The evening of August 14 Shearwater II was loaded on to a very large trailer and prepared for her trip to Elliot Basin for her introduction to the Sea.

At 5 A.M. we joined Shearwater for her trip from the factory across the highway and to Duncan Boulevard along the great waterfront and her launching site. Her beam is so wide she takes up almost two lanes of traffic. So, the move was made before dawn and with the assistance of a police vehicle with flashing blue lights.

She was amazing to see with her newly appointed safety stripe aglow in the moonlight.

Enjoy these shots as she is launched.

         

Just after 8 A. M. Shearwater was lifted by a giant crane. We christened her and welcomed her to Mother Ocean. She was lowered gently into the South Atlantic in Elliot Basin, Cape Town, South Africa.

                      

Only moments later, her mast and rigging arrived and were hoisted above and gently lowered onto her decks and fastened in place.

        

Like in delivery rooms around the world there was a hustle and bustle of activity as craftsmen checked her from stem to stern to assure her vital signs were good and that she would  perform as she was designed to do.

For a week the technicians from Voyage Yachts nurtured her and brought her into the beautiful vital sailing vessel she was destined to become.

Her sails were put on August 23 and we moved onboard on August 24th.