Finally leaving Las Palmas, bound for Cape Verdes

Wed, 3 Feb 2010

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Hi All,
We have had to abandon our earlier plans to go to La Palma, one of the more remote and smaller Canary Islands. Partly because of the delay getting away, we originally planed to leave last Monday, but the main reason is the wind is coming from that direction, and a 140 mile trip into wind is not too appetising. So we are bound for the Cape Verdes. About 800 miles, and 7 plus days from here. The long range weather forecast is good, promising trade winds behind us for most of the journey. We do expect a couple of days of almost complete calm at the weekend, so it could be 10 days or more before we arrive.

10 days at sea is no problem, we are carrying enough food and provisions for at least 5 weeks. Catherine says that she thinks she has cured herself of her love of shopping, we have spent about €800 on groceries since Monday. Amazingly, Aragorn's lockers and bilges have absorbed it all, I am looking schemingly at still available nooks and crannies that I am sure would hold another few cases of wine. I hasten to add, the wine is for when we reach land, we don't go in for much booze under way, a single 33cl beer at sundown is each crew's daily ration of grog. However we've been told that wine and beer are more expensive and lower quality in the Caribbean, so we are bringing a small supply.

My nephew Neil, who is crewing with us has been a real bonus, he has already serviced all the winches and the life jackets, and done several other jobs around the boat..

I hope to write a bit for the blog while under way although I won't be able to post it until we reach the Cape Verdes. If you haven't already done so, click on the "follow" button on the Blogsite & you will get automatic notification of updates that we make.

Wishing you all fair winds and safe anchorages.

The crew of Aragorn
Pat, Catherine and Neil.


A final note to my old school pals meeting for a reunion on the 9th April, regrettably I won't be able to join you this time, but enjoy the bash, and maybe next time...