Year 2 -29-30 December 2025 -La Flora -Koh Lak -Thailand

29 December 2025

 It was a relaxing day with another long leisurely breakfast as the view over the beach and the Andaman Sea is a good tonic and very relaxing. It seemed very quiet without the girls!!

 We spent the morning by the pool, reading and in my case more planning about different countries. I also prepared an email to my crew for the Cape Town to Azores leg as a result of the Cape Verde Hurricane Season.

The aim at present is to leave Cape Town about 14-16 August 2026, weather permitting. The route I had planned was to go to St Helena (10+ days or so-staying about 4-5 days), then possibly to Ascension Island (about 800nm – 6-7 days and staying a few days) and then to go to the Azores either direct (if the conditions were right) or via Cape Verde (where we can reprovision and take on fuel) and where we should pick up the Northeast Trades which should allow us to sail direct to the Azores on one starboard tack hopefully. Ascension to Cape Verde is about 1700-2000 nm and Cape Verde to Azores is 1300-2,000 nm depending on winds etc. The Azores to Hamble is about 1,500 nm and took us 9 days last time. See the picture of the day for a map.

 The issue that I wanted to point out was the need to be aware of the Cape Verde Hurricane season which runs from about mid-August to the end of September and I wanted to be open about this. In some years there are none and in others up to 4-5. It depends on whether the conditions are right in Africa and the sea around Cape Verde to provide the conditions for them to form.

 A Cape Verde hurricane, also known as a Cabo Verde hurricane, is an Atlantic basin tropical cyclone that develops into a tropical storm within approximately 1,000 km (600 mi) (West) of the Cape Verde Islands and intensifies into a hurricane before reaching the Caribbean Sea. These storms originate from African easterly waves (AEW’s) —clusters of thunderstorms moving westward off the coast of West Africa—and form in the eastern tropical Atlantic, typically between latitudes 10° and 20°N. Named for the nearby Cape Verde archipelago, located about 570 km (350 mi) west of Senegal, these hurricanes are a hallmark of the Atlantic hurricane season's peak.

 This risk should have no impact on us until we get North of Ascension Island and when we begin to approach Cape Verde. These hurricanes do not generally (there has only been one that has since 1892) hit Cape Verde and the systems form hundreds of miles west of it. We are able to monitor the situation closely with the National Hurricane Centre in the US and see what is going on at that time as they are able to give at least a 7-day warning of such activity.

In my view we can monitor and act accordingly and manage the risk and I waited to see their response.

We had a light lunch at the hotel and another relaxing afternoon and a sundowner on the beach.

We then walked up the road and had a great fish supper at a restaurant called Male.

It had been a good and relaxing day and Jules had continued with her swimming lengths that she had been doing every day this holiday.

I had heard from the marina that they wished to move Stormbird on the morning of the 1st which is fine by me.

30 December 2025

This was our last full day and we wanted to enjoy it.

We had our usual leisurely breakfast on the beach and we shall miss that view and our routine.

We relaxed by the pool again and read and I heard from all my crew for the Cape Town to Azores leg and they were grateful I had pointed out the issue and were still prepared to do this leg. We will manage it together which was good and reassuring.

We had a leisurely lunch and we made the most of our afternoon.

I heard from the marina that an alarm was going off and they sent me a picture. This was the smoke alarm in the front corridor and in the absence of smoke meant the battery was going.

We went out for our last night for a sundowner at a bat Jules liked and we had another good fish supper.

It has been nearly a full month and we have had a great relaxing time together in 3 different locations.

Thailand is a beautiful country especially when you get away from the tourist areas. Jules is ready to leave tomorrow and looks forward to seeing Rassy, our dog. I am looking forward to returning to Stormbird and to get her ready for Year 3 which involves a lot of sea miles. I will have New Years eve on my own and then about 2.5 days on my own to get everything ready. The rigger is coming on the 2nd with the repaired halyard and to do all the other works on the gooseneck etc. It will be a busy few days but if you pardon the pun it will be good to get everything shipshape!!

The picture of the day is map of our passage from Cape Town toward the Azores.

Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

I am looking for crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town and from Cape Town to the UK. If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com