10 March 2011
Yesterday was our last day in Brazil. David is such a fantastic planner. There is never a last minute panic. All our preparations for leaving just fall nicely into place. After the skippers briefing we shared a taxi to Carrefour with Irene and Dick and as usual bought far too much stuff. We have melon, passion fruit, apples, oranges, kiwi fruit, papaya, limes, bananas, grapes, tomatoes, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, aubergine, courgette, cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, spring onions. The greatest challenge to me will be making sure that none of this will be thrown overboard. I do so hate waste.
We had a last lunch in the yacht club, a last swim in the pool and said goodbye to Sylvia and Hermann from Destiny who are returning to Germany. Basia Michael and Anna invited us for a sundowner and we had bacon and french toast and tomatoes for supper. Tomorrow morning we have a very early start, 6am, due to the tide so..... we had an early night. A Lady, Thor 1V, Grand Filou and Lady Ev 1V, Kalliope, left tonight on the late evening tide. The remainder of the fleet will leave tomorrow morning. We have excused ourselves from the racing start. We have done every single one with the exception of Musket Cove, when we had to await vital parts for the generator.
Anyway when we leave we intend to sail away. We have over 2200 nm to go and it really does not make any sense to us to hang around for nearly three hours in the middle of the channel when we could be underway. One boat not there to cross the start line will make little difference.
The alarm was set for 5.15am. We did not hear it over the humming of our cabin fans. Luckily I woke at 5.40 am anyway and already there was a mad scramble of boats to leave. The marineiros cast off our mooring lines under Paul's guidance at 6am exactly and we were off. With wind on the nose, easterly, we motored sailed with the main for three and a half hours before the wind veered to allow us full sail. Of course sooner or later they will all catch up with us but for now it is lovely. No stress at the start line, no busy VHF, no sails, no sweat. There is a lovely breeze out here and David and I are the coolest we have been for many weeks. For now, all is peace and quiet, it is just us and the sea.....
Susan Mackay