So after 7 days in Sao Vincente, Cape Verdes, Minaxi has new a forestay and a reasonably straight furling tube. Genoa stitched back up and something we noticed at the last minute, a broken alternator bracket which we had welded. Minaxi has also lost 2 of it's crew, Valerio and Frank but we picked up Heidi who ran away from the French Alps to go to sea!
8 am we depart in 35 to 40 kts of wind and big following seas. 10 am Auto pilot broken!!! While Sietse helmed direct down wind to keep the boat as flat as possible, I stripped down the pilot motor and found the 4 internal gears worn out. Fortunately we still have the old one in a cupboard and took that apart to find the same gears in perfect condition. Some 3 hours later we are back up and running but with a stern warning from a worried skipper that the auto pilot is not to be used in big seas.
Although we will not place in the top ten arrivals we still hope to win the biggest Basil competition, ours is named Sybil and as we will be last in she will have more time to grow!
Stay with us on our final push to the Sunny Side.
Capt. Bob and crew of Minaxi