Wednesday, 30 December 2009
30 December, 2009 10:36
15 57 N 29 23 W heading west at around 6 kts yesterday 24 hr run 132nm-Seas still lumpy with swell 3 to 4 m-Lots of flying fish-4 on deck this morning. Charlie saw whale she thinks.
29 December, 2009 9:12:00
16 40N 26 46 W wind ne 20 kts making 6 to 7 kts 276 degrees seas boistrous with NW swell
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Las Palmas Canaries to Mindelo Cape Verde 12 - 22 Dec 09
After refueling and checking out we made a cracking start sailing south down the eastern coast of Grand Canaria, setting the ships record at 9.6 kts. A ridge of high pressure had moved in to create an area of very little wind and it seemed best to head south to get through this in the shortest time. Only when 80 miles off the African coast did I start to make progress west.
During a watch change with Theo in the middle of the night a whale surfaced only a couple of boat lenghts off our port quarter. Made us both jump!It was probably interested to know what we were and popped up to breath and have a close look at us.
For the first time on this voyage we decided to tow a lure and within half an hour we had our first catch-a small dorado. It wasn't long before we had caught a 8-10 kg dorado which provided 4 main meals for the three of us.
The good sailing didn't last and with very little wind and difficult seas it was time to use the iron sail. When the wind returned it was the turn of the cruising chute to move us along and good progress was made for over 24 hours before a lack of wind meant more motoring. At ths point it was clear there would be very little wind until well south of Cape Verdes for the next several days so it was decided to make for the island of St Vincent, still some 140 miles to the south. One of the main islands was clearly visible at 50 nm. As we arrived off the islands at sunset, I decided to hove-to for the night rather than enter an unfamiliar harbour in the dark. Entering Mindelo the next morning I was surprised to find a new marina apparently opened last year. The WiFi signal is good enough for me to write this from the chart table!
The locals are very friendly, the weather warm and sunny and the music infectious. Fish is plentiful and very cheap, fresh vegitables are available and the beer isn't too bad. A good place to spend Christmas and wait for some good winds to take us west.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Vilamoura to Las Palmas Canaries November 26 to 2 Dec 2009
We set off, planning to make for Madeira to avoid a large area of high pressure with near perfect wind from NW at 15 kts and made 50 nm in the first 10 hours despite increasingly large swell and confused seas. The wind then deserted us and after trying the large drifter sail which made little difference, we motored 60 miles to find the wind. At this point weather data received via the SSB radio on sailmail necessitated a change from the original planned destination to the Canaries.
Dolphins came to play and stayed with us riding the bow wave and having great fun together for half an hour. Theo captured the scene with his new very impressive camera as you might expect a budding film director would do. On most days dolphins would visit and the bigger the seas and the faster we sailed the more it seemed they enjoyed the encounter. Some rather lonely looking turtles difted by occasionally but not many birds were about.
Most of the time it was possible to maintain a course for the Canaries. The wind did vary from ENE to N, before settling at NNE at 15 t0 20 Kts gusting occaisionally to 28 kts. Given an inexperienced crew, the sail plan was modest with yankee, staysail and double reefed main, yet we were able make 6 to 7 kts despite the swell. Our best 24 hours was 130 nm during the passage of 654 nm.
The passage was a great introduction for Theo and Charlie before the much longer and testing Atlantic crossing. We are currently enjoying the warm weather and the company of a very interesting collection of sailors. Some minor repairs are being tackled and a review of food stocks and stowage is underway. We plan to visit a couple of the smaller western islands in the group before setting off for Trinidad. In all probability we shall enjoy Christmas at sea.
We set off, planning to make for Madeira to avoid a large area of high pressure with near perfect wind from NW at 15 kts and made 50 nm in the first 10 hours despite increasingly large swell and confused seas. The wind then deserted us and after trying the large drifter sail which made little difference, we motored 60 miles to find the wind. At this point weather data received via the SSB radio on sailmail necessitated a change from the original planned destination to the Canaries.
Dolphins came to play and stayed with us riding the bow wave and having great fun together for half an hour. Theo captured the scene with his new very impressive camera as you might expect a budding film director would do. On most days dolphins would visit and the bigger the seas and the faster we sailed the more it seemed they enjoyed the encounter. Some rather lonely looking turtles difted by occasionally but not many birds were about.
Most of the time it was possible to maintain a course for the Canaries. The wind did vary from ENE to N, before settling at NNE at 15 t0 20 Kts gusting occaisionally to 28 kts. Given an inexperienced crew, the sail plan was modest with yankee, staysail and double reefed main, yet we were able make 6 to 7 kts despite the swell. Our best 24 hours was 130 nm during the passage of 654 nm.
The passage was a great introduction for Theo and Charlie before the much longer and testing Atlantic crossing. We are currently enjoying the warm weather and the company of a very interesting collection of sailors. Some minor repairs are being tackled and a review of food stocks and stowage is underway. We plan to visit a couple of the smaller western islands in the group before setting off for Trinidad. In all probability we shall enjoy Christmas at sea.
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