Category: Spain Page 2 of 29

On November 27, 2022

In Cabo Verde, Cooking, Spain

Cooking while on passage is taking some sort of form and shape even in a rolling pantry with 2.5m waves around us resulting in the risk of an extra pinch of salt if the wave hits at the right moment.

My view on this dish is that the tuna steak goes well together with the saffron rice topped with freshly shaved parmesan cheese. Supplemented with some tomato slices aside, it provides a fresh note to the yummy dinner at sea!

I look forward for Susan to arrive and prepare some more dishes from our new ONE Pan cooking book from Jamie, perfectly compiled for boaties.

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 7 / Logblog 3

On November 27, 2022

Not sure about this coincident but I have started the day with music and it looks like it will end the same way after having unpacked present #7 from the emergency package.

While the generator was running this morning, the jukebox played some of the best shanties from Freddy. This has put the day into the right perspective. First time I did that but it might become a habbit now! Susan will be amused…😅

I will see what I can get out of this Melody Pops tonight!

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 7 / Logblog 2

On November 26, 2022

We are now flying in 20kn of wind towards Cabo Verde running constantly around 6kn speed over ground. The blue water is pleasantly boiling and has got some white caps here and there. Some wave` tops are breaking producing more white bubbles for a short moment until they dissolve in the blue again. A never ending scenery as far as the eye can capture it. No clouds at all, pure blue sky.

Every other wave sticks a bit out throwing the lady from one side to the other with no chance to win. She quickly stands up proudly again keeping the teak deck dry with a smile as she could take much more if needed. In short: perfekt bluewater sailing conditions!

Early morning I fiddled around quite a while with the computer to get the blog updated and the latest weather data downloaded. The main reason was that all Pactor Stations were busy or just not connecting. The atmospheric conditions were not the best this morning. On top, I got an error message from the modem disconncting in the middle of the file transfer so I had to start from fresh a couple of times until my messages got through and the GRIB File was saved on the computer.. Normally it works quite well and does not take this long.

Talking to Jan afterwards was a pleasure again. Good connection on the 6 Mhz Marine Radio Frequency, loud and clear. We are about 100nm apart, the distance I lost at the beginning due to our slow start and my ignorance taking the main sail out. Otherwise they are enjoying the passage as much as we do.

The conditions crossing the Atlantik next month should be very similar to what we face today. Perhaps another 5kn of wind on top here and there or now and then but the main difference will be the squalls, which become part of the game further south. Shall be exciting anyway.

Let´s enjoy this first although I am also looking forward to my first bike ride on Sao Vincente!

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 7 / Logblog 1

On November 26, 2022

In Cabo Verde, Cooking, Spain

We just passed midnight and I made a pot of tea, fine Moroccan Mint Tea from a teashop in Arrecife. Not sure why, but it is one of the finest mint teas I have had so far and perhaps the vicinity to Morocco makes the difference. In the meantime we have passed Morocco and are sailing along the Western Sahara, which is 200 plus nautical miles to the East from us. Mauritania with its Cape Blanc will be next before we reach Cabo Verde out in the Atlantic.

I had a sunset dinner, very nice. Tuna is back on the menu card as I took three stakes with me from San Sebastian de La Gomera, which need to be consumed. One is gone, second will be and Omelett tomorrw morning and finally tuna steak on safran risotto rice.

I have learned to manage cooking even in higher waves as its good for the mood.

There will be some photos added here a bit later, again sunset photos. Today was special sunset, not a single cloud and a bit of moon showing up for a short while saying hello.

The wind has increased as predicted to around 20kn and we are a bit faster on the way. Also the current flipped again and gives us an additional 0.3 to 0.5kn speed over ground. It is interessting, that even out here we face hours against the current and supporting us. We have also reached the peak of the mountain top, from now onwards it will be downhill sailing. Less than 400nm left out of the total slightly above 800nm for the overall passage. It is a good milestone reached.

Despite the fact that I feel pretty rested and relaxed the ship´s kobold visited us today for a short while. As ususal I could not exactly understand what she or he was talking about but someone was chitchatting onboard. As I have heard the kobold a few times by now, I have started to ignore. Was just wondering that this mysterium turned up although I am rested. Perhaps not, and I better get some more sleep now.

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 6 / Logblog 4

I think, no need to wait for Dieter. Tomorrow is Risotto on the menu card.

Thank you!

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 6 / Logblog 3

It is amazing how often other sailboats are crossing our line here in the middle of the ocean although it is rush hour for the leg from Canary Islands to Cabo Verde.

