Waiting for the trade winds

We spend 4 days moored in the small harbour of Caleta del Sebo on the island of Graciosa, where life is good. Walks, the beach, tinkering and encounters mark our days. At the top! (266 metres…) Internet café The trade winds still seem to be giving us the cold shoulder, and on Saturday, October 30th, we decide to extend our stopover in the Canaries on the island of Tenerife, 160 miles to the West. This downwind sail in sunshine is very pleasant, especially after the upwind miles we have in memory. Life on board is more enjoyable: swimming, salt dough, pastry-making, acrobatics… Charlotte pear-and-chocolate Salt dough We arrive 36h later in the port of Santa Cruz. We are moored right in the centre of the most populous city in the Canaries — quite a change from the family atmosphere of the previous stopover. It does however make it easier to stock up on fresh produce and other shopping, as well as the laundry!!! Laundry in Santa Cruz Painting in the cockpit Off the Santa Cruz auditorium Scooter on the harbour This stopover in the Canaries was dictated by the weather, but let us catch our breath after the rush of departure and finish preparing Libertaire for the tropics in the last port with “Western” facilities before Brazil. We plan to leave for Cape Verde tomorrow, Friday. The trade winds seem to be on schedule, even if 36h of beating will be needed to get away from the centre of a depression currently stationary over the Canaries. See you soon, friends!