There’s nothing like a good long voyage to sort out a boat, for better or for worse, and after 3700 ocean miles between the Canaries, Senegal, Cape Verde and Brazil, Colin reports on what worked and what didn’t.

Pèlerin and her crew spend the Christmas at sea, destination Brazil, with arrival at Salvador on January 4th of a new year.

Before every ocean passage, there comes a final moment, when all of the food, fuel and water is aboard, the boat is ready to go and the goodbyes have been said. All the planning, scrutiny of the weather and last minute checks have been carried out, and there’s no excuse to linger a second longer—it’s time to go.

When cruising, flexibility is a must, and Colin shares how a problem with the engine on Pèlerin led to a change in their planned landfall at the Cape Verdes, which led to a wonderful stop at Marina Mindelo.

Colin uses their trip from Dakar to the Cape Verdes as a good example of how to plan and execute a safe and enjoyable passage.

Colin and Lou find a warm welcome at Dakar. But where are all the other yachts that used to visit?

After a winter in the Canaries, it’s time to head for Dakar, Senegal, about a week away. The forecast is looking good, “Pèlerin” is loaded to the gunwales with food, fuel and water, and all systems seem to be behaving.