Duration: 6.5 days
After refuelling and conducting all the pre-sail checks we were ready to go. However, on leaving the marina and port of Santa Cruz we were immediately hit with 25-30 knot winds and a very choppy sea state. Wind continued to increase in strength so we ended up with two reefs in the main in 2-3m seas with a very large chop. We hit 15.4 knots speed over ground leaving Tenerife. These conditions lasted all night, until morning when the wind started to decline along with the sea state. Winds continued to drop over the next two days and in the main were on the nose so we alternated between motoring and motor/sailing with the Code 0 up when winds were favourable.
We ended up motoring most of the way to Cape Verde as the winds were light and we had to be there by the 29th August as our newest crew member was arriving that day. Averaging 128 nautical miles per day, this leg though shorter in distance, took longer than the leg from A Coruna to Tenerife.
Much to Sandra’s disappointment we didn’t encounter any dolphins on this leg; but flying fish were aplenty. So much so that we introduced daily morning checks of the boat for those fish who decided to hitch a ride. Unfortunately once on board they didn’t survive. We found them in the most unusual and incredible places including the cockpit roof, external locker lids and every other possible crevice on the boat. We even found one in the track of the sliding door between the cockpit and the galley. Peter was on the hunt for a bigger catch, but even with the 3D eye octopus lure (which came highly recommended) still had to get his first bite!
We arrived in Mindelo in the early hours of the morning, and rather than trying to navigate the harbor and marina in night hours Peter and Andreas were happy to let the boat drift for a couple of hours while we waited for sunrise. Sandra was not on board with this plan, there was a huge unforgiving island surrounded by rocks directly in front of us!! With some assurances from the guys regarding the current and sea state (in fact the current kept us on course), Sandra accepted the ‘drifting’ option but continued to watch our distance from island and surrounding rocks, like a hawk. With sunrise came a new perspective and our proximity to the island and our surroundings became clearer. Subsequently, Sandra’s anxiety levels fell dramatically!
Prior to making our way to the marina, we checked our charts and were made aware of several submerged or partially submerged wrecks. Please note there are no markers in place to identify these wrecks, another good reason for waiting till daylight to enter the harbour/marina.
On arrival at the marina we were directed to a berth by whistling and much arm waving from the marina staff. Docking was a challenge as we had to berth stern in, in a very tight space between two monohulls with a crosswind. Peter wasn’t prepared to attempt his second Mediterranean docking with these conditions (dinging our boat is one thing, dinging someone else’s is quite another), so Andreas took over and guided our boat into the berth. This was the first time we had encountered bow mooring lines, however we soon worked out the process and all was well.
By this time we were all exhausted, so after checking in at the marina we headed for a cleansing shower and a cup of coffee at the marina bar/restaurant. Click here for a review of this marina http://seagoddessadventures.com/france-to-asutralia-marina-mindelo/ The immigration office is about a 20 minute walk from the marina (around the back of the ferry terminal). The office didn’t open until 1000 hours, as such Peter had plenty of time to gather passports, boat certification and other documents. The immigration clearing in process cost 500 Escudos. As we planned to leave on a Sunday, and government offices are not open on the weekends, we hoped that we could clear out on the same day we cleared in. This wasn’t permissible and Peter had to go back on the following day (Friday) to complete clearing out formalities. There was no charge to ‘clear out’.
We spent three nights in Mindelo, click here for our thoughts on the town http://seagoddessadventures.com/sailing-to-australia-cape-verde/