My first duty this morning is to say…………………….. Yes, it’s working !!!!!! The watermaker is working - the jointed pipe dropped with a weight on the end of it, down the keel box, past the keel and into the water is picking up bubble free water and the unit is producing water. As we already... Continue Reading →

Preparations became somewhat frenetic as the yachts connected to the water supply to fill their tanks prior to departure. This large demand reduced the water pressure to next to nothing so there was only a trickle coming out of the hose and with half an hour to go to the start, we still needed half... Continue Reading →

Proof !!!!! The organised excursion around the Island was interesting with the small coach struggling up to the summit along steep, narrow, paved switchback roads. The views would have been stunning had there been better visibility through the low cloud and mist. We visited deserted beaches and verdant smallholdings in valleys between barren mountains. Away... Continue Reading →

After early morning rain, the day continued to be overcast and clammy. Our mission for the day was to obtain the necessary pipework and fittings to effect a re-working of the watermaker connections. After some time spent in trawling the various shops trying to make ourselves understood (our Portuguese and Creole is not up to... Continue Reading →

After a short night’s sleep, I have to confess to waking to a slight headache, probably due to a lack of sleep…………… Exploring Mindelo on a Sunday morning probably doesn’t show it at its best being rather quiet apart from the children begging. The colonial architecture would probably once have been impressive but now everything... Continue Reading →

Light winds have persisted and this has not favoured heavy old Hejira. We did very well against the lightweight production yachts in the big winds and our sail plan is well suited to the point of sail but they are now ‘reeling us in’ so from a heady 6th in class, we expect to tumble... Continue Reading →

After the exhilarating speeds in the big winds we are back to reality with the wind down to single figures and our speed, overnight at least, down below 4 knots at times. We had a good day under the Parasailor yesterday but our policy is not to fly it at night so we have reverted... Continue Reading →

Dawn revealed the conditions experienced through the night with big breaking swells running. An unfortunate flying fish must have taken off out of a swell and concluded his flight and life on the deck of Hejira. Stephen was not allowed to claim it as a ‘catch’. The water maker saga has reached a hiatus having... Continue Reading →

What a night! We have maintained the twin poled out Yankee jibs through the night with the winds and seas quite high but it has been exhilarating absolutely creaming along with the auto not having to work too hard and the rig forgiving any swell induced ‘weave’ - great stuff, this is the sailing I... Continue Reading →