Bolero - The Caribbean calls.

The Caribbean calls

We were up early to make the final preparations for our passage. Gwyn and Maz did a final bakery and market run while Nick and Ian prepared the boat for the passage.
Thankfully the Sahara laden winds had eased, we had the usual Mindelo winds. We waited for the boats along the pontoon to leave and soon it was our turn to cast off.
We made our way past the harbour wall into the bay to join the other 90 odd boats departing for Grenada. The 10 minute gun sounded, then the five minute gun, and then the count down to the start. All boats crossed the line at the same time, we were all nipping and tucking prior to the starting signal. It was a clean start and we left the island that had been the outer limit of the finishing line to starboard and headed south west. We sailed under Genoa and mainsail. Some boats around us carried spinnakers, we were pleased that we had erred on the side of caution.

We were up early to make the final preparations for our passage. Gwyn and Maz did a final bakery and market run while Nick and Ian prepared the boat for the passage.
Thankfully the Sahara laden winds had eased, we had the usual Mindelo winds. We waited for the boats along the pontoon to leave and soon it was our turn to cast off.
We made our way past the harbour wall into the bay to join the other 90 odd boats departing for Grenada. The 10 minute gun sounded, then the five minute gun, and then the count down to the start. All boats crossed the line at the same time, we were all nipping and tucking prior to the starting signal. It was a clean start and we left the island that had been the outer limit of the finishing line to starboard and headed south west. We sailed under Genoa and mainsail. Some boats around us carried spinnakers, we were pleased that we had erred on the side oF caution as boats ahead were having trouble controlling the spinnakers as they entered the acceleration zone. Spinnakers were doused before we reached the southern end of Santo Antao. We then lost the wind, Ian and Nick rigged the spinnaker boom so we could boom out the Genoa and sail goose winged. We wallowed, gybed, tacked, wallowed some more in our area of windless sea. By 1500 we were sailing goose winged in 11
knots of wind in a confused sea. We ate at 5pm, a simple pasta, tomato, cheese and pesto dish.
The mainsail was reefed, the jib reefed and we were back to a sloop sail plan. The seas continued to be confused and by 20.30 our progress was very slow. The winds picked up and by 22.30 we had 30 knots on the beam. Overnight we had steady winds of 21-29 knots. Helming overnight was made more challenging because of the quartering confused seas and the moonless night. The clear night made star gazing a real pleasure, Gwyn and Ian spotted shooting stars.
Bolero crew is happy, well fed and looking forward to the next 2000 miles!

Fair winds
Nick, Maz, Ian and Gwyn
e oF caution as boats ahead were having trouble controlling the spinnakers as they entered the acceleration zone. Spinnakers were doused before we reached the southern end of Santo Antao. We then lost the wind, Ian and Nick rigged the spinnaker boom so we could boom out the Genoa and sail goose winged. We wallowed, gybed, tacked, wallowed some more in our area of windless sea. By 1500 we were sailing goose winged in 11 knots of wind in a confused sea. We ate at 5pm, a simple pasta, tomato, cheese and pesto dish.
The mainsail was reefed, the jib reefed and we were back to a sloop sail plan. The seas continued to be confused and by 20.30 our progress was very slow. The winds picked up and by 22.30 we had 30 knots on the beam. Overnight we had steady winds of 21-29 knots. Helming overnight was made more challenging because of the quartering confused seas and the moonless night. The clear night made star gazing a real pleasure, Gwyn and Ian spotted shooting stars.
Bolero crew is happy, well fed and looking forward to the next 2000 miles!

Fair winds
Nick, Maz, Ian and Gwyn