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True Colours - At rest.



Position 16:51.57N 024:56.76W
 
Arrived Mindelo , Sao Vicente about 00.30 on Sunday 1st, to find what looked like a totally full marina with other boats circling and many anchored.  After abortive attempts to contact the marina anchored overnight.  Doug’s eagle eyes spotted a large mast opposite, identified as Rainbow (J H2), so we should be able to catch up with Oli for some fraternal and paternal bonding
 
We then celebrated Toby’s birthday in the proper manner;  James pulled an unrepeatable stunt buy opening a bottle of Cava at the companionway steps;  up went the cork, and 10 seconds later it came back down straight through the hatch!!
 
Next morning Andrej showed a stroke of genius by befriending a Brazilian boat anchored next to us;  their Portuguese language got them a berth in the marina almost immediately, and they asked us to follow them in as there was space alongside their position.  So by about 10.00 we were secure in the Marina.  Andrej then went off exploring while the rest of the crew generally cleaned, fettled, dealt with the marina dues etc.  Toby and Nadine bumped into a couple of crew off Rainbow, and after lunch in a shoreside restaurant (watching local boys throw reluctant dogs off the pier into the water, and catching them when they swam to shore, only to be taken and thrown off again) off we went to meet Oli who had been open water diving, but was due back at Rainbow in the afternoon.
 
During the day it became apparent that much off the meat in the fridge was going off, so it was sorted and disposed of.  Not lasted nearly as long as suggested by the vendor.
 
Meal ashore, a few drinks (the Pamplmouse is growing on us all) and late to bed.
 
This morning James was up with the lark, and leaving the rest of the crew totally asleep went ashore at 08.30 and queued.  Queued at the cash point to get money (all cash points in the town were out of money on Sunday which is a quite normal state, so everyone has to queue up on Monday morning before they run out again, sometimes by lunch), then queued at the marina to pay for more water (only one computer working and that was going very slowly).  Then went to immigration to book the crew in and out, joining the milling throng of yachties all trying to do the same;  finally queued at the police office for final clearance to leave.  Eventually returned to the boat at 11.45.  Toby making a full english breakfast for all.
 
Ah yes, sailing.  The tales around the marina are of light winds and people staying to the end of the week before venturing across the Atlantic.  We have downloaded some gribs, and will leave tomorrow, expecting to motor for maybe a couple of days before picking up some decent wind to carry us on to St. Lucia.  We will get there.
 
 


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