Cape Verde to Barbados

Hi All:

 

Well evidently, we made it! We landed in Barbados about a week ago after taking 18 days to cross the 2000 miles from Cape Verde to Barbados. For the most part it was an uneventful crossing, but we never did get the sail configuration right for the conditions. Our much anticipated down wind twistle rig was never needed for three quarters of the way, until after we took it down. Then it was too windy to raise it again. But our mantra was “sail for comfort – not speed”. At times the crossing was the proverbial “milk run”, interspersed with periods of “frappe”.

  

 

Daily Position Report Postings



Twistle Rig Running

Twistle Rig Furled

Sargasso weed floating about in large carpets constantly clogged our rudder and incapacitated the self steering. Fishing was a waste of time because of weed burying the lure. We saw next to no wild life apart from the odd dolphin and bird – a marked difference from our 2005 northern crossing, when we were never alone.

The devil weed

 

We watched the sea temperature creep up from 17 degrees C in Cap Verde reaching 28 degrees in Barbados.

 

A real mid Atlantic treat - fresh bread

Barbados

 We have been at anchor in Carlyle Bay, outside the capital Bridgetown for over a week, who along with about ten other boats endure constant rocking and rolling. There is a harbour in the town center, but is amidst traffic noise, lacks security and is not free from the effects of swell. The town of Bridgetown has grown on us since first arriving. Initial impressions being chaotic, dirty, tired and expensive. After a week we just think expensive. Some examples –1 litre fresh milk/$4.5Can, 1 whole pinapple/$14C, can Campbells soup/$4C, low end bottle wine/$20C and 1 litre petrol $3.75.

 

Earlier this week we rented a small car for a day ($150C) to explore the inner island, which did not meet expectations. Apart from a few shore line vistas, this low level island showed mainly sugar cane (rum) and scrub. On the positive side, it is the people which make the island. They are pleasant, polite and friendly. Genuinely nice people to meet.

 

NE shore

 

 

The wind has not eased since our arrival, which is abnormal according to the locals. We want a reprieve so we can make our 100 mile dash west to the Grenadines, an island chain running north-south, which we will follow down to Grenada, then Trinidad. It is there we will haul out and undertake some extensive cosmetic repair.

 

Sea horse and rider swam by the boat as excercise

Cheers……Mike and Grace