Cape Verdes, baby!

Cape Verdes approach This one is actually leaving the CVs. Note that I'm kind of smiling, obviously I had no idea what I was letting myself in for!!!

On 1st Dec our intrepid explorers motored out of Pasito Blanco, Gran canaria & set course for the Cape Veres, 830 miles away. All went perfectly for the 1st 4 days, we did our usual 3 hr watches, making sure we also tried to sleep during the dayso that we stayed quite fresh. On the 5th day, however, the weather took a turn for the worse & the following day things had got bad enough that we were afraid a big ave breaking onto us could turn the boat on her side, It was v windy (F7 I guess) but it wa the waves which were really the problem.

I decidd to tow long lines in a bight from the stern to keep us stern-on to the waves & to stop us surfing uncontrollably down them. It was the 1st time I have tried this & I was pleased that it seemed to work well. We did this twice during the next 48 hrs, perhaps for 24hrs in total. It was a very stressfull time, very frightening! And I have some news to break: During the worst time I asked Susi to marry me! (She accepted, of course). You heard it here 1st folks. They do say strange things happen at sea!!

By the early hrs of Dec 8th the weather had improved enough for us to continue sailing &, once light, we were pushing 1494 hard in order to arrive in the CVs on Sunday 9th.

Although still shaken, the sailing was exhilerating that day: Hand-steering with full genoa pulling 1494 along at 6 or 7 knots & surfing down the waves at twice that speed.

During the last night at sea Susi gave a loud scream - a flying fish had flown into her! The fish was shocked too!. This became common & we often heard the "thud, flap, flappy, flap" of fish hurling themselves into our cockpit. we rescued most.

O the 0th Dec, the 9th day at sea we closed the islands. We were within 10M before they appeared out of the Saharan dust-laden haze & very gla we wetre to see land! Land, after 9 days and 915 miles!

Entrance & berthing were a piece of cake &, since immigration was closed, we were free to do as we pleased.

Our 1st impressions of Mindelo were not good - a bit of a culture shock & we were tired & hungry & impatient but after a good nights sleep & meeting other cruisers & finding out stuff from them we now quite like it here. Its warmer than the Canaries & there are some nice open-air bars & restaurants - and they served us egg n chips!

Plan is to leave here on thurs 13th & head west for the Caribbean. We hope to arrive in St Lucia beginning 2008 so I shall take this chance to wish y'all a very happy Xmas & New Year!

Stop press: Congratulations to Jon & Amanda on the arrival of little Alice!