15:28.33N 27:48.50W

 

On each Atlantic trip trip I have been on [ well...actually...the only other one] there has been a flying fish moment. The last time it happened, it was to me, and is too embarrassing to mention here. The incidents always happen at night and each time, scary. Tam was the first victim on this trip. Imagine it, on the way to the Cape Verdes..0200hrs...overcast so no horizon....fully focused on the red glow of the compass, as over-steering can cause an unforced jibe [expensive and dangerous] when 3 of the suckers broad-sided her in rapid succession. The first whacked her on the side of her head, the 2nd hit the compass and the 3rd, the largest, fell at her feet with a hell of a noise as it tried to swim up her leg....did she panic?...only by 5degs to starboard, and her reward was a fresh fish breakfast!!

We refuelled in Cap Verdes at first light yesterday[Sat 30th], a grass seed salesman would have had a tough time there. It seemed to be completely volcanic, nothing green to be seen and the only things as tall as trees were wind turbines.

Left Sao Vincente and headed south between the two islands, the other being Santo Antao...that’s when we hit the acceleration zone for three hours or so. 30 to 40 kts of katabatic wind, we had 2 reefs in the main, but Tim still managed 14.4kts down one wave!!!

It is now Sunday morning and we are motoring once again. The forecast is for the Trade winds to fill in during the next 36 hours when hopefully we will be able to switch off the engine until we round Pigeon Island and into Rodney Bay St. Lucia.

Really good to hear from you all as we are in the middle of this vast ocean...the wonders of technology. Keep them coming.

Iain the Sunday blogger and the rest of the Ghostly crew.