On Tuesday we left for our biggest passage yet: Canaries to Cape Verde. The weather forecast was looking good, quite windy and some big waves but nothing we couldn't handle.
We left at 4pm on Tuesday so we could soon get into the rythm of the night watches.
(Photos: the new map! leaving El Hierro, the lighthouse at the end of the island, lee cloth so we don't fall out of bed, Moira in action and the shiftplan for the watches)
On a passage there is really not much to do. Besides eating, sleeping, killing time, try not to get seasick and stand watch. Franzi brought along a ukulele which we are very motivated to play on (no complaints from the rest of the crew yet)
(Photos: Franzi and the ukulele, the winch in the sun, Tom at the helm, Tom and the satphone downloading weather, always sit tight, Alex reading)
The wind was declining throughout the trip, we saw dolphins and because the waves came from behind it was quite a comfortable even when the waves were 3 meters high. So we could cook and eat alsmost without problems. However, we always had to hold onto something. Either the boat, a plate, a pot, you name it.
(Photos: cooking in the foul weather gear (it got hot), Alex, chocolate is always a good idea, Franzi and the Melon Part 1, Alex and Franzi with couscous, Me with couscous (how do I eat now?), Franzi and the pineapple, Franzi and the melon part 2, last lunch before arriving in Sal)
Some more photos of our daily live on board, where everything is always leaning, falling or making noise in a cupboard.
(Photos: Franzi hanging up laundry, full moon, the shower used as storage for wet foul-weather gear, Alex becomes a pirate, arrival in Sal)
We were making good speed and arrived in Cape Verde after just 4.5 days late on Saturday evening! Now we will be island hopping for about 10 days before we leave to cross the Atlantic!
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