Single Handed Offshore Sailing - Canaries to Cape Verde

A 700 mile single handed passage sailing from El Hierro in the Canary Islands to Sal - Cape Verde. Flying fish, downwind sailing.

[@Seafariireland]

That kind of trip would inspire me to poetry!

[@theyacht40]

Excellent Video ,inspriational,Looking forward to your future posts.regards from Derry .

[@marcderveeuw]

Excellent sailing channel. We have the impression we are with you in the boat.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks very much Marc that's lovely to hear!

[@theoldsailmaker6408]

Thanks for taking us along!☀️🌴☮

[@Nilo0Mil]

I have been looking forward to your Video. We are missing sailing very much. Good wind for your crossing

[@sailingaphrodite4189]

A cracking sail. Looking forward to the next episode. Sandy

[@offshoreadventuresailing6015]

Nice job, Mark!

[@stirfrywok2927]

Smashing stuff. I just discovered your channel and I have been following you backwards

[@Dave-SailsAway]

Nice to follow your two journies. Thanks for posting. I'll look forward to your Atlantic E to W expedition. Fair winds.

[@Oceans_Sail]

Brilliant!! Great achievement……with more achievements to come. Looking forward.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Cheers Andy!

[@michaelwhitmore5259]

Hey mate, this is one of the most enjoyable sailing channels by far! Please keep doing what you're doing!

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks Michael, lovely comment!

[@ianscott3180]

Great stuff, I have sailed my old Contessa 26 single handed many times but only on coastal day passages. At seventy and with a hip that is well past it's sell by I guess I will never cross the Atlantic now. I just came across your vlog, I will subscribe and join you with a beer in my hand. Bon Voyage.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Ah thanks Ian, the contessa 26 are great boats, friend of mine just bought one. Delighted you are following my trip and fair winds to you

[@markbuskens6070]

Yea I could put myself in your position and wondered how would I feel.Being all alone in the middle of the ocean with no other boats is got to be a strange feeling for sure.I enjoyed listening and watching this video,as I want to do what your doing too.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks Mark, wishing you success on your future voyages!

[@hughburgess4168]

That’s me caught up Mark. I’ve watched three episodes backwards from Atlantic 2. Excellent production telling the story with simplicity and clarity. I paid particular attention to your changes in mood from start to finish. Important to understand this should I wish to follow. Very grateful for you coverage. ⛵️ Just realised that I did watch this a month ago.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks again Hugh, yes the mood management is an important aspect of it, linked heavily with sleep management. I can see in retrospect I was quite sleep deprived a lot.

[@wynyardhandyman]

Great achievement - you make it look so easy. We only get to see the best bits not the stress of being alone and knowing that things can go wrong but you plan and prepare so well.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks so much! Definitely getting into the swing of it now, next one is the big one!

[@hughburgess4168]

Fabulous sailing, trouble-free. Another fine achievement, if not quite like the Biscay experience. Look at you….you’ve sailed to Cape Verde! ⛵️

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks so much Hugh lovely to think of people watching back home.

[@zeekwolfe6251]

Why do solo sailors seem to think we are interested at them facing the camera and talking too much? This video was slightly better than most.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks Zeek, I realize it's not for everyone! I think I talk less once there's more wind and I'm a little less in my own head

[@fredread9216]

Very nice trip. And very nice capable little sailboat. I have owned an Alberg 35. The little sister is the Alberg 30. Very similar to your boat. Several have circumnavigated. Just subscribed so will follow you across. Sailed the Caribbean for many years. Loved it. Particularly the eastern chain and Panama.

[@hughburgess4168]

Love it love it love it….and I haven’t watched it yet! Waking up on a sunny November morning and the prospect of watching you sailing from Canaries to Cape Verde! ⛵️

[@maartentukker2637]

Nicely done. Enjoy and have fun on the Atlantic!

[@gciosan9792]

Well done from Cork. All done with no fuss.

[@jockneyranger]

Well done that man! Fair winds and calms sees buddy.

[@gavinmurray575]

Another fabulous video man.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks Gavin!

[@chontaelu]

Well done, been following you since you left Ireland. Have fun in Cabo Verde before the big crossing!

[@Worldviewsandthoughts]

Nice boat! I have a cape dory 30 cutter.

[@StemtoSternSailing]

Impressive stuff. Stay safe. Best regards from Jarle

[@simon7790]

Congratulations! Looked like a great passage. Hope you enjoyed Sal and Mindelo and have a wonderful Atlantic crossing. I once got hit in the head by a large flying fish, it was the middle of a noisy night. I can tell you that made me jump. [

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Haha I had a big one in the cockpit on a previous passage and was thinking they'd be a bit of a weapon to be hit by.

