Position 16:53.20N 24:58.47W

 

Disappointingly we had to deliberately slow our progress to ensure a daylight arrival which meant an extra night at sea

Sods law kicked in and the wind kept strengthening and making us go faster, to combat this Mark was forced to keep reducing our sail area.

The other consequence of rising wind and limited sail was that the sea state got bigger and Magnum got rollier making sleep pretty difficult. All in all not our best night at sea, but our only option really as the islands aren't lit at night and from what we have read the charted position of the islands can be up to a mile astray on most electronic charts ! The thought of hitting one at night was terrifying!

 

Dawn broke around 0700 and we could see the islands either side of us Sao Vincent to port and Santo Antao to starboard. At this point the wind dropped and we motored the last hour into Mindelo harbour shattered but excited.

 

We are tied up in the new marina and the people are extremely helpful and friendly.

We have checked in with immigration and the police and it seems we now stuck here for Christmas as we have to do a reverse paper trail to leave and all the offices are shut until the 27th.

 

Weather here is hot and sunny, not sure I will ever get used to Christmas in a warm place but we will use the time to explore the island and rest before leaving on the 27th for Guadaloupe.