16:53N 24:59W

Tales of Amok's Adventures
Mike Jones
Mon 4 Jan 2010 10:36
Dear Land Possums,

Greetings from the port of Mindelo, Ilha de Sao Vincente, Cape Verde. We
carefully arranged to arrive here at first light on the 1st of January
2010, when the whole island was shut and suffering an interminable
hangover. At least we were sans alcohol the previous night. We needed all
our wits to enter the port, as there were lighthouses detailed on the
chart which weren't displaying their lights, which is always interesting.
As we entered the marina, looking for an easy and welcoming berth, we had
Lional Ritchie singing to us on loud speakers which was piped over the
whole marina. The fuel berth was vacant, so cheekily, we swannied in
alongside, and had the nerve to stay there until they opened up for
business on Saturday morning. Surprisingly, the fuel is cheaper here than
it is in Canaries, which is difficult to work out. Perhaps because the
islands are closer to the coast.

The locals seem to speak a number of languages, French is used abundantly,
as is Portuguese together with the local language of Crioulo.

We managed to catch up with our Swiss / Italian friends, they arrived a
few hours before us, so despite the fact that they are much lighter, there
was very little time difference between us. They left Las Palmas an hour
before us. They stayed much closer to the coast which added more variable
winds to their course.

Pandora has been making great in roads into her French, les Swisse
Francoise et Phillipe have been patiently explaining the various
expressions francais, then listening to their teachings with mild
amusement. Thankfully Pandora doesn't seem to have the dreaded British
disease of "I am Briitish and everybody should speak English to me". Les
Swisse et les italian circus boys came for a curry the other night; much
amusement and at least 3 languages. Never leave 3 grapefruits lying near
an italian juggler...

Water is an extremely precious commodity on the island, and for the first
time ever, we have to pay for what we take. The marina has a high tech
security system which uses a card for entry and for showers. We discovered
this yesterday, that if you use up the 200 litres which you get as credit
on your card by partially filling your tanks, then you have no water left
for your showers, which is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Toby had
taken Pandora and I for a very wet dingy ride earlier, (much to his
amusement..., he was sitting at the stern and had a human wind/water
break) and we were desperate to get the salt off. Much to our disgust,
there wasn't even an ounce of water credit left for us. Luckily, we found
this out before we took our clothes off, so there is always a positive
side, you just need to find it.

We have enjoyed the local delicacy of Cachupa. It is a bean/rice soup dish
with a number of variations. It seems to be a bit of a fridge cleaner,
which appeals to me in a bizarre way. Toby remains perpetually and is
still looking for food between meals. The comedy of ordering something off
the menu which is totally unknown remains in force; thanksfully they don't
have tripe and pig's head as an option, or not that we have found anyway.

We have a busy day ahead of us, immigration, fruit/veg and some spares,
let's hope we are successful. The pilot book warns us that nothing happens
quickly in Cabo Verde.

We removed the iberian ham from the forepeak, we found that everytime we
went forward for sails or veg, the ham would take a playful swing at one's
head. this was funny the first or second time, but the joke soon left when
we realised it left us with a great smear of pork grease whereever it hit.
With the lack of mirrors on the boat (or maybe it's the lack of interest
in the mirrors) one could walk around with pig fat on their hair for ages
without knowing about it. Imagine the hospital scene, "how did this
happen?" "I got hit with an iberian ham..."

Anyway little lubbers, I must get my act together, we hope to sail to day
for Ascension, but a few things to take care of first.

sorry if the blogs are very brief from sea, I have received a warning
about over-usage, so at the risk of being cut-off, I need to send shorter
emails.

today's advise is to laugh out loud at nothing, people tend to treat you
more gently if they think you are slightly loopy. trust me, I know.

salty sal.

soon to come is a report from seaweed corner, watch this space...