St. Helena - A remote island in the Atlantic | DW Documentary

Every third week, a British Royal Mail ship begins its journey from Cape Town to Saint Helena, the remote island in the Atlantic where Napoleon was once in exile.

It’s like the end of the world in the middle of the Atlantic. Five days, with a northwesterly course, and only then do the sheer black cliffs appear in front of RMS St. Helena. The island’s 4500 residents are often waiting impatiently for the ship’s arrival and panic if the schedule changes. Director Thomas Denzel and his team went on the journey to Saint Helena and met the people living on the island. Many of the residents are descendants of people who were sent into exile there by the British crown - the most famous among them, the French Emperor Napoleon. This is a report about life at the end of the world, loneliness, unique vegetation, and a very special journey.
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[auditingthefrauditing]

People on these remote islands seem to be very happy and content with their lives. I really envy that.

[kimodeutschmann]

I sailed there over 30 times from Cape Town as a yacht delivery captain and knew many of the locals.Such a wonderful life experience.I loved the local food especially the famous fish cakes and every time I moved on I would take a batch with me.Sad to think the ship will no longer operate.

[rbpa]

Being a sailor for 26 years, i can feel her emotions. I miss the sea. But i need to change course, to be with my family.
St. Helena is an island of dreams. Love this documentary.

[dougbates]

I sailed to St Helena with my whole family (6 of us) from Cape Town in early 1983, aboard the Long John Silver, a 50-foot aluminium schooner we built ourselves. That was our first ocean crossing voyage. First day out was foggy and calm, motoring through the offshore fishing fleets (most Russian and Chinese), second day we ran into a rapidly strengthening gale from the south that turned into a hoolie of a storm that lasted more than a week. The seas were mountainous, some taller than our masts, and navigating by traditional methods (sextant with sun, moon and star charts) was difficult with densely overcast skies and extreme rolling motion with only fleeting glimpses of a lumpy horizon! Eight days out we were in the vicinity but could not locate the island, and would not have been able to make landfall in those conditions. We headed for Walvis Bay, and made landfall there after another 5 days. After 2 weeks at WB resting and making minor repairs, including a memorable visit into the Namib Desert, we were ready to set sail again. This time we had beautiful steady tradewinds and had no difficulty navigating. At dawn on the seventh day about 100 miles to go, as expected, we sighted the peaks of the island showing above the horizon. What a spectacular sight it was sailing in round those great cliffs at the north end of the island, and a relief and excitement to finally set anchor in fifty feet of crystal clear water in James Bay.
Went ashore next morning to clear the port authority and started making acquaintances with the welcoming and friendly islanders. Such lovely people made lovely memories, exploring the spectacular island, learning some of its history and current circumstances… Memories of St Helena- jumping from the boat to the dock off the top of those south Atlantic swells… the fishing for tuna and all sorts of other fish, impossible to starve in such a place!… the quaint historic settlement of Jamestown, nestled in its steep valley, the 699 steps of Jacob’s ladder, the old charabang tour of the island… great barren lava cliffs teeming with sea birds, the green interior, tree ferns, coffee and flax… Longwood House, the ancient tortoises at the governor’s residence… a special night out at the Jamestown disco, the incongruity of watching Saturday Night Fever at the drive-in cinema at the old fort atop Ladder Hill… blissful days falling in love in paradise… We stayed 6 weeks, exploring all around the island. I wished it could have been longer, but we had to move on. We set sail for Archipelago di Fernando de Noronha (Brazil) with a seventh crew member, my St Helenian girlfriend, Gail. Wonderful memories of youthful days to be sure, my life was richer for knowing her, and that’s another story.

[fuzzle]

The RMS St. Helena. I feel something watching this documentary, mixed in with a certain degree of sadness. The last ever ship built in Aberdeen Scotland, after a long history of shipbuilding there. There is a fair portion of my soul, blood and sweat imbued into the very fabric of that ship. We were aware that this boat was most likely the end shipbuilding in Aberdeen. Hall Russell's (the yard had been privatised and had been renamed, but was still HR at its heart) was the last yard there to succumb to the fashion of de-industrialisation of major heavy industries in the UK and beyond, something that needn't have, nor should have happened.

