Mindelo A frontier Town off West Africa 16:53.18N 024:59.49W

Seaflute
Wed 16 Nov 2016 16:52
Arrived Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde with just over 3,100 NM showing on
the ships log since departing Southampton. The passage from Las Palmas was a
couple of hours under 5 full days at sea and we sailed the vast majority of
the way hoorah! The last few miles across the finish line and into harbour
were quite challenging as we experienced the sudden increased winds (+15-20
knots) associated with an "acceleration zone" between the islands of Santo
Antao and Vicente, we certainly crossed the line in style and on our way to
a 4th overall class position.
It's true to say that by the end of the 3rd day we were all well into our
watch routine with 3hr night watches and 4hr day watches. Having spoken to
a fellow ARC participant at a party it highlighted the need for a vigilant
lookout (particularly at night) as their 36ft boat narrowly missed 3
sleeping whales.they could hear them breathing. Hitting a whale is bad news
for them, the boat and the crew.
We leave Mindelo at lunchtime on Wed 16th November for our longest passage
yet, across the Atlantic Ocean to St Lucia around 12 days at sea and
2,100NM.
Dave, Lindy and Tom took a day's trip to Santo Antao and having seen the
photos its worthy of a blog in its own right...watch this space.
As for Mindelo it has a real-world charm, it's clear that tourism is in its
infancy (which in many ways is good) and that life on the Cape Verde islands
is hard for most of its inhabitants but it's a jolly old place. One notable
meal was in an old colonial style restaurant (entered via a suspect door and
stairway from the street) on the first floor of a corner block, it had
narrow black cast iron balconies around both sides and overlooked the main
street and all the live Samba style music. Together with the odd scent of
cigar it's how I imagined Cuba to be in the 60's.
Have included some photos to give you a general flavour of the high street,
the local chandlery, wetsuit/dive store and a more recognisable fruit and
veg market.
This is being written during our final preparations for departure, the fruit
and veg has been fully washed on the pontoon (don't want any uninvited
visitors on the boat) and then dried before being stowed.
Dave has been up the mast to have a final check on halyards / blocks and
then we went off to our team dinner and a few scoops at a little restaurant
opposite the marina... its no booze for 12 days OMG!!!
Bye for now
Ian.

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