conquest Charters is gearing up for a bumper season should the wind and weather decide that Cape Town deserves Summer for all her hard work this year past.


But even though the 'good' weather has yet to come, it hasn't stopped the adventure seeking spirit in our clients from going to sea!





Our popular runs, a) Millers Point to Cape Point, b) Hout Bay, c) Atlantic seaboard (Table Bay - Clifton) always guarantees some action and amazing scenery. The sea life is great, Whales, Seals, Sun fish sea birds, penguins and more.



Posted are a few photos of some recent charter trips.

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!