Slow crossing

The least you can say is the trades were intermittent this December. We started with a Northerly in the Cape Verdes which became a North by North Easterly the next day. The next three days we had fair winds from the North East to East by North East. Then the wind died to a force three from the East and this stayed for three days.

The next 4 days gave us a force three to four from the East, which was only enough for about 115-120 NM per day. So a little slow, but manageable. After that, we had a disturbance taking the wind away for four days so we motored intermittently, the longest time we had the engine on was 30 hours.

The last three days, from December 25 to 27 we had plenty of wind from the East and North East. Our total average didn't drop beneath 5 knots, but our daily average often did, both with sails and engine.

From the Grib files I could make a few tactical routing decisions such as heading further South to avoid the worst of the disturbance ahead of us. W probably would have been better off leaving about two days later because there was generally more wind behind us. I will certainly get a 14 or 20 day grib forecast to get as clear of a picture of the weather situation further ahead.

But from a comparison of the different downloaded gribfiles, the change in the weather pattern wasn't really predicted when we set off. So it wouldn't have changed our projected departure date.

The only thing I can add to my defense is this: the day we left, about 12 yachts did the same. So we weren't the only ones making a slow crossing.

Together

0fter seeing each other only two times in the past six months (once in Portugal and another in Cape Verde) - not to mention the numerous skype sessions, I must add, we continue the journey as a couple again.

Today, Ingrid has arrived with a delay of 9 hours after a trip riddled with delays. Her account of it is here but on this end, it wasn't much less aggravating for me.

Good thing there is something such as flight tracking, this has kept me up during most of the night, first trying to figure out whether she had left Belgium, then following flight details during the following 24 hours. After a fitful sleep I got up at 5 a.m. only to find out the flight to Trinidad had only taken off at three a.m.

A couple of messages later I knew the new arrival time at three in the afternoon, at which time I went to pick her up from Grenada airport and her and our holiday finally began in earnest.

Grenada

On Monday morning December 27th at 4 a.m. we arrived in Prickly Bay, Grenada. After 18 days and 17 hours, we have crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Mindelo, Sao Vicente to Prickly Bay Marina, Grenada.

So Victor Too and its crew have crossed an ocean, it took us 2291 Nautical Miles at an average of 5.1 knots.

We celebrated Christmas eve by taking a dip in the ocean, but the New Year will probably see a bit more festivities as we will stay here until then.

Ice cream and cappucino were part of the early arrival celebrations, some good food and drinks are high on the to-do list. Today, the boat was cleaned on the inside, tomorrow the outside needs a scrubbing.

I will post some of the log entries in the next few days, but let me first thank everyone who has supported my plans in the last ten years, we made it to the Caribbean! Thank you!

Two thousand Miles

When I came to Cabo Verde, I didn't know much about it. It was my first encounter with Africa and as such, I came with apprehension.

But much of what I read is true, and nothing I read grasps the nature of these islands. After a month of cruising and visiting the different islands, this place is Africa and at the same time a lot different from my image of Africa.

So will I visit again? Probably. Will I go on to visit other African countries? Possibly.

And that is in itself a huge difference from the way I regarded the dark continent before; I see hope and joyful people.

And even though Cabo Verde remains an oasis because of its peacefulness, I hope it has a bright future and I may come back to witness it.



Tomorrow we will set off for that other continent, a new world. A long stretch of very little but water separates us from there. We will keep in touch with our closest ones, but we'll meet again on the other side. Grenada is our destination, if all goes well.

Flying North, Heading West

After saying our goodbyes, Ingrid took the plane home for another three weeks of work. I stayed on beautiful Boavista which we also will be leaving for Mindelo later today. The crew for the crossing is now complete with Mariette having arrived Friday.

There is still plenty to do, our trusted outboard having refused to start for the last two days, with a new vane cover which is slightly larger than the wind vane that came with the Hydrovane and with plenty of supplies to get.

But we are now definitely heading West, and will be doing so for quite a while, until we reach Grenada sometime late December.

On our last trip West and before returning East to Boavista, we visited the beautiful Monte Gordo National Park with a hike up to the top and a wonderful walk along a valley along tropical fauna and flora. Sau Nicolau was an island we hadn't had the time to visit, and it was well worth it.

On a trip in Boavista itself, Ingrid and I visited the desert and some oasis near Santo Tirso. This island is very arid but to visit an oasis in the middle of the stony plain is more than worth the while.



So after being in the Cape Verdes for more than a month, next stop is Mindelo where we'll depart for our ocean crossing, 2200 Miles West. After preparing for this for the last 10 years, it's a small step to take us just that bit further.

Beating East

After Mindelo, we sailed back East to Boavista. It was a 130 Mile beat with about 12 hours of motoring into the trade winds and swell.




We got some dolphins along the way, which was a nice diversion.

Forced rest

The crossing from Sao Vicente to Boavista was the first without a following wind. It's been a while since we had to beat into the wind, and the trades aren't much fun to beat into.

After a day of sailing close hauled, we anchored near the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia. We got in late, just after dark. The anchor held, but we put out 60 Metres of chain just to be sure.

The next day, after swimming ashore among large schools of fish, we left for Boavista. It was an unenventful passage, all the while beating into the wind with some 12 hours of motoring before we cleared Sau Nicolau.

In the final approach to Boavista, we were joined briefly by 2 dolphins. On every passage in Cape Verde, we've spotted dolphins, whales and sea turtles. It's still nice to see them, and it enlightens every day we're on passage.




Today, while visiting our friendly Belgian neighbour, I slipped while boarding and heard an awful crunching noise from the lower right ribs. After a visit to the local hospital, the verdict luckily was only a bruised rib and a bit of muscle trauma. In any case, it means no diving for the next few weeks. I hope I can snorkel the local shallow wreck, otherwise it's the beach for two weeks!

Now who can complain about a bit of forced rest in Boavista?