Waterphotos from Alita

This morning I jumped into the water with my waterproof camera and took some pictures of Alita here. Enjoy!

Too bad today no turtle has passed by so far. Yesterday it was so cute when we were sitting here for breakfast all of a sudden I heard "pfffff". I turned my head and there was this (smaller) turtle (about 50cm/ 1,5ft) long swimming next to our boat. She caught some air about 3 times and then left.....Reminded us of th epoor turtle that we had unintentionally turned around on our way to Santa Luzia. Tha was a huge turtle, at least 1.5m long and to me with her eyes wide open cause the poor thing didn't know whathad happened to her, she looked like an ice bear, the way it was paddeling through the water with its white fur....I felt so bad. It had gotten too close to the boat and the swell had turned it around. Poor thing.

Santa Luzia

Here are some pictures of the non inhabited island of Santa Luzia. One sailboat, one dinghi and one pair of footsteps. All from us. Unfortunately it was so windy there, too cold and the sea too unruly that I wanted to sail on. The trip was not very easy being sick, but we made it. 36 hrs hours later we reached paradise. See next blog entry. We'll stay here until I completely recover and got the chance to enjoy the beautiful water.

Boavista at Sal Rei - a little paradise

We arrived here in this beautiful part of the earth this morning at 6 a.m. UTC (5a.m. local time). We had already partyl taken the sails down before to sail a bit slower so we would come here when it's not dark anymore. Well, we arrived when the first light showed up at the sky. Thanks to our sonar we were ok to not run into any reef. We're one of 5 boats here in the south anchorage place of Sal Rei. Soo beautiful. I can go swimming right from the boat. This is what I was looking for. Pure paradise. I pray the wind does not change and we can stay here for a week so we can relax and get lots of energy.  

Marcus made us a wonderful dinner with fresh fish from the fishermen here. That hepls me recover from the trip to here. I'll write more in the next days.

Boa Vista

Hello, just a quick note that we're alive :-) On tuesday evening we decided to leave Santa Luzia and sail to Boa Vista (it's beautiful here!!!). Unfortunately this trip took us 1,5 days and I was not feeling well so we did not post on the way. I will write more later. It's 6:22 local time in the morning, the sun is rising and I need to sleep. Now, finally, that the water is CALM.

Good night (or good morning?). Michaela

 

 

Ilha Santa Luzia

At 1745 UTC we had finished our anchor manouver here in the beautiful bay in the south west of the Island Santa Luzia at position 16°45,3'N and 024°45,6'W. We travelled 20,9nm from Midelo with a wonderful wind bringing us here. We are the only boat here, the island is not inhabited. We have not set foot ashore yet but will do so tomorrow. Too bad I cannot send pictures, but I will try to describe which beauty we see. We're in the middle of a about 4km long bay with nearly white sand in front of dark red/brown lava hills with some lava rocks lying around. In the two valleys between the lava hills grow some small but wide trees. Seems like once in a while water runs through there in a little stream, cause that's the direction you find that litte green from in the valley down to the beach. The island is said to be home to some animals like birds and apes. I wonder however what they would live of. From here it looks like there is no life at all, but I am sure when we get to the land we will see lots of life. We're about 300m off the shore, the water is 14m deep here, green-blue. Only directly at the shore the water is turcoise. We have (thank god) little swell (small waves) coming from the south breaking at the beach so we lay here comparatively calm, the waves softly rocking us. Once in a while some bigger waves come in and break quite nice on the beach, which looks great from here, cause the wind comes from the other direction and the top of the breaking water gets blown back like hair. To the right of us there is a little rock offshore, probably beautiful under the water with the fish living there.
Marcus has programmed our position guard, just to make sure we wake up in case the anchor does not hold. But we tested it very well. I put the motor on full speed backwards but we did not move against the anchor. So I guess we can sleep well after we ate our beef from the grill that we are making now (test of our BBQ). Good night.

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Marcus at Plaça Nova

Forgot to post this picture of Marcus.

Good bye Mindelo

This is a view of the new upscale Bar/Restaurant/Pool here at the marina. With this picture in the blog I am saying good-bye to Mindelo and the island of Sao Vicente that sadly we were not able to visit at any other place due to my infection.
Next stop is the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia. We will blog through out sailmail, but without pictures. We'll be there for about two days and then go on to Boavista.
Have a great day everyone.
Michaela

Sports is in

Everywhere you find open air public "fitness studios". Young people take good care of their bodies. And it shows.

A beautiful restaurant in Mindelo

Travel

I just finished reading a book again from Sergio Bambaren (Das weisse Segel). He is my favourite author and his books were part of the inspiration I received that made me want to go on this trip. This process had started a long time ago and it took a couple of years to grow inside me. Actually the very beginng was a book that my dear friend Cornelia had given me many years ago for my birthday. It's called "Traunmfänger" written by Marlo Morgan (I don't know th eoriginal english title). A beautiful book about leaving all the values you think are important behind and learn to live by your heart, to love your family and friends and yourself more than anything money can buy. To love and treasure the nature, relax your mind with all the beauty that god has created.

Sitting here on the boat in the sunset I grow happier every day that I started this trip with an indefinite end. Of course I miss things from home, like friends, sports etc., but the soul finally gets a rest from all the hectic, that is especially known in my life, which has always been tacted, used and loved in every second. I have been ill a lot and unfortunately I am now, but I feel this will be the last time. My body will find the peace it is longing for and will be able to recover completely. A big role in this whole thing of course plays Marcus. To be able to live your dream with your loved one, who not only is a wonderful man but also the best Skipper where I don't have to fear anything, is an unbelievable luck. And not to forget that by buying this beautiful boat a year ago to live his dream our dream together became possible before we even knew each other. He bought the boat at a time when my feeling and wish to set sails around the world grew stronger and stronger. hen I made the ocean licenses last year I never wanted to leave the boat again. Maybe Marcus already played a role then, without u knowing it. He was my first teacher and two weeks later I again had a tour with him, but at that time I did not even think of anythin between us. That was so far away. When I joined him on Alita in November last year to bring the boat to the Canary Islands it was just help for him and miles for me. But during the trip an unknown trust grew between the two of us. A change in my life and person started.

And now we're here, on the water, living our dream. Thanks to all our families and friends, who by their support make this all possible! I especially thank my brother for organizing all my thing at home and all my family and friends who so kindly offered me help and shelter, should I wish to come home for a couple of days

By writing this I hope I can at least send home some positive energy for you all to go and live your dreams!

Michaela

Late lunch / Early dinner at Cafe Casa Mindelo

We were hungry so instead of eating junk on board we decided for some local food. I had "Arroz tropical". Rice with shrimps, mango and banana.

Gachupa

The national dish