Cape Verdes

Visited in 2014 and it was fine , just normal what I would call suburbia precautions needed , no some people that where there this year and found it much the same .....
 
We visited Sal, Sao Nicolau and Sao Vicente (Mindelo) during Jan/Feb 2015. There were no security issues for us, but as always we lock everything when away from the boat and at night. We found the locals very friendly and helpful once the language barriers were overcome. If you can be in Mindelo for carnival it is a wonderful spectacle. If there is much of a swell in Mindelo you may prefer to stay at anchor in the bay. We ate aboard a friends boat in the marina one evening, an interestingly mobile experience which culminated in one of the mooring lines parting. Just getting on and off the boat was a real challenge!
No issues with boat boys but they may have been detered by the windy weather.
 
mmmmm..... in '81 we were buying shark from the locals as they went past in their boats in Mindelo bay and water from the stand pipe on the right hand side of town was transported in Mobil 25ltr grease tubs that had been found on the beach! Great place!
 
Hi .... No issues with the boat boys, few kids hanging around the security gate begging a bit but all fine ...

The rather clever German who runs the marina in Mindelo took the best of the boat boys off the beach and gave them jobs. The rest just gave up. No problems there three years ago.
Lots of ladies of the night hanging around the marina entrance, though.
 
The rather clever German who runs the marina in Mindelo took the best of the boat boys off the beach and gave them jobs. The rest just gave up. No problems there three years ago.
Lots of ladies of the night hanging around the marina entrance, though.

Oh yes .... And the Yacht Club is not much more than a brothel .... It's another world from the Canaries , but exciting all the same ....
 
Best way to find out is to go to Dakar and ask the French live-aboards. The anchorages in Cape Verde are rough in trade wind season
 
In 2006 the boat boys in Mindelo were happily taking our gash away. Then we saw it piled on the beach!

Spent 5 days gale-bound at anchor in Sal as the Harmattan blew. Bent a CQR as others dragged past us...It was very basic then, just a water tap in the square - and a very nice Fremch restaurant.

Worth a visit!
 
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