Månad: november 2022

A week in Cape Verde

First day after a long sail is nice to relax and you really need it to. After that it is time for maintenance on the boat, from filling oil, get off all salt from deck,taking down sail which was a challange due to the wind. We went up 6.00 one morning to manage before it started to blow again.

There is also time for some adventure, like a tour on the Iland together with other Arc sailers. We went up to the top off the highest point and had a fantastic view. The sand is coming from Africa with the wind. This we even saw one day. You think it is foggy until you realise it is brownish It is very dry on this Iland so not much agriculture here. Had to put my feet in the water ofcurse and the guys was happy for all the stops to stretch there legs and relax from the bumpy road.

Arc have had a welcoming gattering with local music and dancing. We also had a price aword i n the first leg. We didnt get to the podium but we came in as nr 9 wich we are very please with since we thought we would come in in the middle.

I even had time for a run and walks around to explorer the city.

Now it is time to leave Cape Verde and head to Grenada . Will not miss the rocky and windy harbour but the nice view. bye bye Cape Verde.

Hugs Eva

Las Palmas to Cape Verde

Sunday 6 nov around 12.30 all boat’s in ArcPlus where outside the harbour and ready to start the sailing down to Cape Verde. We are 93 botas all in all, one motorborren and 21 catamaran. At 13.00 a clock the start went for us in one hull. The catamarans had started before us.

No wind in the beginning so we decided to go for motor the first two hours. This help us get out to the wind and gave us a great start together with our sail setting , great wind for 24 hours. Let’s see what it will cost us at the end. Due to the wind we decided to use both our genua and sail wing by wing. It was a good strategy. Bit hard in between to go up high in the wind.

The first night we had great wind and lovely sky. Not many boats out there that we could spot with our eyes but we saw a light out there. Next morning we got a short company of some dolphins

After a while we find new places to relax in

On Wednesday the Swedish boat Alexandra caught up on us and passed us very fast. They have a much faster sailing boat than us.

Lovely sunset and sunrises . Some knitting have been done also. Hopefully it will be more. Can’t get enough of the view here on the sea.. trying to catch it but it is not easy.

Lots of flying fishes. It is so great to see them flying. They fly very long and bounce on the waves. Not much more action on the sea a bird or two and we had pancakes mix in the waffle iron. Works perfect and was so great and extra great with my sister in laws jam of blackberries and raspberries, my favourite.

Getting closer to Cape Verde, we change or sail setting. It was different to have to genua set at the same side.They didn’t always stay tight together but most of the time.

Cape Verde we made it!!! It took us 5 and a half day. We crossed the finish line on Friday 11th at 18.03 local time and as the 17th boat. We are so happy that it went so well. We was sure that we would come in in the middle. The winner boat came in after 3 1/2 day. They are not a crushing boat.

Nice to have soil under our feet. The next day we had a relaxing day and found a restaurant with a great view.

Friday the 18th the next leg starts. Crossing the Atlantic

Hugs Eva

Last day in LasPalmas

The crew have arrived and the last preparation are getting done. Chain up, reversed and painted. New bag for the chain is sewed. Sun screen sewed. Food prepaired and more things. I have also have had time for some leasure. Going on a tour on the previous volcanos. It was very interesting.Dinner with our friends and costumes party.

Now we are ready to go!!!

A mix of picture from the last days

Sorry for not telling much about the pictures but wanted to put them in the blogg before we don’t have anymore wifi. So might fill in it later.

Hugs Eva

Days in Las Palmas

We are having approximately 250 steps from the boat to where all facilities starts along the pier, bar,restaurants, Arc office , lots off boat equipments stores and a club where we can get membership to use their pool and gym. Arriving after been sailing for a few days the boat needs to be cleaned from all saltwater. When we flushed the list along the boat we found a baby squid that had got stuck under the block. Edgar barely walks barefoot but now I believe it is time or?? Even here it is low and high water.

All food that was purchased in Sweden we took out vacuum pack some of it and I sorted out everything and made a excel spreadsheet. Now we are organised. Just need to remember to fill in when we start taking the food.

We also meet up with our friends Sofia and Fredrik. Me and Sofia went to Ikea and bought some food boxes. Also got material so I can make new cuisines for the cokpit

After a week of fixing we went home to Stockholm to spend time with our family and fixing a few things. It was an intense week and so lovely to be able to fill up with hugs and kisses and having the grandchildren sleeping over even if we didn’t get much sleep.

On flights today it is okay to bring on your knitting. Thanks to wooden knitting needles. My jumper is done and next project is a hat for Nellie.

Back in Las Palmas and two weeks left before the start. Time to sew the cousins for the cockpit. Since we didn’t agree on the colour I will have double work. Start with the blue but cutting both colours. There will also be cousins for our GT bench later. Everything is cut so in Caribbean I can do some sewing. Just when I thought I was done sewing we decided to change the old sunroof and use it in the front of the boat

There is also time for relaxing in between. Next to the harbour is a club with a swimming-pool, gym and restaurant that we could join for a good price. Let’s see how many times I will get ther though. The Arc registration is done . We have nr 313. On the Yb race app you can follow where we are the three/four weeks when we cross the Atlantic. Starting from the 6nov to mid Dec. Look for Arc rally 2022 and then Arc plus.

It is nice to meet the others that are going to sail with us. There are a few sundowners meeting, some dinners , party and seminars before we leave.

Ann and Veronica came down from Sweden to wave us good bye. They are staying in Las Palmas until we leave so I will see them as much a possible. Thank you for coming down

Hugs Eva