The ship was supposed to have been launched by Sarah Ferguson but for whatever reasons her husband, Prince Andrew launched it instead. I remember looking down at the top of his head. On Launch day, the folks that you see going down the slipway on a ship are not there for a "jolly" but have to go below into the darkness as soon as it hits the water, armed with torches and a large spanner to check all spaces, tanks etc below the water line for leaks and if necessary take the appropriate actions to stop any flooding should anything be discovered. Everything was checked prelaunch, is always a would not the first time a new ship has been found taking on water. It was all clear.

Anyway. It was good to see the ship still working and in good order even though it is now no longer serving in this role. I have good, if somewhat nostalgic, memories attached to being heavily involved in fabricating the steelwork of this ship, there were not so many of us left by the time this was being built.

[lim]

The anticipation and isolation of Saint Helena Island come alive in this documentary. The resilience of its residents, many descended from exiles like Napoleon, is inspiring. Thanks to the documentary for revealing the unique world at the end of the Atlantic.

[vankuipland]

At the age of 10 ( 1958 ) on our way from Cape Town to Southampton the boat stopped and anchored at St Helena . My 2 older brothers and me went ashore with a smaller boat.
We climbed the 699 steps and visited Napoleons residents ( prison ) and stood in the room he died.
Before the stop at St Helena the boat made a stop at “Ascension Island” and after St Helena the Canary islands “ las Palmas .
Great memories !

[umedavk]

That was most interesting and enjoyable. I knew nothing about St. Helena except that Napolean got exiled there. Thanks for the education.

[Pippins]

Wow! St Helena has changed dramatically since HMS Minerva anchored off Jamestown in 1970. Napoleon's house was largely empty of furniture, certainly not the grand tourist attraction it is now. The biggest surprise to me for such a small island was the contrast between a dry and barren edge and a constantly wet interior - it was the constant damp that leeched the arsenic from the green wallpaper (standard at the time) into the atmosphere that killed Napoleon. At the time the currency was the old British £SD - pounds shillings and pence, and the sailors used to scatter pennies for the urchins to scramble after. At one time my photo of Jamestown from the sea was the only picture of Jamestown on Wikipedia, but replaced with better ones a long time ago.

A lovely island, and I treasure my memories of it. I hope it remains as unspoilt as it was 52 years ago.

[napoleonbonaparte_]

My father was a captain. We have traveled from Istanbul to Cape Town a lot. We visited more than 20 countries and my favorite city was Sao Paulo and Miami. I used to accompany my father on his journey. When he was 13, he went on a trip to the island of St Helena and I wanted to go with him. We had the opportunity to tour the island. It was wonderful to see the house where Napoleon spent his last years. I was in heaven for a week.

[garycampbell]

I visited during Christmas in 1995! Had the absolute time of my life! I worked on Ascension and had many Saints working for me. A wonderful people in their own right. Hello St. Helena, Johnny and Whiskey and Bridigette, and Neville's family! Thank you forever for Jeffery and Sharon's wedding! And God Bless you May Murcury and hello to you Jason and Danny and Keddil, Dilly and I remember you all fondly!

[chrispascoe]

My ex-husband used to work on the RMS St Helena. he always said how beautiful the island was, now I can see it for myself.

[garystefan]

My grandmother is from St Helena. She left 70 years ago, still has her accent

[JCarter]

It appears that 4 million people just found out about how awesome it is to visit St. Helena...Thanks DW Documentary!

[antoniopayanay]

Been on this beautiful Island a few times while working for Silversea Cruises, , we sail from Rio de Janiero, to Asencion island, St. Helenas, Walvis Bay and finally to Capetown.

[wallacerussell]

Privileged to have visited the island on the then RMS St Helena in 1982 and an honour to have met the crew of professionals who served her and us on our way South. Slainte.

[awatt]

Having been to St Helena on the RMS several times, this very enjoyable documentary brings back very fond memories, thank you!

[eisenjeisen]

That was very, very interesting as an old sailor my self it brings back fond memories of the sea but i travel the Mediterranean after WW2  and thank you DW Documentary.

[deirdrelewis]

Never ceases to amaze and amuse me that those of us in the Southern Hemisphere who speak English have ALL flattened the vowels. I was mistaken for an Australian frequently when I lived in England for a while. I’m from Cape Town.

[larryfisher]

I visited there for a couple of weeks in 2019. Some of the most friendly people as a whole that I have ever been around. Two weeks of hiking, hanging out with the locals and watching cricket at the The Standard pub in Jamestown. Great time.