Hazard spot
Agulhas Current and Wild Coast
Up to five knots setting southwest against a southwesterly wind: that is how the notorious freak waves form. The coastal route is run in short legs only.
- Cause
- Strong current and cross seas
- Main season
- all year
- Position
- 32° 30,0' S 029° 30,0' E
On the map
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How the place works
The Agulhas Current runs southwest at up to five knots, and when a southwesterly stands against it, the freak waves this coast is known for appear: short, extremely steep seas with a hole in front of them. The coast between Durban and East London offers almost no shelter.
What breaks there
What happens here is not material fatigue but structural damage: hull, superstructure, windows. Boats are lost here, which is why the route is sailed in short legs between two weather windows.
What this means for your policy
For this stretch you should know whether salvage costs are paid in addition to the sum insured and whether there is a minimum crew clause. Both decide the effort and the outcome here.
Read this in fullCruising range
This spot lies in the cruising range the calculator lists under this step: Worldwide
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