9 January Durban check in and filing a flight plan

Our check in with the authorities in Durban was simpler than in Richards Bay. We signed in with the marina first and then took a one kilometer walk along the esplanade to the Customs and Immigration building (just after the road to Durban Port). It's a four storey red brick building with Douanes in big letters on the front. We had to sign in to enter the building to visit Immigration. We'd brought, but he didn't want to see our flight plan from Richards Bay. I recall we gave a copy of our crew list and boat registration, filled in a form to say who and where we'd come from and then signed four pages of blank forms (for the officer to complete on our behalf later).

Customs are in the same building. Another piece of paper to sign and photocopy and we were on our way.

Five days later and the wind had changed back to north east for a sufficient time for us to continue on to East London. Time to file our flight plan.

First we paid our bill at the marina, one day's charge for each part day we were there, ie stay 5 nights and pay for 6 days. Once the bill is settled we were given a short form to complete and which the marina stamped. This time we had to add a visit to the Port Authority before and after visiting Immigration and Customs. The Port Authority is in the building after the Immigration and Customs.

We arrived at Port Authority at 3.15pm and were greeted with “I'm leaving at 4 o'clock. You won't make it.” We did and with plenty of time to spare. Less than thirty minutes from picking up our chit at Port Authority, explaining to Immigration we were only clearing to the next port and not clearing out, a form and stamp from Customs and show them the Port Authority chit, and back to “I'm closing at 4pm” at 3.45pm for him to add us to the boat departure roster.

A palaver, but less palaver than Richards Bay and we didn't need a taxi or to visit a police station.