Ship's log

What a return! If the « technical » arrival of Fleur de Passion in Seville was made on the stroke of 10.20pm in the night of 4 to 5 September, the official welcome ceremony took place on Friday, September 6 between 11am and 13pm, on the Muelle de las Delicias to admire the sailboat almost all sails out, then in the hall of the aquarium where the celebration took place at the invitation of the Embassy of Switzerland for Spain and Andorra, and represented by the ambassador himself.

Several hundred people and personalities, including the Mayor of Seville and the Vice President of the Province of Andalusia, had responded to the invitation. As well as a huge delegation of people from Geneva who had travelled especially for the occasion, including support for the expedition: Barbour Foundation, Firmenich Foundation, Société privée de gérance and Rotary Club Palais Wilson. And the show was great! In an hour's time, under the guidance of a crew more professional than ever, the sailboat ascended the river towards the city center, mizzen and mainsail hoisted, then two front sails, yankee and staysail. Then before the bridge across the Guadalquivir, she began his half-turn to descend quietly the river past the same Muelle de las Delicias from where she had set sail on April 13, 2015 ... What emotion for those in particular from the Fondation Pacifique crew and board members who were there four and a half years ago… 

 

For those of you Capetownians who had scheduled next Thursday 21st February as the opportunity to say goodbye to the expedition, sorry to announce that the departure of Fleur de Passion has been delayed due to yet another technical problem of the synchrolift at the V&A Waterfront shipyard where the boat was lifted out of the water for hull maintenance. Because of this problem, Fleur is simply stuck on her lift. We hope the shipyard will fix the bug very soon so that the crew can complete the logistical preparation before departure. Thank you for your understanding.

Change of timing for The Ocean Mapping Expedition: Since December 20, 2018, Fleur de Passion has been moored at the Quay 6 of Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town's tourist and port district, some 10 days ahead of schedule. The reason: to avoid being forced by a weather and winds that would have made impossible the delicate exit of the Royal Cape Yacht Club on the date initially planned, January 2, knowing that the boat was imperatively to be at Waterfront for January 3, date of the beginning of public events organized as part of the stopover.

Right in front of the imposing Table Bay Hotel and with this spectacular Table Mountain by its starboard, with a port view of Jetty 2 and its charming Luggage Hall which will soon host the exhibition "Our Spice Islands" », Fleur de Passion and its crew are thus preparing for the sequence that will open soon, dedicated to this other mission of the expedition: to raise awareness of the issues of sustainable development.

To have a look at the January program of events. clich here.