Visiting
Cape Town
A complete guide for prospective Balance Catamarans owners. What to expect from your factory visit, where to stay, what to see, and how delivery in Cape Town actually unfolds.
Cape Town awaits.
Cape Town is consistently ranked among the world's great cities, and as a prospective Balance owner, you have a very good reason to be here. Whether you're flying in to tour the factory for the first time, checking in on your build, or arriving to take delivery of your boat, this guide is designed to help you make the most of your time in one of South Africa's most remarkable destinations.
We always encourage our visitors to stay a little longer. Cape Town consistently delivers, and our team at Balance Cape Town is here to help shape your stay around what matters most to you.
Visiting
Cape Town
Three visits, three different rhythms.
Most Balance Cape Town owners visit at least twice during the build and delivery journey. The nature of your visit shapes how you plan your time, and what to expect from us. Knowing the rhythm of each stage helps you plan a trip that combines productive yard time with genuine enjoyment of the city.
The Decision Visit
Your first trip is about seeing the operation in person: the factory floor, the craftsmanship, the scale of what's being built. This is often the visit that turns a serious enquiry into a confirmed order. Come with questions. Factory visits: Mon–Fri, 10h00–11h00, by appointment.
The Build Progress Visit
A mid-build visit lets you see your boat taking shape. Cape Town is also an excellent base for sourcing equipment and provisioning, and many owners use this trip to get a serious head start on outfitting.
Handover & Departure
The main event. Your boat is in the water, systems are being commissioned, and your handover is approaching. Plan for a minimum of two weeks, or more if your schedule allows. Owners describe this as one of the highlights of the entire ownership journey.
A year-round city, with two distinct seasons.
Cape Town is a year-round destination, but the two seasons are quite different in character. Your boat's schedule will largely determine when you come, but it helps to know what to expect.
☀ Summer · October – March
Warm, dry, and ideal for beach days and outdoor activities. Average highs reach 26–30°C (76–90°F) in peak summer. December and January are peak tourist season, so accommodation fills quickly and prices rise. The factory closes for its annual summer shutdown from mid-December to mid-January.
🌧 Winter · May – August
Cape Town's rainfall season, but don't be put off. Temperatures stay mild at 12–18°C (52–65°F), and the city sees long stretches of clear, crisp days between fronts. It's quieter, less expensive, and great for wine touring and evenings out. The mountains are at their most dramatic.
A Note on the Weather
The South African sun is intense, even when the Southeaster is blowing hard, and UV rays remain strong. Hat, sunglasses, and a good SPF year-round. Cape Town is also famous for its wind, and the weather can change in an instant. Hence the saying: Cape Town has four seasons in a day.
Entry Requirements
Most passport holders receive a free 90-day visitor's visa on arrival at Cape Town International Airport. Ensure your passport has at least 30 days' validity beyond your intended departure date, and at least one blank page for entry stamps. Confirm current requirements with the South African Department of Home Affairs before travelling.
The V&A Waterfront is home.
The V&A Waterfront is the base we recommend without hesitation. A short drive from the Balance Catamarans Cape Town facility, and once your boat is launched she'll be berthed in the marina, so you can walk down to the dock whenever you like. Widely regarded as one of the safest parts of Cape Town, with excellent restaurants, great shopping, and easy access to the rest of the city.
Hotels in the V&A Waterfront
A food lover's paradise.
Cape Town has firmly established itself as one of the world's great food cities, offering world-class produce, fresh Atlantic seafood, and a genuinely diverse culinary culture. Most restaurants need only a few days' notice; for the top spots, book as early as possible.
A short list to start with
- FYN Restaurant — Top 100 in the world. SA–Japanese fusion. Book early.
- La Colombe — Refined French-inspired cuisine in Constantia.
- The Pot Luck Club — Sharing plates atop the Biscuit Mill.
- Willoughby & Co — Arguably the best sushi in South Africa.
- The Hussar Grill — Top steaks, ocean views at Mouille Point.
- Karibu — Traditional South African cuisine, V&A Waterfront.
- Bo-Kaap Kombuis — Cape Malay cuisine, mountain views.
- GOLD Restaurant — 14-course African experience with drumming.
Getting around
Hiring a car is recommended for exploring the Peninsula or wine regions. Uber is the best option for evenings out: reliable and reasonably priced. South Africans drive on the left. Cape Town International is 25–30 minutes from the V&A Waterfront; Uber or a pre-booked transfer is recommended.
Cape Town rewards time.
Two weeks gives you room to explore properly alongside your yard visits. The Cape Peninsula and surrounding regions offer a remarkable concentration of natural beauty, history, and adventure.
In and around the city
- Table Mountain — Cape Town's defining landmark; rotating cable car, panoramic views.
