Originally named "Cape of Storms" by the explorer Bartholomeu
Dias in 1488, it was later renamed by King John II of Portugal as
"Cape of Good Hope" because of the great optimism felt by the
opening of a sea route to India and the East.
The Cape of Good Hope lies about 2km West of
Cape Point. It is the most South Westerly point of the African
continent and the most Southerly point of the Cape Peninsula. As
one of the great capes of the South Atlantic Ocean, the Cape of
Good Hope has been of special significance to sailors for many
years as it represents a major milestone on the clipper route to
the Far East and Australia. A route that is still followed to this
day by several offshore yacht races.
The Cape of Good Hope is
also central to what is probably one of the most famous seafaring
legends, The Flying Dutchman. There are now several version of the
legend surrounding The Flying Dutchman, which refers to the captain
and not the ship, and it even inspired Wagner's opera, Der
Fliegende Hollander. The legend first appeared around 1641 and
while the specifics of each version vary, the general theme is the
same. The ship was returning from a successful trip to the Far East
when it approached the tip of Africa. Either from arrogance or
being drunk, the captain decided to ignore the warning of an
impending storm and round the Cape of Good Hope anyway, despite the
crew and passengers pleading for him to turn back. In the teeth of
the storm, just off Cape of Good Hope, the ship begun to break up
as it was bombarded by huge waves and gale force winds ripped the
sails and broke the mast. Shortly before sinking the captain cursed
the sea and swore that he would keep trying to round the cape until
doomsday. And so, to this day the ship is seen during storms, still
trying to round the cape.
To reach the cache, park at S 34° 21.426 E
018° 28.427.
Take the sandy path South East towards the cliffs, up onto the
sloping rocks, passing S 34° 21.442 E 018° 28.466 and a few
meters on, step over a rectangular rock. Stay on this ledge,
following it up and around the cliff.
At S 34° 21.476 E 018° 28.534 on the North East side, above
another small bay, climb up the narrow split between two rocks and
at the top, turn South West following the upper ledge towards the
cache.