[@gercoen975]

Well done...love to see some more footage of dropping the hook after your passage.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Will include some in my next video!

[@LNM0000]

Cracking stuff mate. 😎

[@madprof6719]

Been looking forward to this, can't wait to see how your crossing goes 😀

[@jesusbeiro6113]

Great passage !!! Enjoy Cabo Verde !!! .... Cheers from Muros

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Cheers! Definitely enjoying CV!

[@Alan13Mac]

Bigup Ireland G que tal Mi amigatal

[@stephenconway4976]

Brilliant. Congratulations 🇮🇪

[@gaiavoice]

Well done, great to see! A mate of mine also did Biscay late and is now headed west from the Canaries, different route but v similar timings!

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Was your mate OK in late Biscay? My crossing was fine (in retrospect) but I'd hate to see it in a bad mood

[@petermajor4599]

💎👍

[@KamilGokgoz]

⛵⛵

[@stevelawrie9115]

lol, you must have been out like a light. Hope she wasn't too cranky :)

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

No she was very good about it!

[@davidegan2587]

Great to follow your progress. Unlike poor Pat Lawless, you can stop to fix you windvane without having to give up on the adventure.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

I know, felt terrible for Pat. Wind vane failure is one of the real showstoppers for single handers.

[@wow.sailor.]

WOW Sailor, 👍

[@hecra6521]

Gut gemacht, ich segelte im dezember 2005 something nach sal. fror eine minute und die nächste in badehose. ankerte in der kleinen bucht von palmeira ohne einklarieren zu müssen. auch beim weitersegeln nach mindelo kein einklarieren. war alles easy. nur wegen des wassermangels war obst und gemüse unbezahlbar auf sal.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

It's a bit better now, can get water and some provisions. Still better to pick up most things in the canaries

[@dirtyeric]

Very nice passage mate. Making me more excited for ours in a few weeks. Where do you think you will make landfall over the pond? We are leaning towards Antigua and ultimately basing out of Grenada.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Thanks Eric! Heading for Martinique as meeting up with folk flying from Europe. Probably head south for a month or two as far as Grenada then back north

[@dirtyeric]

@@SoloSailingSapphira Hi mate, I do have a question for you. How does provisioning look in Cape Verde? We have heard that its 50/50 and probably should not expect too much options on availability of supplies there. Would appreciate your first hand opine. Cheers, Eric

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

@@dirtyeric yes, I would agree with that. There are a few supermarkets, but not a great selection. There's a good fruit and veg Market apparently. I stocked up on most of the tinned and long life stuff in the canaries, so I just need fresh ingredients and a few replacement tins etc. I haven't actually gone shopping yet, just scoped out the shops, so will let you know more in a day or two

[@SayWhatinAz]

What is that square item attached to the rear wind generator mount?

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

It's a radar reflector, very questionable how well it works (I suspect not at all) but possibly better than nothing.

[@SailingYachtZora]

Hope the trip went well mate

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

Yes thanks Rhys, went very well! How's all going with you, hope the work you're doing is going well

[@SailingYachtZora]

@@SoloSailingSapphira all good mate on my way to Las palmas now

[@jek_follaalcatraz7191]

Sottotitoli in italiano grazie

[@paulbarr1804]

Asking the tough questions... Is it a flock or a school???

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

It is apparently "a glide" of flying fish. Squadron also possibly acceptable.

[@paulbarr1804]

@@SoloSailingSapphira a squadron..... fucming outstanding... that's what I'm going with

[@perpetualgrin5804]

Strange to see a sailing video that the sailor or crew aren't in a bikini 🤔.

[@icholash]

Glad to hear your morals are still good !

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

🤣 as I was listening back I thought that didn't sound right

[@secretsquirrel6124]

hope Sinead wasn't too cross

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

I would have been raging if roles reversed but she's incredibly sweet natured

[@deeryker]

Tch,,ye kept Shin Aid waiting,,,Losing the run of yerself,,ye arr so ye arr.

[@SoloSailingSapphira]

I forgot to mention it was 1am, I was supposed to pick her up from the dinghy Dock in Palmiera, slept through it. Luckily she got a lift out with a nice French lad, and she doesn't hold a grudge

[@deeryker]

@@SoloSailingSapphira One more strike and you are out. Shin Aid can do the sailing,,,I will be the deck hand. Between 2000 and 2002 I did all the islands in Azores.except for Corvo,,,weather too bad for ferries. They now have a landing strip,,,will do it eventually. My plan for last year was to do two months in Cabo Verde using Praia in Santiago as a base for ferries and flights to the other islands. Covid restrictions scuppered my plans,,,but,,,,but planning for,,,December 24 to Feb 24 is underway . Once you are out of the high holiday hotspots Cape Verde Islands is cheap.