ARC Web 02.12.24
Happy Advent to you all!
Feels like we missed the start of the season yesterday, it was such a busy day… We’d sailed overnight entering the port of Mindelo, Cape Verde in the early hours of the morning. It lived up to the advice in the many chart & pilot books we had. There were numerous lights, most of which were not on the chart, as well as anchored vessels, several piers/pontoons and little in the way of obvious direction into the marina. With all of us, with eyes like hawks, spotting challenges and opportunities, we managed to locate the fuel dock only to find another, much larger boat, moored up there. We retreated to an area where several yachts were anchored and went about lowering ours. Close to the marina entrance, ferry pier and channel marks we decided to have an anchor watch with a two hourly rotation! Finally some sleep.
It’s funny how, in the light of day, a port and marina can look so different and benign. Once the fuel dock was open and had served some waiting boats, we refuelled and rounded the islands to head west. There was some consternation when the skipper said we’re heading the wrong way and need to turn around! Having checked all the instruments we could only assume some magnetic anomaly in the area between São Vincent and Santo Antão, as the boat compass was reading NE! All electronic instruments read SW and we could see we were heading in the right direction on the chart!
After a cup of tea & a fig roll (which are on ration) we spent the rest of the morning engaged in the ‘dark art’ of setting, hoisting and finally flying the downwind sail (kite). A West (ish) course was set and we left Cape Verde receding in the distance.
As everyone was famished by now, a crunchy tuna salad was made and devoured (sadly only tinned - we haven’t started fishing yet!).
Time now for more sail changes, better suited to the increasing winds and rolling seas.
Then into the galley to prepare dinner in a rolling boat. Prep can take an hour or so! Chopping meat and vegetables braced between the cupboards and worktops in the galley is a great Pilates work out! You certainly need to have everything organised and to hand.
Fajitas wrapped and consumed we take on our night watches and some go off to bed. Main and Genoa set, fair winds on our starboard aft, we surge and slide through the swell at a good 8 knots and more. The beginning of the Atlantic crossing and end of a very long day.
Lisa