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Cape Verde: Sailing Between These Islands Feels Very Different
April 3, 2026 · 12 min · 8K views · Carrizal, São Nicolau
Sailing past São Nicolau's cliffs at first light
What this video covers
Sailing between the Cape Verde islands requires navigating open-ocean conditions despite the short distances between landfalls.0:03 Nike and Flo departed the crowded, wind-exposed anchorage of Palmeira on Ilha do Sal for a 65-nautical-mile passage to São Nicolau.1:04 The overnight transit featured 20-knot gusty winds and confused seas that overwhelmed the boat's autopilot, forcing manual steering for the duration of the night.3:06 Upon arrival, the crew anchored in the bay of Carrizal, a small fishing village.6:01 Without a dinghy, they utilized stand-up paddleboards to reach shore, navigating mountain-induced katabatic winds.5:32 The crew explored the island’s volcanic terrain, hiking through a canyon irrigation system that supports banana and sugar cane crops.9:37 They located a local restaurant in Carrizal by inquiring with residents, eventually securing a meal of fresh tuna and octopus prepared by a local host named Anna.7:55 The passage highlights the necessity of managing equipment failure and navigating unpredictable coastal wind patterns when island hopping in the Atlantic.
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