GREENPEACE: Climate change needs basic leaders

By admin

May

14

As any respecting Sea Dweller would do, we gladly answered the call to work with GREENPEACE during their Cape Town protest. Climate Change is a serious issue and any action to raise awareness or bring about change is a step in right direction. Read the real story here.

We covertly snuck up to the Twelve Apostle Hotel and proceeded to wave lumo yellow banners. It was mostly a photo shoot, taking a few pics and completing a video documentary, but drivers on Victoria road stopped to take interest. We alsoattracted some media attention but nothing like what was expected from usual GREENPEACE protest. This is Cape Town after all.

I love the large banner in front of table mountain! So iconic



National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Training Day

By admin

May

10

As part of the FIFA 2010 World Cup build-up it is helpful to know that our national Sea Rescue and Navy services have things all sorted out should anything happen to the multitude of planes, and ships heading our way.

Forming an integral part of this training exercise I am pleased to say that things are looking pretty good. For one the skill of the helicopter pilots, and planes involved is astounding completing intricate search patterns before deploying additional life rafts is rather impressive. And the bravery of the volunteers of the NSRI who man the many boats is phenomenal.

A link to the Official press release and usual some interesting pictures.



Ashe’s no good

By admin

Apr

20

The effects of the volcanic eruptions in Iceland have finally filtered down to Conquest Charters in the Cape Town.

We recently received these two emails regarding future bookings:

Mail 1:

Hi ghgjje,

Our client kjhjkhkre, from Switzerland has cancelled its conference on Tuesday due to the volcanic eruption and fallout.

ALL delegates are stranded in Europe and can’t get on to flights.

This is out of anyone’s control and they are extremely stressed and disappointed due to this crisis.

Please relay to the other company that we need to cancel all reservations.

They have the conference once a year, so they won’t be able to reschedule for anytime soon

They have however, guaranteed to come back next year and do these activities.

Kindly reply should you have any questions

Mail 2:

Hello

Unfortunately due to the volcanic ash scenario in Europe at the moment, Thursdays charter is postponed until later in the year because the clients are stuck in the UK!!

Many thanks


We are but one company that has only recently been affected and I wonder how the rest of the world is dealing this. Especially those cannot afford to so.

Cute and cuddly..or sleek and agile – behold the Dolphin

By admin

Mar

24

Dolphins Dolphins Dolphins everywhere! That is what can be said on a recent trip for Laurens Birthday Outing. The sea condition were great and the waves were few. However the the flat sea allowed us to notice the abundance of marine life in the bay. Seals, Penguins, Dolphins and Whales…all in one trip.

Enjoy some of the pics that follow:

For when you dont have a camera…a cell phone will do

By admin

Mar

5

It seems that the blog site can serve as a useful platform for those groups that do not have cameras aboard. Unfortunately I only my cell phone, but you can make out everyone aboard the trip.


I really enjoyed that one!

It’s video time

By admin

Mar

3

Thought I would share this with you…

..from Germany!
If you’re asking yourself: nope, we didn’t meet in person somewhere on a trip, but my dad did on V-day. He was down at Hout Bay sent there by a firm …… and everybody was asked to better leave their cams and stuff like that outside the boat in case it’s getting a little wet :) So there aren’t any nice photos of this trip now, alas. However dad saw you and your lady (so he guessed ;D) taking some pics with your ipod asking where you’d upload them- he was the grey-haired one, blue eyes and a beard (probably) speaking english in a funny way…
Unfortunately he does neither own a facebook nor blogspot account and asked me to contact you.
We’d be so thankful, if you could arrange to upload some more photos of this trip on your blogspot or even contact him directly via email! –>


So here is a video and more to come once they have been properly edited.

So that was last week….

By admin

Mar

3

The weather has not slowed the pace of Zangetsu, as we managed to venture out in gale force winds. Unfortunately the fun and water (provided by the sea and wind) had by ALL, did not allow for many pictures to be taken. The waves were big and the speed was right.

In Hout Bay recently the South Easter provided some interesting challenges getting to Seal Island and the boss crane. But we managed and because sea water is the water of life, no-one really mied getting wet.
But because the pics are few i decided to post another upcoming weather forecast… to wet your appetite for the sea.

The Cape of Storms

By admin

Feb

23

What really bad weather we have coming up in the next week.

Weather forecast by www.weathersa.co.za
Looks like we in for some big seas in the coming days! Take care if you have to go to sea.


Done it on V Day

By admin

Feb

23

Hout Bay is really amazing. And what better way to spend Valentines Day than to take in the sights and history from this magical place.

