Funchal (Madeira) to Mindelo (Cape Verde)... trip report - lots of photos

[Boomshanka]

Just got back from sailing Madeira - Cape Verde onboard a Farr65... what a blast, 1095Nm in just over 5 days... all downwind sailing F2-F6, 25degC in Madeira increasing to 30degC in Cape Verde... not a drop of rain

Arrived in Funchal Marina, Madeira on the 24th Oct and had a couple of days to explore...

The four Farr65s ready to go...

Leaving Funchal at 11:00 on 26th Oct... we started off with a race around the cans to get the crews working together (we came 3rd), and then it was heading 210M off towards Cape Verde...

First sunset of many...

Only gybed twice in 1000 miles... No1 poled out to port, Main out on Starboard... 13 onboard so a three watch system, 3 hours on 6 hours off

Pretty full on nav station (I quite liked sitting in there)...

Saw quite a few dolphins, couple of turtles, some seabirds, loads of flying fish... and bizarrely, some insects (dragonflys) 300 miles offshore...

After 5 days at sea, a hazy landfall of Sao Vicente, Cape Verde...

All four Farrs arrived within a couple of hours...

It was a bit of an experience to explore Sao Vicente... ex-Portugeuse, but now a pretty poor place and a real culture shock from the developed West...

This was an 'interesting' boat in the marina... consensus was a leak somewhere in the stern... we couldn't believe she was supposed to sit like this in the water

All in all, a great trip... here are the twelve hour positions:

 

[Hoolie]

Excellent - super photos. Though I can't imagine what it would be like with a dozen other people on board

 

[hairbox]

Hi Boom
ahh brings back memories what yacht were you on, Isis,Minerva,Juno or Diana did you manage 20 knots surfing down the back of the swells?

fantastic

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

I recognise that bar in Cape Verde and the 'sinking' boat. It was like that in January when we were there. Sounds like you had a great time with a bit more wind than we had most of the time. We were on one of the Challenger 72's, the only yacht I've ever been seasick on [so far].

 

[oldvarnish]

Thanks for posting that. I'm interested in the Google map with pushpins. Did you create it yourself, or did you do some hook-up between computer and GPS?

 

[Boomshanka]

Hi Boom
ahh brings back memories what yacht were you on, Isis,Minerva,Juno or Diana did you manage 20 knots surfing down the back of the swells?

fantastic

I was on Minerva... our top speed was 16.2Kts (the whole boat starts to 'thunder' down the swells after about 15kts!)... lot's of surfing, great fun.

 

[Boomshanka]

Thanks for posting that. I'm interested in the Google map with pushpins. Did you create it yourself, or did you do some hook-up between computer and GPS?

I just put the Lat/Long co-ordinates in by hand from the logbook, label each one with date/time and then you can save as an image. I normally plot any passage beyond a day sail on Google Earth as a momento (this is probably the only place I'd admit to doing that )

 

[Boomshanka]

I recognise that bar in Cape Verde....

Yep, It's Nelson's Club Nautico right opposite the marina... we went there for a bit but then realised the beers are way cheaper just down the road... and the rum is by the shot in Club Nautico... go down the road and they just keep pouring until you say 'stop'

 

[Ariadne]

Fantastic trip!! Sounds like it was great fun.

 

[nimbusgb]

Thanks for posting that. I'm interested in the Google map with pushpins. Did you create it yourself, or did you do some hook-up between computer and GPS?

Spot will go straight to google and a few others

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=759423

 

[mattonthesea]

Hi Boom

could you PM the first photo of Funchal. If yo look careefully you can see Safe Arrival (Rival 32) on the first pontoon in between two mobos. I watched you go off with your mini-race. I was very envious of you acceleration; you get up beyond my max hull speed within 3 seconds.

I'm in Lanzarote at the mo and will work down to Cape Verdes for just after Xmas.

 

[Boomshanka]

Hi Boom

could you PM the first photo of Funchal. If yo look careefully you can see Safe Arrival (Rival 32) on the first pontoon in between two mobos. I watched you go off with your mini-race. I was very envious of you acceleration; you get up beyond my max hull speed within 3 seconds.

I'm in Lanzarote at the mo and will work down to Cape Verdes for just after Xmas.

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