Two other yachts approached us from behind and – no surprise – overtook us after some hours. In the picture you can see SY Sleepy from Norway. The CPA was by far to close, so I called them on VHF to ensure that they are not doing what their boat name indicates. This time, I had the right of way. After talking to them we cleared the procedure and with waving hands, they crossed our bow and sailed along.

Hopefully see you in Mindelo shortly!

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 6 / Logblog 2

It became an interesting start of the day, it was neither the sunrise nor the morning tea!

Bluewater rinsing into the bilge at the time I switch on the generator, which I normally do each morning to give the batteries an extra bulk charge before the solar panels take over. The whole story started already yesterday, when – by chance – I heard the bilge pump switching on after I switched the generator off. Wondering, why the bilge pump started, which should not happen. This tiny little bilge pump is only allowed to pump water out of the bilge after extensive use of aircon as the condensate from the aircon compressor units flows into our bilge. In other words, no bilge pump if no aricon and I have not used the aircon since we left La Gomera. Tasting the water made it clear, blue water = sea water.

Today morning I was on my toes after switching on the generator again as per the routine. A bluewater rinsing flow again into the bilge, not much but too much to ignore.

Therefore the day started with engine room yoga instead to identify the leak. I suspected the muffler, which sits below the generator and is impossible to access by all means. Nevertheless, my hands and eyes got into places on this boat they have never been. For the latter one I took the help of a small mirror, one of the important tools on a boat. No leak could be identified. No option then to remove the cover of the generator, which again is a balancing act but worked. I saw the culprit straight away: Seewater pump lid leaking and spraying water around! Damned.

There is no one else to blame than Jabsco and myself. I inspected the impeller before leaving from Lanzarote and did not perform a test run afterwards considering this to be a routine work, done often, never had a leaking pump cover. I should have tested as the design of this cover is not only cheap but also prone to fail looking at the paper seal, which should keep the water inside the pump. With double care and a kiss on the seal I installed a new one. Testing is ongoing over the next few days.

Nevertheless, I am happy that our adventure can continue as I saw myself and Susan already sitting in Mindelo with a broken muffler. No fun. It would be a deal breaker to proceed. Happy also, that I have the right spares onboard and got them handed out from the onboard warehouse (!) personal to fix this issue. Another hour happy yoga with some deep inhaling and exhaling breathing exercises at the end of the job.

We can now watch the ocean again and its deep blue colour outside our bilge.

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 6 / Logblog 1

It is 2:20am in the morning of day 6 on this passage when I start to write these lines. Had some good rest up to now, which is partly caused by the fact that I have optimized my night watch regime. I also felt, it is time for a hot chocolate and some star spotting.

In the past, I developed the habit to take the night watches from the cockpit. Being close to the instruments, in the blink of an eye I could check them out even without moving. It was handy to lie on the cockpit bench and wait for the alarm clock to come after 20-30min depending on the traffic situation, lift up the head for the 360° visual check for other boats position lights, glance at the plotter and turn back into dosing mode after setting the alarm for another cycle. As we all know, it is easy to change your own habits and that`s what I did now for this passage.

I am lying down on the saloon berth, having three devices next to me. The first device is my alarm clock. I bought the loudest one I could get on the market with timer and counter function. It is a brand from the US and some consumer opinions convinced me to get this device, which I am happy with. Second is the Jabra Bluetooth loudspeaker, which is linked to the Raymarine plotter enhancing the plotter alarms, which by default settings from Raymarine are really low in volume. I am not sure why. The third and final device is the iPad, which got the Ray Control App installed. This App mirrors the Raymarine Chart Plotter and all its parameter in a one-to-one set-up onto the iPad screen. I am able to change views and settings or simply check AIS, Radar, position, wind, course, etc. without getting out of my cosy berth. The Ray Control App does not play the alarms from the plotter itself, unfortunately!

What do I gain? The resting periods provide more relaxation as I am out of the wind, in a more comfortable berth with less distraction around me. What do I loose? The visual check for other boat`s position lights around me. To compensate for that, I get every alternate cycle out of the bunk, up into the cockpit to stick my eyes into the black night and sparkling stars to check for any white, red or green position lights around me.

Overall I get better rest with a little compromise on the risk profile, which I have accepted for the lady and myself. Obviously this concept cannot be applied in the English Channel, for example.

I will take a few more cycles now before the sun sticks out.

Fair winds…

Lanzarote to Cabo Verde – Day 5 / Logblog 3

On November 24, 2022