The Valentine’s Day special went well. We ran two trips and although one large group cancelled on the last minute we went ahead anyway!
Look out for the next exciting trip.

Doing it on V Day

By admin

Feb

9


We are in Hout Bay this Sunday and what better way than to take part in our “Alternate Valentine’s Day Plan” special.

(event over)

Good enough to be used in Antarctica

By admin

Jan

14

So, on our way to our latest charter we see that MCM (Marine and Coastal Management) have been inspired by us and the LEGENDARY ZANGETSU.It was enough to give the members of Conquest Charters Marine and Tourism a warm fuzzy feeling.

In summary they have a Gemini Wave Rider 850 with two Honda 225 engines as the work horses (sound familiar). But being monitoring vessels they went with the bright RED color scheme.

Since each boat has a single hoist point, they will undoubtedly serve as tenders to the larger marine fleet. Who knows they might end up in the antarctic aboard the SA Agulhas.Did I mention that warm fuzzy feeling? ….and that Zangetsu is a legend!

All Smiles at Cape Point Coffee Shop

By admin

Jan

11

Although a fairly strong South Wester was blowing in False bay, carrying a few showers with it, it did not stop us from heading out to Cape Point.

After a stop at the Seals, the birds nesting in the cliffs and getting airborne we reached the majestic Cape Point.

This was a UCT Zoology holiday workshop group with students from USA, WITS, Rhodes etc. They were on a one way trip departing from Millers Point to Buffels Bay inside the Cape Point reserve. There aim was to explore the rocky shores of Buffels Bay during low tide, examining the various creatures that make their homes in these dynamic and dangerous environments, guided by the esteemed Professor George Branch.

But personally I think they enjoyed the boat more that what was to come. Photographs taken at Cape Point Coffee Shop.

Toyboata vs Zangetsu…Round 1

By admin

Dec

22

It almost looks better on the Toyota, but having twins so suits the GEMINI.

Conquest Charters on Facebook

By admin

Dec

21

If you follow the updates here then why not join our Facebook group as well. Click the link below to find out more.

http://tinyurl.com/yeu3bad

End of year run

By admin

Dec

21

The end of year brings the TEAM together and there are many ideas thrown around on how to spend your day with the TEAM before you leave and enjoy your own holiday.

The EGS department of UCT decided to spend their end of year party with Conquest Charters. My previous professors, colleagues and their children joined us for a sunset cruise on the Atlantic Ocean.

It started out as a cruise with drinks, snacks and swimming at the relatively warm Clifton Bay and ended up with some high speed jumps and turns. What a way to end the day. Thanks guys again!

The arrival of a German U-Boat

By admin

Nov

12

For those of you who have been to see the new stadium, as seen from the Sea Point area, you might also have noticed the commotion in the ocean.

Namely a German U-boat (submarine), a Tug boat and many little worker boats ferrying precious resources to the mother hive.


Here are some close-up pics of a German WWII movie taking place in Cape Town. I am not sure of the details (we only had to carry the all important German Press) but it allowed us to get pretty close to the dangerous submarine, although only a replica I believe.

Also included in this post is the get-away boat! Enjoy.

The Beautiful Engines

By admin

Apr

15




I could go into details about the new Honda 225′s we have at the back of Zangetsu. But these pictures should give you an idea how awesome they really are.

Lights, Camera, Action

By admin

Apr

15

It’s been a while but this some of things we’ve been up to?

Cape Town is a favoured destination for movie makers and a recent German mini-series being shot here saw Zangetsu being required for some all important media shots. The all familiar movie crew, the grips and production agencies bustling around the streets of Cape Town often spill over into the sea.


Here are some photos of a recent media shoot. You might notice that the original Highlander (Christopher Lambert) appears in some of the pictures!

More of the Volvo Ocean Race Cape Town Leg

By admin

Jan

20

I recently recieved some more photographs of the Volvo boats leaving Cape Town. Enjoy these photo’s courtesy of Michael North!

If you need a photographer (outdoor, underwater, indoor etc.) let me know.

Sunset or Sunrise?

By admin

Jan

20

It is an amazing thing to watch the sun set across the vast Atlantic Ocean. And I am sure you have your favourite place in Cape Town to do just that where you can enjoy the colours that go so well with the surroundings. I recently enjoyed one from the top of Kloof Nek Road overlooking Camps Bay.
(Picture taken from Kloof Nek)
(The colours seen from home)

But putting the land lubber in me aside, to see the sun rise above the Hottentots Holland mountains aboard a boat is truly another thing altogether. Unfortunately for this experience to come true you have to be at sea 530am. It’s early, I know, but a cool experience as you ride from Table Bay to Hout Bay in the calm of the morning. The early activity of the birds and seals is always a treat.
Enjoy some of the early morning photographs and my favourite, Lions Head shielding the sun from view…for just a bit.