- Robben Island — UNESCO site, ferry from V&A. Tours by former political prisoners.
- Kirstenbosch Gardens — World-class garden against Table Mountain's slopes.
- Zeitz MOCAA — Contemporary African art in a converted grain silo.
- Bo-Kaap — Brightly painted houses, Cape Malay heritage.
- Boulders Beach — Resident African penguin colony at Simon's Town.
A little further afield
- Cape Point & Chapman's Peak — A full-day Peninsula drive through dramatic coastal scenery.
- The Cape Winelands — Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Constantia, world-class estates within an hour.
- Hermanus — Premier whale-watching destination in winter and spring.
- The Garden Route — A multi-day road trip east along the coast.
- Safari — Day trips from Cape Town, or multi-day stays at premier reserves.
Let us handle the logistics.
For owners and prospective owners visiting Cape Town, BCCT has a longstanding relationship with Highline Tours & Travel, a travel specialist with an excellent track record looking after Balance customers.
Letitia Muller is your dedicated contact and the best starting point for anything travel-related during your visit. You're always free to book things independently, but Letitia's real value is in putting together a proper bespoke itinerary tailored to your schedule.
Accommodation, day tours, safari, activities, airport transfers: all coordinated so you don't have to think about the logistics. Whether you're here for a week or three, it's worth a conversation.
For the Winelands and Garden Route
Letitia also coordinates extended South African travel: multi-day Winelands tours, Garden Route itineraries, and the full range of safari options across the country.
Letitia Muller
Highline Tours & Travel
Currency & payments
South Africa uses the Rand (ZAR). Major international credit cards are widely accepted. The Rand's exchange rate is generally favourable for USD, EUR, and GBP, making Cape Town a genuinely good place to purchase gear, equipment, and provisions for your boat.
Healthcare
South Africa's private healthcare system is world-class. Cape Town is, after all, where the world's first successful heart transplant was performed. Travel insurance covering private medical care is recommended.
Launch &
Commissioning
From launch to departure.
Your catamaran is built at the Balance Catamarans Cape Town facility in Cape Town harbour. From the moment she hits the water through to your departure from South African waters, the owner-present period typically runs four to five weeks, and up to nine to ten weeks in a worst case. Plan for the longer end. Owners who treat this as an unhurried adventure consistently describe it as one of the highlights of the entire ownership journey.
Four phases, one unhurried adventure.
Launch & Factory Commissioning
Your vessel is launched at the Royal Cape Yacht Club, with her mast stepped and the boat moved to her V&A Waterfront berth in front of the Two Oceans Aquarium. The BCCT team then works through every system, including rigging, electronics, engines, plumbing and electrical, calibrating, testing, and resolving issues during factory sea trials. We strongly recommend not attending until handover week is approaching.
Arrival & Formal Handover
Plan to arrive in Cape Town the weekend before handover week begins. The handover covers every system in depth: engines, steering, fuel, watermaker, electronics, rigging, sail handling, deck gear, interior, and safety equipment. By the end, you will know your boat. Most owners complete handover in 3–4 days.
Shakedown Sail & Snag Close-Out
We strongly recommend an overnight shakedown passage after handover: your first real opportunity to sail the boat as an owner, build a short secondary snag list, and settle into the systems. On return, the BCCT team targets resolution within approximately five working days. A great window for deeper provisioning before departure.
Export Clearance & Departure
Typically completed in one day, occasionally extending to three or four. Once clearance is granted, you have 24–48 hours to depart South African waters. The BCCT team handles most of the documentation; we'll guide you through what's needed when the time comes.
What happens after you sign.
When your build is confirmed, you'll receive access to the Balance Owners' Portal, the central resource for everything from your build progress to delivery logistics. Among the guides waiting for you:
- Vessel Outfitting Guide — Recommended chandleries, galley suppliers, provisioning routes, freeze-dried food specialists, and a Cape Town delivery address for online purchases.
- Cape Town Journey Guide — A full phase-by-phase walkthrough of your handover and departure visit.
- First 30 Days Guide — The most common questions, checks, and routines new Balance owners encounter in their first month aboard.
- Clearing Out of South Africa — Step-by-step departure procedure with all required documentation.
- Shipping Personal Items to South Africa — What to bring, what to ship, and how to navigate customs.
The portal also gives you direct access to the Cape Town team, the BCCT Concierge, trusted captain profiles, and downloadable PDFs you can take to sea.
Meet the team
When you visit Cape Town as a prospective owner, you'll be hosted by a small team that lives and breathes Balance.
Shereen Robertson
Stay in
Balance.
We look forward to hosting you in Cape Town, whether for a first factory visit, a build progress check-in, or the moment you take delivery of your Balance and head for open ocean.
— The Balance Cape Town Team
