Year 3 -16th September 2026 -St Helena- Cape Verde -Day 14
Julian and I were on at 11.00pm until 2.00am. We were still sailing well toward our waypoint which was in between Isle Fogo and Isle Santiago. It was a dark night as the moon had gone but there were a few stars. The phosphoresce in the water was very pronounced and lovely to watch as the water from our wash passed by lit up a bit like Christmas lights.
We handed over to Mark and Dave at 2.00am being about 21 nm from the waypoint. We had had no rain or rain clouds which was good and we seem to be out of the Doldrums and the thunderstorms.
I woke at about 7.00am as Paul and John were putting on the engine as the wind had died so I helped them bring in the main. We then motored and Julian and I took over at 8.00am. I could see Santiago on our right but it was just an outline as the distance between Santiago and Fogo is about 20nm. I could not see Fogo at that point. As we motored on wind and swell increased due I think to the effect of Santiago being a large and high island which has a peak about the height of Ben Nevis. Although the wind was more North we could sail through the gap as it would be faster than motoring into the swell. We therefore put up the Staysail and reefed main and we were soon doing 8+ kts in 20-24 kts of wind albeit that we were a bit heeled over.
We sailed on fast and well for about 2 hours and then the wind started to decline a little and so did the swell so I put up the genoa as well and we were soon sailing close hauled close reach and doing 8-9 kts which lessened a little as the wind eased even more. It was a lovely sunny day although a little hazy. As we got nearer to Fogo we saw more of the island and it had a high volcanic cone. We had a cooked breakfast and coffee and the morning went on. Others got up, had breakfast, read and chatted and enjoyed sitting on the back and enjoying the sun and breeze. We saw a lot more birds and some looked like Boobies which I saw in the Galapagos. Our 24-hour run to 12.00noon was 174nm which was not bad. We have about 140 nm to go to Mindelo and aim to time our arrival for about 8.00am tomorrow when the fuel berth opens.
We then had lunch which was egg mayonnaise, houmous, coleslaw (yes!) and salad- we still had one lettuce from Cape Town.
We needed to sort out and dry the Blue Baron which had been soaked by water coming over the deck. We therefore as we had time decided to turn to the right angle and fly it for a bit to allow it to dry. This we did and you could see it dripping. Whilst this dried the sail we needed to dry the snuffing bag as well. We therefore snuffed the sail and did not let then halyard down so it hung in the breeze for a bit to dry the bag. The snuffer bag needs replacing really. Once it was dry we got it down and put it through the forward hatch and under then forepeak bed which is where it normally lives. We will probably not need it again before we get to the UK.
We then headed back on course and we were close hauled again. I had set a waypoint off the Western end of Sao Vicente and we then had to go round to the North of the island in the centre for Mindelo.
We sailed on and we did watches, read or chatted and rested. I put up the Cape Verde flag and the Q flag (yellow duster -which shows we have not checked in yet) in readiness.
I made pasta pesto for supper with some frozen vegetables and we then had some pear halves for desert. We reminisced that we used to have these when we were your or peaches with carnation milk -sounds awful now but it was delicious then.
We settled down for our last night and as the sun went down so did the wind. When Julian and I took over at 8.00pm it was only 7 kts so we took in the sails and put on the engine. We had about 65nm to go to the waypoint – about the distance from the Needles to Cherbourg.
Julian and I will be on at 5.00am and we intend to go back an hour as Cape Verde is an hour behind. We will then motor round to Mindelo in time for breakfast.
The picture of the day is one of my favourite positions where I can get the breeze and see all the instruments.
Need/Opportunity Year Three
I am now on the way to Cape Verde, Azores and back to the UK. At present I am full and there will be a change of 3 crew in the Azores for the final passage back to the UK.
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