The passage from the
Canaries – to be precise, an anchorage in North Fuertaventura –
was, as well as the longest (991 miles), the easiest to date. Maybe
this is the trade wind sailing people talk about? The spinnaker went
up as soon as we turned South for the Cape Verde archepelago and
stayed up for 8 days straight, until we reached the breakwater off
marina Mindelo, on Ilha San Vicente. Regarding sailing, I'll just
mention again the 156 miles covered in one 24 hour run. An average of
6.5 kts. How long till we beat this? Certainly it sets a precedent we
will now be forever racing. If you ask Igor he'll give you a lesson
in maximising vmg downwind.
When the wind wasn't
as constant (and maybe also owing a little bordom?) Igor, in searching for
an extra half a knot, set about hoisting everything he could
find. In the end the number of halyards proved the limiting factor.
Not sure how efficient this sail plan is, but the shade was nice...
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| 5 sails flying on a 30 ft boat. I would like to have heard the conversations on board any other yachts passing us! |
