Position 16:45.30N 22:58.38W

PASSEPARTOUT
Christopher & Nirit Slaney
Sat 18 Dec 2010 14:31
    The eagle has landed!
Shmulik safely on board
Ilha do Sal. After spending thirty six hours in Brussels and Lisbon - delayed one day by a snow storm -  Shmulik has arrived in Sal and we even managed to get him and his very heavy bag on board without  getting either wet. Shmulik has delivered the all important part for the auto pilot, a bottle of Irish whisky, enough tehina to open a kiosk and several additions to the Passepartout's reading library. He has cast a critical eye over the galley arrangements and particularly the cutlery; "Don't you have a fish filleting knife?."
 
He has hundreds of questions about the yacht and I have masses of information to impart before we get properly under way. On Saturday morning we fitted the upgraded relay to the auto pilot, stored all Shmulik's gear, I went up the mast for a complete rigging check and now we're ready to sail. Our next destination is Sao Nicolao, 90 miles further west in the Cape Verde archipelago. So far the Cape Verdes have lived up to our expectations. This islands are tropical, cooled by the trade winds and a fantastic mix of African and Portuguese cultures. We explored most of Sal in 'sherut' taxis and voted the small village of Palmeira where we anchored as the best part of the island. Most of the information in the pilot book and sailing directions was inaccurate or out of date.
 
When I next get a chance I'll upload some video to You Tube of our adventures on Sal's public transport - crowded minibuses with African rhythms at full volume.
    
 
Tel +870 773 156 537   Follow us at  http://blog.mailasail.com/psp2