At Sea - On route to St Helena Island

Hi Guys

Well, we finally said "Goodbye" to Cape Town. We got away at 3pm. this afternoon, after going from building to building (needed a car to get from one to the other) clearing immigration, port control and customs. We had a lovely sail past Robben Island this afternoon with the gorgeous Table Mountain, Devil's Peak & Lions Head backdrop, coated in a misty blanket that looked like snow. After about an hour fog came down and we could hear the anchored ships blowing their foghorns. Now, 7pm. we are blanketed in fog, all is silent here and it is quite eerie sailing along, seeing only the closest wave as it approaches. This part of the coast is famous for it's fog which keeps all fauna and flora alive in the Namib Desert.

We are now about to conquer the mighty Atlantic Ocean, which is renowned for it's big rollers, coming up from Antartica. It is quite exciting really. We have 1,700nm to go to St. Helena. This would take us 11 days if we could sail there directly. However, we have to go in the direction the wind takes us now, as we cannot motor as we do not have enough fuel to get all the way to Portugal. We need to save it for later, until we are closer and for when we get to the doldrums.

My good friend Lea has decided not to sail with us, so it is just the three of us aboard - Dimitri, John and I, so once again the boys outnumber me!

Love to you all.

Arti & Dimitri