Harmon and Randall's Voyage…

Leg 3, blog 16, July 14, 2025

Mōli does it again! We just pulled into Mindelo, Cape Verde. Not a whole lot to discuss, but I did want to give you a quick look on how we landed.

As we were preparing for our arrival, Randall reached into his flag bag and magically pulled out the one for Cape Verde. Smile Randall, you never know who is reading this!

At this point we are still 40 miles off the coast, but we take the time to ceremoniously raise, and then pay tribute to the flag of our next stop.

We realized that dinner in Cape Verde is still some seven hours out, so we have to prepare one more meal. As this is our eighth day at sea in heat, and I did not plan my pantry so well, we have no more fresh fruits or vegetables. So it is “boat food” this afternoon. This is my version of a “goulash” which is pasta noodles, one can of “meat”, tons of mac & cheese powder, powdered milk, and the last of some oozing and sweating cheese that was still kind-of ok. It tasted better than it looked.

At last we are one mile out of Mindelo and it is blowing 25 knots as we prepare to enter this new bay and harbor.

To the left of the bay entrance are several old gun emplacements. We hope to find out when these were last used.

As we enter the bay before the marina, we notice a lot of junked ships. Until we realized that these ships are not being junked at all, but are being used and temporarily stored. Perhaps a bit depreciated, but still sea worthy – I think!

Perhaps the most interesting ship in the bay was the one above that looked to me like an incomplete condo development. Randall recognized immediately that it was for bovine maritime transportation – technically known as a Cow Boat. Likely not going to their Broadway debut like the following song I used to play for my kids suggests https://youtu.be/e3_7UikPpcg?si=S9wwoVow4JaMiWvn, but I am not sure whether the cows in Cape Verde are coming or going!

This video of our entrance does not seem to show the blustering 15 to 25 knot winds hitting us as we entered (Randall’s first time). No problemo!

As we entered the marina, we could see the well-traveled look of many steel boats.

Above: Randall’s cool handling of the tense situation of maneuvering in a new and confined marina paid off as we pulled onto the fuel dock for the evening. Even thought the marina office was closed for the evening, two marina workers came out of nowhere there to help guide us in and tie us up. Thanks guys!

And if last night’s overtime marina workers were not enough welcome hospitality, first thing this morning we are visited by the self designated Marina Laundry Lady who promised us that if we “drop off” by 9:00, she will deliver by 3:00 that afternoon.

Above: Next boat down from us is a lovely French couple that have been in the marina since last December. I found these two pictures interesting. First because it shows how difficult (and dangerous) it is to get on the boat in this docking configuration. Second, and I guess because he is French, you can see that he has a color scheme of yellow (the boat stripe, the shirt and the towel). Randall and I need to up our game.

Above Left: First thing we did this morning (even before dropping off our laundry and getting breakfast) was go to Customs and check in. Above Right: A “not so happy” sailboat that has seen better days.

There is a very interesting vibe in town that I cannot figure out just yet. I promise to describe more later. But it was interesting to see the retail, hand-to-hand fruit trade was big – mostly bananas and mangos.

In San Francisco we have plenty of Palm Trees. But I have never seen a fake one (ABOVE) that has been disguised as a cell tower!

I rushed to the market to gorge on fresh fruits and vegetables. What I noticed, in addition to the beautiful produce was an over abundance of dried herbs.

The dried herbs went on and on. Very interesting. What do they do with them all??!!

Well, here is Randall tied up and getting comfortable. Not much else to say for now, so please standby.

BIRTHDAYS!!

Celebrating my nephew Sam D’s birthday tomorrow. Only 14 and in New York studying without his parents. That is a day to celebrate!