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Free & BrEasy - St Helena Here We Come



We are already 200 plus miles out of Cape Town on the 1700 mile passage to St Helena, which is North West of our current position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. As has become our habit, we left the day before the rest of the fleet (who are already catching us up!) so that we stand a chance of arriving at St Helena with everyone else. Departure was the mirror image of our sunrise arrival, as we left at sunset which lit up the Cape Town water front with Table Mountain standing majestically behind. Soon the glow of the city was far behind us as we left Robben Island, and watched transfixed, each with our memories of a wonderful port.

Our big news is that we have lost and gained crew. Alejandro has left Free & Breasy to sail with Luiton who will be sailing from Brazil directly back to Lanzarote where his circumnavigation began. Goodbye Alejandro, fair winds, safe sailing and thanks for being such a great guy to sail with. We have been very fortunate in gaining Marco who is from Monfalcone, near Venice, in Italy. Marco started his circumnavigation (like Roger and Michael) in St Lucia with another boat in the World ARC fleet. Crew swops between boats have been a feature of the circumnavigation and is one of the advantages of sailing in a fleet where everyone rapidly gets to know one another. Marco is an experienced sailor, a Captain in his own right and an accomplished cook. We are looking forward to lots of sailing tips and yummy Italian dishes! He has already distinguished himself in his love of daily salt water showers from the Atlantic Ocean. Brrrrr. 

The last few days in Cape Town were a hectic cocktail of very last minute alterations to the changes resulting from having a new boom fitted, manic provisioning and the World ARC party. We provisioned sufficient for 6 people having been assured that free delivery would be provided. Delivery was in the form of three lovely supermarket employees who helped us push 4 heaped trolleys the quarter mile walk to the boat, including all the steps down to the pontoons! The party hosted by Joel from World ARC was excellent and an opportunity to catch up with newly returned boat crews. The departure formalities with Immigration and Customs were also a challenge as we had to take boat and crew over to the Royal Cape Yacht Club but at least we had a glimpse of how the other half of the yachting world lives!

At the briefing on the next leg to St Helena and onwards to Salvador, Brazil, we were shown a video of the carnival which will be taking place when we get there. We had better get fit for all the dancing in the street as we join the throbbing crowd heaving to the music in the procession! Also at the Briefing we said good bye to the crew of Sweet Pearl who will be leaving the rally at St Helena. Sandra, Tom and Alejandro have become part of us and it's impossible to think of completing the circumnavigation without them.

Yesterday was Roger's birthday. Happy Birthday!! Roger unfortunately has caught a throat infection so was no up to a big celebration but the good news is he is coughing better. So the merry crew of Free & Breasy head north westwards with the odd cough and creak (the latter from the new boom, ominously), bouts of sea sickness (Michael again), but wonderful memories of the Victoria and Alfred (her son!) Marina in Cape Town. Bye Bye V & A and here we come St Helena!

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