Minaxi - Counting the Days In instead of Days Out

So we are now in day 6 after leaving Cape Verdes, however we've stopped counting how many days we've been out at sea, simply because we had a 1 week stop over for repairs and don't really count that as "Under way" it was more "under the influence"! What is more important to us is our ETA and if we arrive in St Lucia in time for the Prize Ceremony on the 17th because what's the point of coming in last if you can't collect your "last place" prize. And we still have a chance of winning a prize in the Basil plant competition. Since Heidi has taken over Valerio's job of looking after Sybil, she has grown a few more inches and is even sprouting new tops, we think it is all the tea bags and coffee grinds she keeps feeding her. Heidi also takes her for walks on the deck every day for fresh air. read more...

Minaxi - back at Sea

So after 7 days in Sao Vincente, Cape Verdes, Minaxihas newa forestay and a reasonably straight furling tube. Genoa stitched back up and something we noticed at the last minute, a broken alternator bracket which we had welded. Minaxi has also lost 2 of it's crew, Valerio and Frank but we picked up Heidi who ran away from the French Alps to go to sea! 8 am we depart in 35 to 40 kts of wind and big following seas. 10 am Auto pilot broken!!! While Sietse helmed direct down wind to keep the boat as flat as possible, I stripped down the pilot motor and found the 4 internal gears worn out. Fortunately we still have the old one in a cupboard and took that apart to find the same gears in perfect condition. Some 3 hours later we are back up and running but with a stern warning from a worried. read more...

Minaxi - So... How does this sail work?

That's what three Danish boys in the Cape Verde's asked us when they saw our rigging. We told them it was a Square sail for going sideways, and yes they did believe us for a second :-)But in fact, it's our Roller furling & Genoa sail strapped to the side of the boat after our forestay broke on day 5, 585nm out of Las Palmas. After a 2 hour Chinese Fire Drill we got the mast re-rigged with several halyards and the roller furling strapped to the life lines. Under motor for 3 days saw us safely into Sao Vincente, Cape Verde's.We now hope repairs to be complete and we can get back under way by the end of this week. Hopefully we will re-join the Arc in St. Lucia before the parties end!Crew of MinaxiDSC_0477-1. read more...

Minaxi - Day 5: Thanks 4 giving us some wind

Our decision to follow a SW course turned out to be good after all since we are getting a nice 15kts breeze from the ESE flying the Spinnaker and Genny wing to wing and doing 7-8 knots at the moment. Where as yachts north of us are getting no more then 6 knots of wind and are slowing down a bit. Also good news on the Fishing front: Caught 2 Mahi Mahi's so far. 1 on the Rod and 1 on the Hand-reel. unfortunately we lost 1 lure and also lost another fish because we couldn't slow down in time. All was well on board this morning until we lifted some floorboards and discovered some fresh water in the bilge and some of our vegetables wet and starting to go funny. That means lots of veggies for our Thanksgiving dinner tonight and no turkey this year.  Perhaps some more fish?Sietse Cabin. read more...

Minaxi - Day 3

Day 1 (The Start) was spent 1st trying to get through 200 plus other boats trying to find our way to St Lucia. After getting a bit away from the crowd we managedto get some order on Minaxi and settle down. This was short lived because during the night we ripped the foot line out of the Genny so spent most of Day 2 stitching. Also themain furling motor repaired in Las Palmas decided it wasn't really repaired so we are back to hand reefing again. After getting the Genny down for repair we did manage to get both the main and mizzen spinnakers flying and had a great afternoon doing 8 to 9 knots! Day 3, Genset fan belt broke (missed that on the maintenance list) repaired and making power, H20 and hot water for much needed showers. We are now sailing wing on wing and making 7.5 knots and. read more...