(Lions Head Sun Rise)
(Making the most of great morning…coffee in Hout Bay next)

GO BIG OR GO HOME… we go forward

By admin

Jan

20

Cape Town “2008” was awesome!

We saw our fleet double from one to two boats. The slow build of “Zangetsu” was worth the wait! The awesome 8.5m Gemini really performs well and is more than capable of handling the rough seas around Cape Town (although we prefer NOT to test those capabilities). The weather was great making the boat trips fun and the tourists were really rewarded by a bumper whale season as well as a relatively mild south-easter.

Another reason to be joyous was the latest upgrade to “Zangetsu” – two brand new Honda 225 outboard motors provide massively more power. We are now able to keep up with the big boys in the industry. I guess it’s a case of go big or go home.

On the sea-side of things: on our recent trip to Hout Bay we spotted, not one but two sunfish soaking up the rays, a pod of dolphins and plenty of seals. Also a southern right whale off Sea Point (although we thought it was a bit late in the season). It might have been this one (follow the link) who ended up in the paper not too long after we spotted him. Well done to the brave divers who jumped in to help, one of them being the skipper who took the pictures of our Red Bull BIG wave experience (see below).

We look forward to 2009 and having you experience Cape Town the Conquest way.

The Atlantic Experience

By admin

Nov

28

Recently we have been undertaking the True Atlantic Experience by going from Hout Bay to Oceana and vica versa. This route takes in all the great sites along the Atlantic seaboard: Table Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Sandy Bay, Maori Bay (named of the sunken ship in 1909), Seal Island and Hout Bay. Some pictures from our latest trips are posted!

VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2008/2009

By admin

Nov

19

We were lucky enough to work on the start of the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. In a strong South Easter many boats joined in to wish the brave sailors on their way. Its funny how the Volvo Circus captured many peoples hearts and it was evident in the support shown on the day of their departure.

Eight awesome machines arrived in Cape Town some three weeks after leaving the port of Alicante in Spain. After roughly two weeks at the V&A Waterfront and transforming the harbour area into a giant workshop as well a hive of product showcases (thanks to PUMA, VOLVO, ERICSSON), action and well positioned branding, the show was about to hit the road.

I’ll skip the history section about the event and cut straight to our adventure at sea. Joined by two crew and passengers from Cape Classic Charters we headed for the start line. I must stress that had i had eyes in the back of my head, it still would not have been enough to prepare me for maelstrom I had entered.

(Pic courtesy of Michael North)

Buzzing every which way the Volvo boats tacking for position, private yachts, boats jet skis and paddle boarders all made it there mission to be part of the action.

We followed Ericsson three for a bit then tagged the Puma boat and just before they left the Cape we said our goodbyes to the rest of the boats.

It was really a great experience and unlike last year we did not have to follow the boats miles off shore! A great day had by all!

Charters on the GO

By admin

Nov

19

Conquest Charters is gearing up for a bumper season should the wind and weather decide that Cape Town deserves Summer for all her hard work this year past.

But even though the ‘good’ weather has yet to come, it hasn’t stopped the adventure seeking spirit in our clients from going to sea!

Our popular runs, a) Millers Point to Cape Point, b) Hout Bay, c) Atlantic seaboard (Table Bay – Clifton) always guarantees some action and amazing scenery. The sea life is great, Whales, Seals, Sun fish sea birds, penguins and more.

Posted are a few photos of some recent charter trips.

Red Bull Big Wave Competition

By admin

Nov

19

The Red Bull Big Wave Competition celebrated it tenth anniversary at Dungeons in Hout Bay South Africa. The waves were big, the sound of crashing waves thunderous but the skill of “special” kind of people out there (those doing the surfing) was amazing.
It was the first time being out there with the waves that big! Normally on our seal island runs you wouldn’t think twice about the wave but that day! OMG! They were truly impressive. Even more so with so much action going on, in and under the waves.

We were tasked with pleasing some photographers, which allowed us to get up close and personal to the surfers and the waves. Also VIP access to the after party….Schweet. and did i mention there was loads of RedBull?..Nice.

Luckily a fellow skipper (Rod Smith..thanks for pics) managed to get some pics of us doing our thing and more. Enjoy some pictures and our feeble attempt to get some big wave air of our own.

Yip that is us in the far righ corner of the picture…oh what a drop!