The Edinburgh departed Tristan on the 8th October 2020.

MFV Edinburgh's September-October 2020 Voyage

Reports from Cynthia Green.
Photos from Randal Repetto, Kumi Joubert, Fiona Kilpatrick and Rachel Green

Departure from Tristan

The Edinburgh departed Tristan for Cape Town at 9.10am on Thursday 8th October 2020. There are no passengers on board.

The MFV Edinburgh anchored off the settlement. Photo: Rachel Green.

Arrival at Tristan

The MFV Edinburgh arrived at Tristan in the morning of Sunday 27th September 2020. As there was a flat calm, the passengers disembarked shortly after. They were very glad to be finally back home. It is hoped to finish off-loading on Monday.

The Edinburgh's passengers being brought in to Calshot Harbour on the raft in a flat calm.

Departure from Cape Town

The MFV Edinburgh departed Cape Town for Tristan at about 11:00am on Sunday 20th September 2020. The passengers on board are islanders: Conrad Glass, Sharon Glass, Warren Glass, Sheila Glass, Randal Repetto and Joan Repetto, as well as Ovenstone's Craig Bergh, and nurse Kumi Joubert. The ship is also taking three dogs to the island.

MFV Edinburgh moored at Cape Town (bow end) Captain Tony on the bridge of the MFV Edinburgh in Cape Town harbour
MFV Edinburgh moored at the quay in Cape Town The Captain on the bridge

COVID-19 quarantine precautions required passengers to embark the Edinburgh on the 11th September, which meant there was plenty of time to watch shipping come and go in the port and admire the Cape Town panorama with its backdrop of Table Mountain, the Lion's Head and Signal Hill.

This departure of the Edinburgh comes as a relief for the passengers. Most of them have been stranded in Cape Town by the coronavirus pandemic since the end of June, when they were originally due to return to Tristan on the Edinburgh. Unfortunately, as reported at the time, a positive COVID-19 test meant that they were not allowed to embark, and they had to return into quarantine in Tristan House to wait for a later voyage. There was always a risk that a similar problem could have occurred this time, but happily it did not.

Passengers in the mess (L-R): Craig Bergh, Sharon Glass, Joan Repetto, Randal Repetto, Kumi Joubert, Conrad Glass, Warren Glass and Sheila Glass

Passengers in the mess (L-R): Craig Bergh, Sharon Glass, Joan Repetto, Randal Repetto, Kumi Joubert,
Conrad Glass, Warren Glass and Sheila Glass

Warren Glass with one of the new dogs on the MFV Edinburgh Conrad Glass with one of the new dogs on the MFV Edinburgh Nurse Kumi Joubert with one of the new dogs on the MFV Edinburgh
Warren, Conrad and Kumi with the Edinburgh's four-legged passengers.

View of port traffic in Cape Town with Table Mountain behind from the MFV Edinburgh

The Edinburgh's view of port traffic in Cape Town harbour with Table Mountain behind.

The lights of Cape Town viewed from the MFV Edinburgh

The lights of Cape Town viewed from the Edinburgh.

Loading the MFV Edinburgh in Cape Town Crew member of the MFV Edinburgh demonstrating life saving gear Cape Town recedes from view as the MFV Edinburgh departs for Tristan
Lifting cargo into the holds using the ship's crane. Demonstrating the life-saving gear. Cape Town recedes from view as the ship departs for Tristan da Cunha.