Counting down to departure

S/Y Pelerin
Colin Speedie & Louise Johnson
Sat 10 Nov 2012 13:07

So here we are, sitting at the edge of the cliff, looking out across the vast stretch of sea to the south. After a manic few weeks, the boat is ready, we’re ready, the weather is ready… so the excuses for staying (e.g. because it’s comfortable, friendly, familiar) are starting to look inadequate. After being in Lanzarote for a lot longer than we’d anticipated, we’re finally ready to move on. We’ve been cleaning out all the cupboards, restacking with all the foods essential for onward adventures!

There’s been some confused low pressure systems playing havoc here the last few days, and we’ve had to help several boats alongside who’ve had scary stories to tell of their passages south from Portugal and Morocco to here – more than one boat has come in with sails blown and tales of mad squally winds… so we’ll wait ‘til Tues before we head of I think.

We’ll try to keep this little blog short and sweet, but keep it updated regularly over the next few months. Our plan A is to head south the 850 or so nautical miles to Dakar, capital of Senegal, spending a few weeks exploring rivers such as the Sine Saloum and Casamance. Hoping to stop off in Gambia too, where the River Gambia is also supposed to be un-missable. Superb bird-life awaits us in the mangrove-lined deltas of west of Africa, but to get there, next week we’ll be sailing through some of the incredibly nutrient-rich waters off Southern Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, etc so hopes are high for lots of whales, dolphins, sharks and turtles! Then mid-Dec off to Cape Verdes to meet up with our friend and fellow sailor Ronnie, then the big jump across the Atlantic onto Brasil, crossing the Equator on the way.  More tales to come over the next few months of winds, waves and wee beasties!

 

JPEG image