Leaving Curacao Wednesday, January 20 around noon, the full facts, the latest DIY set. We still do not control our wind, but oh great news we start with an engine attached. A little more than old but cheap, so time will tell us it is a good deal.
We then go back north west coast on a good edge downwind. Between 25 and 30 knots of wind, hollow between 4m (by police) and 8m (according to organizers); sports! Some waves break on the boat and force us to close the hatches. So there is a choice between the heat inside and showers on deck. By day's fun and it refreshed at night is less fun, especially when it takes 5 minutes before going to bed ... it has taken so big that a it has filled the cockpit, and the equivalent of a few buckets slowly inched their way up the inside and a lifejacket that has nothing better than to shoot. At least we know they work!
Our bodies no longer so used to this kind of conditions the nights are short for everyone, we do not lead off for the day and not more basic activities such as making food or drink ask a drink of hard to balance.
The lull comes at the end of our third day of crossing, finally a good night for everyone. We take advantage of the respite to take a look at our bar. Although we took because the sand had slipped through a pulley, the cable from biting us more than half. The repair made us go to the dashboard of the engine shows signs of weakness to discover some connections largely oxidized. It is now impossible to start other than directly screwdriver on the starter. And as we say that our misfortunes never come singly alternator chosen the same day to stop producing electricity. Our two production facilities Energy Curtain, it remains for us to finish the crossing on the flashlight. Yes good agreement but we have little to complain about that ... This being repaired and we're doing it occupies more and more taste.
Days resume their normal course, read (A world without end, The Master and Margarita, Balzac, Forgive us our trespasses, The Trial, For Whom the Bell Tolls), chess, English, fishing (not very prolific for that matter) ... We leave the regular trade winds and spend our first night in the motor since the Canaries! Would follow une alternance de pétole et de vent dans le nez, nous ne sommes plus qu’à quelques milles des côtes cubaines, nous ne pourront pas arriver avant la nuit. Nous entrons dans une baie de Cienfuegos très bien balisées (heureusement) mais impossible de trouver la marina. Tant pis, il est 22H, tout le monde est fatigué et il fait froid dehors (pas loin de 10°C !!), personne ne répond à la VHF, nous mouillons dans un coin de la baie et on verra demain pour les formalités.
Réveil avec le jour pour voir que nous sommes à 200m de la marina que nous avons cherché en vain la veille. Accueil super sympa, on nous demande quand même de rester à board until the authorities arrive. The dance begins with the arrival of three health services and veterinary products. No fresh produce? You're not sick? Where are you from? What is your background? RAS we win three papers, the right to decline the yellow flag and wait for the following. Then descend into our square one responsible for the captaincy and a customs officer. Where are you from? What is your background? Do you own weapons? Two more papers, so far so good, we always have the right to expect follows. Then comes a real band, two customs officers in uniform, in civilian clothes, one blue and two masters working dogs (with their dogs). There followed a search of the boat almost as a rule (one opened my eyes five times the same set of cards, but no one raised floors to look at the holds). One or two discreetly asking us if we do not want to give them an iPod or anti-inflammatory. Result a little more mess in the boat, another paper won and we make our passports duly stamped by immigration. Thank you gentlemen enjoy your stay in Cuba.
officials are rather relaxed and very nice, our morning was busy and we can finally get our first steps in this country so long border remained closed. We discover the wide streets (format airstrip), without much traffic, with over bicycle taxis, taxi-cart riding, big Ford movies right out of James Dean, that one of Lada well imagine coming from the USSR and some new Asian cars instead. Many impressive buildings decrepit facades, large flowered squares, shops where one can find a little of everything and a lot of nothing except the rum and cigars are everywhere. Communist slogans or the glory of national heroes decorate the walls. Cubans with whom we speak are all riders and nice. All we need only to discover the much-vaunted generosity of Cuban nights, we are sure you tell the next episode. Now the program a few days in Cienfuegos history work a little boat, get your fill of vitamins and recover Paule and Vania are joining us for the next 15 days.
Wishing you a good late winter
Manu
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