Although removed from the sea Bredasdorp hosts the Shipwreck Museum right next door to the library and the link with the community and the ocean is strong. Fluke visited the Southernmost tip of Africa on World Drowning Prevention Day, and this was the Southern most point for Fluke on this year’s journey. Fluke was also at the Cape Agulhas lighthouse which when it was first built was lit in 1849 using tail fat of sheep and occasionally whale oil.
Cape Agulhas Lighthouse was the third lighthouse to be built in South Africa, and the second oldest still operating, after Green Point. Green Point light house ran on sperm whale oil. Roman Rock Lighthouse is situated at the False Bay Harbour Basin near Simon’s Town and was run on whale oil. Roman Rock Lighthouse is quite special and unique in that it is the only lighthouse in South Africa to be erected on a single rock in the middle of the ocean.
Fluke also visited the Southeastern most point of Africa at Seal Point lighthouse which was lit in 1878 also using whale oil. This was the lighthouse where the second-generation lighthouse keeper Martin Peterson currently stationed at Great Fish point (1898) was born. Martin is one of nine south African lighthouse keepers of which only three are second generation. Fluke stopped for a pharology visit with Martin at Great Fish Point, the smallest lighthouse in South Africa but with a mighty light visible for 32 nautical miles.
Attendance: 40