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.
