Gusts to Tarrafal

A small gust of wind is expected and we we shelter in the Bay of Tarrafal on the island of Sao Nicolao. As soon as the settle we escape to find nature in the quiet Bay of Papagayo.

Thursday 17 November - Tarrafal, Sao Nicolao

We arrive on the coast of Ilha do Sao Nicolao before sunrise of the day and get wet away from ships that have their anchor light. We quickly understand why there is no one around us. South swell is untenable!  As soon as the day we move more near the beach in an area somewhat sheltered by the broken blade.
A few hours later MADGIC arrives in the Bay and get wet far from us. The place is famous for its violent gusts of wind... and it is deserved!  For two days we stay on board and do shifts to react quickly in case of problems. The gusts are leave the boats across the wind... 
  and those who have had the misfortune of having planted their anchor in an unstable area skid. The anchor held on Tao... Phew!!  The wind dies down and the anchor becomes peaceful!  
The color of water and garbage in the Bay of Tarrafal does not want to bathe. The time now is stable and the village children seeing no one on the ground are ships around to see if they can get something useful. Nathalie gives them pens.  
After a few races of fresh produce, MADGIC and we'll quickly in the Bay of Papagayo, a few miles South... The water is turquoise, the beach is of fine white sand, We are surrounded by nature.
It makes you want to explore and go out hiking shoes to back a stream dry. 
Although the place is completely dry without a single tree, one can imagine the power of the water during the rainy season. 
Philippe is happy to discover that a part of the crew of MADGIC like walking. So it is with Vincent and his son Charles that they decide to climb up the cliffs that overlook the Bay. The progression is difficult in fields of stones and steep hills to climb. But what a reward when we reached the top. 
This part of the island is Rocky and without vegetation.
Photo shoot 
It's to catch our breath. 
Hold a flower in this very hostile environment...!  
When in late afternoon, a fishing boat approaches us, Vincent (Madgic) is on the ground and take photos... One of the fisherman goes directly aboard. We understand they're going fishing exactly there where Tao is wet. The sign of the fisherman is clear enough,  We need to go far off the coast in the direction indicated by... 
We do not want wet outside the Bay and resist. Same message, but with the left arm just in case we would not have understood. The atmosphere starts to be a bit tense with fishermen in the boat that get excited shouting more loudly... Finally we understand that if we move only about 15 meters, that would be enough. Not a problem for us... the voltage drops and they thank us with gestures and smiling faces. 
Home delivery. Madgic made the taxi boat to Nathalie who went walking with their daughter Sophie. 
Tomorrow we leave for the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia 30 miles more to the West