Changeover days

20 January 2022

Changeover days

We sail downwind to the island of Santiago. Yesterday, we said goodbye to the guest crew. After all those years in which I have been sailing on board the ‘Oosterschelde’, saying goodbye to a group of guests is still a bit crazy and a shame! Changeover days are always very busy. Immediately after the group of guests disembark in the morning, we start with a thorough cleaning of the ship: the deck is cleaned, the laundry is done, the copper is polished and shining like never before and the groceries is done on the island. And then the necessary paperwork is still waiting…

The next morning, we continue with the necessary minor maintainance and prepare the ship to welcome the next group of guests on board. Once everyone has arrived, and we have gotten to know each other, we always start with a safety briefing and on the first day of sailing, the guest crew learns the names of all the sails and how we set them.

Now, on the first sailing day of this Cape Verde voyage, we will sail quietly into the night and, if we maintain this course and speed, we will arrive tomorrow morning in Tarrafal, on the island of Santiago, where Saydi, our guide, will be ready on the pier to welcome us on his island. We’re excited!