2025 SA Agulhas II Voyage
Report from Cynthia Green with additional reporting from the Sunday Times of South Africa
The much delayed annual SA Agulhas II voyage to Tristan and Gough Island finally departed Cape Town on Monday 15th September 2025 at about 8:30pm.
Chantelle Repetto's photo shows the Cape Town skyline as the SA Agulhas II departs.
Passengers are:
Resident Islanders & Relatives: Randall & Chantelle Repetto, Gerald Repetto, Simon, Natasha & Owen Glass, Renee & Dylan Green, Rodney Green, Sarah & Connor Glass-Green, Andrew & Tanya Green, Patricia Repetto, Conrad & Sharon Glass, Kenneth Green, Glenda & Holly Rogers, Miranda Repetto, Lorna Lavarello–Smith, Deborah & Megan Elsmore, and Barry & Hazel Carter.
Officials & Specialists: Louise Kendall (Administrator's wife), Andy Schofield & Wendy Cain (RSPB), Ms. Odile Ceasari (CTBTO Manager), Erik Axel Lundberg (CTBTO), Nick Schonfeld & Julia Gunther (Archive Project), Robert Maciver (FCDO Infrastructure), Christopher Carnegy & Roger Price (Tristan UK Representative & Partner), James Wallace (Fortuna Managing Director), Jan van den Oever (Fortuna Representative), Penelope Granger (Dentist), Tracey Price (Social Worker), Fr. Tom Thomas (Catholic Padre), Sean Kryney (Crane Engineer), and Corrine Aldred & Lois Duff (Blue Belt).
Receding Cape Town is lit up as the Pilot Boat sends the Agulhas II on her way.
More Information about the Delay
We reported previously that the ship had been delayed because of "unforeseen operational complexities". An article by Philani Nombembe in South African Sunday Times, 14th September, gives further details.
The unexpected delay in the departure resulted from issues with recruiting South African nationals for the next Gough Island team. Candidates for the Gough posting need to be psychologically and medically fit enough to endure 13 months confined with a small team at an isolated placement. Extraction would be difficult should any problems occur, as briefly happened last year at South Africa's Antarctic base. This is a concern that South Africa shares with other countries with bases in Antarctica and on remote Sub-Antarctic islands.
Unfortunately, some of the candidates failed the critical tests used for assessing their suitability for the Gough team, and the difficulty of finding and testing suitable replacements was what delayed the departure of the Agulhas II for so long.
The extended delay was very frustrating for passengers, and it remains to be seen what the final impact will be for Tristan generally. However, passengers generally made the best of their situation while waiting onboard. They had a grandstand view of the lunar eclipse that took place on the 7th September.
The 7th September lunar eclipse as viewed from the deck of the Agulhas II. Photo: Hazel Carter