EMAIL HOME Through the First Night - Passage to Cape Verde Day1
Walkabout has gone Sailing
Andrew and Traci Roantree
Mon 8 Nov 2021 09:00
What a day Departure Day was…. We were busy until the last minute getting things sorted out and ready on board. Nerves were high, and so were emotions as we said goodbye to many people - but particularly Jamie, Carol, Tony, Charlie, Nick and Rue. We slipped our lines just after 12, and headed out of the marina towards the start. The dockside was packed with people, with much cheering, waving and hooting going on.
And then it was just the 2 of us, with a big adventure ahead.
We made a decent start (it’s not a race!), stayed well out of trouble, hung back and crossed the line 5 minutes after the gun. About mid pack.
Our plan was to stay out of the worst of the acceleration zone around the SE of Gran Canaria - but we still had sustained gusts of 30 knots and big seas. We have taken a fairly cautious approach, which has probably cost us some time and distance.
We are sailing with 3 reefs in the main and varying amounts of Genoa. Very deep downwind, so gybe preventer is on. We decided to gybe twice in the night - not ideal - and it takes quite a time to manage that safely in the dark in 27knots of wind. And it was a very dark night.
Strong winds have meant we have maintained an average speed of 8 knots for the first 15 hours. We will probably hit our highest 24 hour distance run!
First night getting into routines and sleep is always difficult. Traci and I have both probably managed about 2 or 3 broken hours. Need to catch up during the day.
No wildlife spotted yet.
Dinner was chicken casserole and potatoes - all prepared beforehand, thankfully. Followed by fruit!! We have quite a lot to get through!
There are 3 other boats in sight this morning - plenty more on AIS. It feels like we are towards the back of the fleet - but I have no way of telling - unless one of you sends a text to the sat phone with an update.
All is well on Walkabout.
Love A&Txxx