VDH through the Cape Verdes

Dispatching the flying fish overboard

Day 10. Position at 1300GMT: 16°04’N / 23°42’W
Wind: 20 knots from the East. Choppy sea.
Temperatures: day 32° / night 21° / sea 25°
Distance covered in the last 24 Hours: 261 Miles.
To Cape Horn 5389 Miles.
Lead over Monnet: 1 day and 5 hours

Hello

This morning, it was time for a good clean. I put 32 flying fish that had dropped onto the deck back into the water. As some of them hit something hard on Adrien and split open their heads, they begin to bleed. Moreover, they leave scales everywhere and a fairly strong smell, which puts me off cooking them.

In short, washing down the deck was unavoidable, but took quite an effort, as picking up water in a bucket while going along at 10 knots requires a certain know-how!

As planned, I’m in the middle of the Cape Verde Islands. At dawn, I passed between Sal and Sao Nicolau. On the other hand, contrary to what I thought yesterday, I’ll be going between Santiago and Fogo this evening.

Fogo isn’t the biggest island, but is the highest in the archipelago at 2829 m. It would be a good idea to leave it on my starboard side, in order not to lose the wind and to get away as far as possible from Santiago, which is 1392 m high.

Let’s hope I keep in these good trade winds until I reach the Doldrums!

See you tomorrow.

JL VDH

A day in honour of Aurélien and Tiphanie’s cuddly toy, which rings a little bell, when there are big waves!