SV Disa arrived in Mindelo just as the sun was setting, outlining several of the islands in a rosy hue. After six days and five hours at sea you would think that we couldn't wait to set foot on land. In fact we were all getting into a good rhythm of watch-keeping, tasty meals and getting used to sleeping despite the constant movement of the boat. Our lee-boards kept us from falling out of our berths when the boat lurched. The allure of life at sea, with the problems of the world very far away and the beauty of nature surrounding us, meant that we could quite easily have just kept going in the steady wind.
However the thought of an ice-cold beer in the Mindelo Floating Bar, along with fried fish and chips was too attractive to resist. We were met by the cheerful yellow-shirts, ready to catch our mooring lines and help tie up as we pulled in alongside rows of other yachts. The sight of the ARC+ flags fluttering on virtually every boat in the marina, was such a welcome sight! As we stepped off the boat we were greeted by friends who had watched our progress online and were ready with smiles and hugs as we stepped ashore. The camaraderie of this shared experience makes us so glad that we opted to cross with the ARC+. Within minutes we were sharing our stories of wind speeds, sail choices, breakages and fish caught.
Organised tours, together with social events on the island, have enabled us to connect with more sailors from a variety of countries. Some have decades of experience in sailing, and readily share their knowledge with us newbies. We're learning more about using the various sails that we have on our boat, and we're learning which lures to use to catch different types of fish. As I sit here typing this, I'm aware of what an incredible privilege it is to be sailing a boat across the sea with such an experienced and safety-conscious organisation. We're having the adventure of our lives!
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