Guide
What happens if the weather cancels your charter
What happens if a fishing charter is cancelled because of weather?
The skipper makes the call and you are offered the next available date, or you owe nothing. No deposit is taken and you are never charged for a trip the boat does not run.
3 minute read · Updated
Who decides, and when?
The skipper decides, and the call is made as late as it responsibly can be — usually the evening before, occasionally at the harbour on the morning. Forecasts on this coast change inside twelve hours often enough that calling it three days out would cancel trips that would have run.
The decision is about safety and about whether the day is worth having, in that order. A trip that can technically run but would be nine hours of misery gets cancelled too.
What you are offered
The next available date that suits you, or nothing owed. There is no deposit to refund and no cancellation fee when the boat is the one cancelling, and no pressure to rebook.
If you are visiting Cape Town on fixed dates and there is no workable alternative, the refund is the default rather than the fallback.
What cancels a trip here
Three things, in rough order of frequency:
- South-easterly wind. The summer wind on this coast. Above roughly 25 knots the offshore grounds are unworkable.
- South-westerly swell. Winter storm swell out of the South Atlantic, which closes the harbour entrance well before it closes the sea.
- Fog. Less common, but it stops a trip leaving entirely.
How to give yourself the best odds
Book early in your stay rather than on your last day, so there is room to move. Mornings are more reliable than afternoons because the south-easter builds through the day. And if the trip is the reason for the trip, allow two possible dates rather than one.
Still unsure?
Ask directly. Garreth answers these questions every week and will tell you if a trip is wrong for you.
Ask on WhatsAppQuestions
Do you get a refund if a fishing charter is cancelled for weather?
Yes — there is nothing to refund, because no deposit is taken. You are offered the next available date or you owe nothing. There is no cancellation fee when the operator cancels.
When is the weather decision made?
Usually the evening before, occasionally on the morning at the harbour. Forecasts on this coast move inside twelve hours, so calling it earlier would cancel trips that would have run.
What weather stops a charter in Cape Town?
South-easterly wind above roughly 25 knots, large south-westerly swell, or fog. The south-easter is the most common cause in summer.
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