Plan + 24Hrs: Head south to pick up the trade winds all the way to St Lucia (2,000 NM)

 

Day 9 started with a glorious sunrise north of the Cape Verde Islands and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting throughout the cabin.  The first few hours of daylight were spent tacking down a narrow passage between two of the spectacularly rugged islands (Santo Antao and Sao Vicente), bringing back memories of sailing back in Starcross' native waters.  A quick check of the sea temperature, 26.3 deg, and air temperature, 28.3 deg, confirmed that we were indeed in the tropics and not Scotland after all.  Unfortunately, we couldn't stop at the Cape Verde Islands because we have an ocean to sail across, and because the islands looked as though they might contain dinosaurs or hobbits or both.

 

Passing the islands allowed contact to be made with the outside world, with loved ones being phoned to ensure that we will indeed make it to the Caribbean before 2011.

 

Controversy raged when Ross had a shave, clearly in breach of the beard growing competition rules.  Only time will tell if his claims that he will still win the competition even from this point are true.

 

Passing 25 deg West meant that the clocks were put back an hour in an effort to keep sunrise and sunset at reasonable times, and prevent 'boat lag' when we reach the Caribbean.  Two more changes will take place at the passing of 35 and 45 deg West respectively.

 

Nine sucessful days at sea has proved that people function perfectly well without paid employment, sleeping for more than three hours at a time, wheely suitcases, free morning newspapers, excercise and showering.

 

Crew looking forward to reaching the seemingly mythical trade winds tomorrow, when we'll turn right and race to St Lucia.

 

Yours at sea,

 

Ross, Al, Al, Paul, Will