Atlantic Crossing Day 1 – Monday 27^th February 2023

We left Mindelo at 1600 on Sunday 26^th February - our friends Mads and John saw us off. It was later than I wanted it to be and having spent the entire day getting the boat ready I was all for leaving the following morning, but the mate, insistent, wanted to get going… Still I was pleased to be leaving Mindelo.

Leaving the harbour at and sailing out of the Sao Vicente channel was a pretty rough experience, but it is reported to be usually like that. Rounding Sao Antao we were subject to fluky winds – some even from the south east! We gybed a few times and eventually settled on a suitable course with only the genoa up. We were both pretty tired and the night was a bit fitful as the seas were not conducive to a good night’s sleep. We’ve tried to make up for some lost sleep today (the last thing you want to be is tired out on a trip like this), but that has been at the expense of a few boat jobs – the number four jib, lays strapped to the foredeck instead of being raised for example!

As I write, 1640  GMT, the seas are building again. The reason is a depression to the west of the Canaries causing beam on swell to come our way. It’s expected to peak tomorrow night, but it’s a bit ‘bouncy’ right now…

We’ve covered around 125 miles in the first 24 hours, so not too bad. Our priority at the moment is settling the boat as comfortably as we can so we can sleep tonight.

On a happy note the sea is a beautiful blue colour and the sun is shining.

A bit brief, I know, but the mate is asleep – and I want to be…