Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
Thursday, November 04, 2010

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Each week in her column-logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad Laura Dekker will relate her journey around the world aboard her sailboat Guppy on her attempt to become the world's youngest circumnavigator.
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Next week I will head for Sal, the main island of the Cape Verde Islands


Counting days. On Wednesday next week I will set sail again. This time I will head for Sal, the main island of the Cape Verde Islands. Guppy will have to clear customs over there and I will have to show my documents and maybe the officials will come aboard for an inspection and a closer look at other things on my boat. A few days later I will move on to the island of Sao Nicolau where I am invited by a staff member of "Trans-Oceans", an organization that runs supply stations for long distance sailors all over the world. I will stay there for a week or two before I start towards the Caribbean Sea. I decided I will first go to Sint Maarten and then on to other islands in the Antilles. Perhaps it may sound odd but In December last year when I ran from home to Sint Maarten and then was stopped half a week later to be put on a plane back, in that short time I met many people that I would like to meet again. The leg to the Cape Verde Islands will take seven days, the longest time I ever spent at sea alone. But it is not a difficult trip. There won't be much ship traffic so it will just be a question of going on forward. I am already busy with the preparations checking on Guppy. I had a new radar installed on my boat because the alarm that used to warn me of the presence of ships close by , a very useful thing at sea, is not working. I will also have to buy the necessary food supplies. For the past weeks I was often invited out to dinner by many nice people I have met here. But now I need to make sure to buy enough food provisions for my crossing. Obviously there are shops in the Cape Verde Islands but not as many and more expensive. Until next week - from the Atlantic Ocean.

Regards, Laura