When we left Mindelo we did know that the first 3-4 days would be slow. A low up north killed all the trades between Cape Verdes and Caribbean. The ARC fleet was fighting with strong headwinds.
We sailed south as there was some wind down around 12 degree. After 4 days sailing south in light winds ranging from 4-10 knots we gybed and steered west. We had reached 12 degrees and trades were taking us directly to Grenada. We sailed with a boomed out genoa and the hardwind jib sheeted on the same side as the main sail.
It was a very comfortable sail. Winds between 15-25 knots and slight seas. It could not been better. With some small exceptions, this was the conditions across the Atlantic.
The last week in to Grenada we got some rain squalls that sometimes could increase wind speed to 30 kn.
The fishing was a big disappointment as we hit seaweed already a week from Cape Verde. The seaweed fouled the fishing equipment right away.
Whales came and escorted Bella.
We did see 2-3 fishing boat and two tankers on the route from CV to Grenada.
Our friends on Hullabaloo went rumb line from Cape Verdes. They had to motor for 72 hours!.
We sailed defensive as the goal was to come to Grenada with all the crew and boat in one piece. We reefed as soon as the wind was between 23-25 knots. We could possible have been averaging 0.3-0.5 knots more if we had been pushing 100 %.
We arrived to Grenada after 15 days sailing. The last 6-7 hours we sailed reefed as we did want to arrive Prickly Bay in daylight. We motored about 12-15 hours. The generator had to run about 2×3 hours/day to keep up with our electricity need.
The Raymarine autopilot steered 100% of the way. Not one single disconnect. It steered courses that would be very difficult to hand steer in the darkness.
Nothing broke on the trip!! Not bad for a 14 year old boat. That showed that the preparations in Gran Canaria was done right, and that we had a skilled crew that did not do any mistakes.
Avi spend a lot of time in the galley making delicious food. Unfortunately we did not lose weight as Avi could not find baby spinach in Gran Canaria.
Lots of boats in all the bays on the south coast of Grenada. Clearly the hurricanes in the north is creating business for the boat yards on Grenada.