19:51.26N 20:24.74W
Lady Corinne
iain and gaynor macalister
Tue 22 Dec 2009 11:59
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03.46 Very good morning to you. Once
again we are suffering from a lack of puff and currently motorsailing at
4.5 knots on a course of 215 towards the Cabo Verde Islands. We took the
decision after dinner last night at the end of a good 24 hour sailing period
which saw us clock up more than 100 miles. We had sailed all day in the
centre of a meteorological arena with obvious weather systems creating
interesting cloud patterns on the horizon all around us while we sailed under a
clear blue sky. Then as the sun started to sink towards the horizon the
wind died away to nothing. and the underside of the clouds were set ablaze to
create a dramatic sunset that made them look like they had been blasted with a
huge flame thrower. We rolled away the foresails leaving main and
mizzen up and started the engine. Initially it was intended just to give
the batteries a boost charge but after calculating the diesel we have left we
started to look at our options. The only deadline we have is that Max's
return flight from St Lucia is booked for the 6th Jan. and there is very little
chance of us being there for that so we will have to change it. We are
having to head South West towards where we hope the Trades will pick us up and,
looking on the chart, we are only about 200 miles from the Cape Verde
Islands. As we're not pressed for time we decided that it
would be a shame to be so close and miss the opportunity to visit
them. An unexpected bonus could be that we may arrive
on Christmas Day if the wind fills in and gives us a lift.
So we may well have Christmas on tierra firma after all, anyone fancy
chucking their thong in a bag and coming out to join us? I wonder if they have
Brussel sprouts there? Just my luck I bet they eat a special variety of
tollo for Christmas, probably made from something, if such a thing could
possibly exist, even smellier than the Canarian delicacy. Whilst there we
can pick up some fresh food and take on water and fuel whilst waiting for a
favorable weather window, have a shower, sink a few beers and enjoy the islands
for a few days. They are about 800 miles South of Gran Canaria and were
uninhabited before the Portuguese arrived in the 1500's. When they left
they destroyed all they couldn't take with them, poisoned the wells and just
abandoned them. It is now an independent state and is very poor and
grateful for anything they can get. Unofficially, Max was there about 20
years ago so it will be interesting for him to see how they've
changed. Today we had a circling shark just off the boat, at first
we thought the dolphins were back but it was only one and it's dorsal fin had a
totally different demeanor to it, dark, sinister and menacing . It
didn't hang around for long, I guess it smelt the tollo, and apart from a couple
of stormy petrels we haven't seen any wildlife at all and the last ship I saw
was about 4 days ago, which was, in itself a surreal experience as it came up
behind us with A Bus, A Red Mercedes Fire Engine and A Truck
all in a line as deck cargo. It's not every day at sea you get the feeling
that you're on the M25. this place is huge! Regarding my
comprehensive mess up with the blogs, I'm told that it appears from the position
pins that at some point we were heading back to Mogan. There are a
lot of places that I would be reluctant to revisit but Mogan isn't one and it
will always have a special place in my thoughts, but no we didn't ever start
heading back. I think a couple of blogs got posted in the wrong
order as I sent two off together and the later one got posted first.
I need better internet access to go online and correct it and hopefully I will
get a chance in the Verdes. Oh and by the way any replies to or comments
on emails received are addressed at the very end of the blog, this way I can do
it all in one go and not have to worry about sending numerous emails to
different people.
Hasta Luego
Lady C and crew with thoughts of
Christmas
Bibi - Max was wondering how the
walking was going?
Zara - No honestly I don't blame you
and Si for it, but you could be right, Hope your collective bonces are
recovering. Stand by for ticket changing info - I'll see if I can hook up
to wifi in the Verdes n maybe give you all a call on my phone, It is Boxing
day you're all partying without us isn't it?
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