Day 6
The technology which keeps us more comfortable on passage making still continues to play us up , although we seem to be working our way all the issues to make sure that we have everything in top shape for the second leg. We all feel like the first leg has been a long test to see which bit works , which bit doesn’t quite function properly, how can we improve on the systems, have we got the right food and water provisions, have we made enough allowance for fuel. We are getting closer to the Cape Verde islands with just 170 miles left to go. The weather boffins have forecasted an easing in the wind to single figures, they got this right as the apparent wind dropped overnight to 3 knots. This of course meant putting the sails away and motoring towards Mindelo. We all agree however that it would’ve nice to cross the finish line under sail. We have a growing snagging list of corrective items that we need to attend to once we make landfall and are cleared as a healthy vessel. Now I feel like we understand how to make water, generate reliable power and be efficient underway.
We saw a few more dolphins today although they haven’t been as playful with the boat, in other wild life areas, the boat appears to have played host to a green insect convention that has landed on the canvas and appear to making themselves at home for the last 36 hours of the trip. We also had a flying fish land on boat, clearly trying to make his escape from the tuna.
I think the first 6/7 days have been a lot of fun, even when we have had to take the motor to make ground, We have had some great sailing and everything we do from washing clothes, sea water showers, trying new recipes forms part of the experience which I can’t wait to tell people about.