Skip to content

Sailors' Star Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 4/14/2006
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Related Web Page

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


This land was originally settled around 200 AD by the Khoikhoi people. In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias became the first European (Portuguese) to round the cape. In so doing he named the location "Cape of Storms" (Cabo das Tormentas). It was later renamed by John II of Portugual as "Cape of Good Hope" (Cabo da Boa Esperança) because of the promise of opening the trade routes to India by means of ship. In 1580, Sir Frances Drake described the cape as "The most stately thing and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth."

The first lighthouse on the cape was built in 1860 at a height of 249m (816 ft). It had a candle power of 2000, it consisted of 16 metallic silvered reflectors providing a white flash light, of 12 second duration, once every minute. It now serves as a tourist destination and lookout point. The cape was not originally called Cape of Storms for nothing, since mist and clouds would often cover the landmass. This weather caused that the original lighthouse was ineffective to sailors traveling past. A new lighthouse was decided upon after the Portuguese luxury liner, Lusitania, foundered on Bellows Rock in 1911.

The second lighthouse was constructed in 1919 at a height of 87m (286 ft) at Dias Point. It is a 9 meter square masonry tower, fitted with a subsidiary red sector light. It is equipped with a radio beacon and mutual diesel. It has group flashing, three flashes every 30 seconds. It's light is revolving-electric and it's candlepower is approximately 10 000 000 C.D. The range of the candle power is 34 sea miles. The lighthouse was electrified in 1936.

Legend has it that the "Flying Dutchman" haunts the waters around the cape. Crewed by tormented and damned ghostly sailors, it is doomed forever to beat its way through the adjacent waters without ever succeeding in rounding the headland.

The cache that you are seeking will bring you close to both lighthouses. When you reach the cache location you will find a small wooden fence with a gate on it. The is no need to go through the gate. The cache is a small pill container with log sheet, some marbles and some coins. Please be respectful of the area, keep a sailors eye out for muggles and replace just as you found it. Bring your own pen to sign with.

If you are visiting the cape from afar, a gps map can be obtained from the cache owners website.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

jurer gur cngu fcyvgf

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)