Coconut on global sails, docks back home in Durban
The evergreen boat, Coconut sails against her 45 years of existence, and finds herself at the Durban marinas as she circumnavigates months-long voyages world oceans.
SMALL in size, safe, strong, cosy, and homely, the legend of Coconut the boat graced the Royal Natal Yacht Club, The Point Yacht Club, and Durban Marina with a two-week dock.
The man behind the helm is Mark ‘Captain Coconut’ Sinclair, an Australian sailor who has seen the best and the worst of the 45-year-old yacht. Coconut has sailed around the world for decades, and Sinclair visited Durban for the first time since she was built.
In her latest circumnavigation, Coconut arrived in Durban on March 12 after a three-month stay and a revamp in Richards Bay, and left Durban this week, heading for East London, Port Elizabeth, and Mossel Bay.
Upon inspection, Coconut possesses all the makings of a traditional boat, with little technology and no glamour. Captain Coconut prides himself on his preservation, stating that he still uses the good old mechanisms, including a table map, narrow bed bunks, a manual logbook, a manual clock and compass, barometers, and sextants to measure stars.
Although Captain Coconut admits that he is not a racer, he has sailed around the world at least three times since he took ownership in 2016.
“It is a great pleasure to be in Durban. South Africa is Coconut’s home of birth; she was built and fitted in Johannesburg in 1945, and launched in Durban in 1981,” Sinclair said.
The retired commercial surveyor has been sailing since his youth in the navy. His mission, he says, is to enjoy the navigation, with more places to visit and discover. Racing and competitions are not in his plans.
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“For me races were an excuse to do this activity. Coconut is not the fastest; she is conservative and cautious. Sailing is for enjoyment, flexibility, and an opportunity to see the world, and races do not allow that very much. We wait for the wind to come, and we set sail.”
After wrapping the South African seas, Coconut will head for the big one, the Azores in the North Atlantic, where she will spend at least 40 days, weather permitting.
Built for strength with traditional ship doors, hanging knees, solid rails, and two radars, the 10m boat is made for all types of seas. The captain calls her the Land Rover of the seas.
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