Position 16:51.57N 024:56.76W
Arrived Mindelo , Sao Vicente about 00.30 on Sunday 1st, to find what
looked like a totally full marina with other boats circling and many
anchored. After abortive attempts to contact the marina anchored
overnight. Doug’s eagle eyes spotted a large mast opposite, identified as
Rainbow (J H2), so we should be able to catch up with Oli for some fraternal and
paternal bonding
We then celebrated Toby’s birthday in the proper manner; James pulled
an unrepeatable stunt buy opening a bottle of Cava at the companionway
steps; up went the cork, and 10 seconds later it came back down straight
through the hatch!!
Next morning Andrej showed a stroke of genius by befriending a Brazilian
boat anchored next to us; their Portuguese language got them a berth in
the marina almost immediately, and they asked us to follow them in as there was
space alongside their position. So by about 10.00 we were secure in the
Marina. Andrej then went off exploring while the rest of the crew
generally cleaned, fettled, dealt with the marina dues etc. Toby and
Nadine bumped into a couple of crew off Rainbow, and after lunch in a shoreside
restaurant (watching local boys throw reluctant dogs off the pier into the
water, and catching them when they swam to shore, only to be taken and thrown
off again) off we went to meet Oli who had been open water diving, but was due
back at Rainbow in the afternoon.
During the day it became apparent that much off the meat in the fridge was
going off, so it was sorted and disposed of. Not lasted nearly as long as
suggested by the vendor.
Meal ashore, a few drinks (the Pamplmouse is growing on us all) and late to
bed.
This morning James was up with the lark, and leaving the rest of the crew
totally asleep went ashore at 08.30 and queued. Queued at the cash point
to get money (all cash points in the town were out of money on Sunday which is a
quite normal state, so everyone has to queue up on Monday morning before they
run out again, sometimes by lunch), then queued at the marina to pay for more
water (only one computer working and that was going very slowly). Then
went to immigration to book the crew in and out, joining the milling throng of
yachties all trying to do the same; finally queued at the police office
for final clearance to leave. Eventually returned to the boat at
11.45. Toby making a full english breakfast for all.
Ah yes, sailing. The tales around the marina are of light winds and
people staying to the end of the week before venturing across the
Atlantic. We have downloaded some gribs, and will leave tomorrow,
expecting to motor for maybe a couple of days before picking up some decent wind
to carry us on to St. Lucia. We will get there.