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DreamCatcher - 2nd Leg Day 1



Having arrived lunchtime, Saturday, we all enjoyed our short stay in Mindelo. Everyone of the ARC+ team and the marina staff did a great job making our time as effective and pleasant as possible. Fortunately, we didn't have any major repairs or problems to sort out and could enjoy the trip to Santo Antao and the tour of Sao Vicente to the full. Our swim in the surf at the beach BBQ was a particular delight.

And so to the start of the 2nd Leg of our trip - Mindelo to St Lucia.

The forecast was for lighter winds, but it was gusting to 19 knots in the harbour as we took a peak outside before getting ourselves settled for the start line. This was not the time for Pandora, and with a single reef in the main, we pulled out and set the genoa as the seconds were counted down.

A line of yachts were steadily building speed and charging for the line, but we had placed ourselves close to, and were quickly over and accelerating fast....in 2nd place. We maintained this position for some time, until, under Pandora's wing, we seemingly found ourselves overall first.

However, as night closed in, the cats and other bigger boats steadily overtook us. Meanwhile, the wind, at one time slight enough for us to stop for a delicious swim! stayed from the unforecast North, and, as we avoided the wind shadow of San Antou, gave us a superb beam reach through the night, and we fair tramped along. A better start to a 2100 mile sail, you could hardly expect to get.

And so it continues.

The swell is higher though, and the wind firmer in the 4/5 area, with all this making the forecabin somewhat like a virtual washing machine. The other cabins aren't much better, and Edd got a rude wake-up call when a combination of swell and us brought a bucket or so of sea down the hatch into the saloon as well as the hatch above his sleeping head. Poor, wet, Edd! It did get him up in time to relieve me from my 0500 to 0800 watch, though; and earned him a welcome brew!

Martin


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