ONE STEP AHEAD OF COVID: Cape Verde to Canada in 2020 Martin Fuller (Martin only began sailing in 2015 when a change in his life gave him the dream of one day sailing around the world. He decided that first he’d better check that he liked offshore sailing, and by the time he reached RYA Yachtmaster level had confirmed he did. The next step, in January 2017, was to look for a bluewater cruising yacht suitable for short-handed sailing and Sandpiper, a wing-keeled Sadler Starlight 39 built in 1994, met all his requirements. Stephanie joined Martin to sail Sandpiper from the Exe to Port Solent, and they have been together ever since. Stephanie brought a wealth of experience to the team, having sailed many ocean miles including the Northwest Passage (west to east) with the Reverend Bob Shepton in 2013.) After a wonderful cruise from North Wales to Cape Verde in 2019, to begin with everything went according to plan for our onward passage across the pond. When we left on 6th January the weather looked settled for a fast crossing and we set off downwind in a north-easterly force 6–7, predicted to ease to force 5. We settled into our passage routine of three-on three-off from 1800 to 0900, with Stephanie doing an incredible job in the galley cooking up tasty dishes even in fairly rough seas. I don’t know how she does it – but she did, from day one of the crossing. By day three we had found the easterlies and were looking forward to using our twin headsails, bought especially for the trip, and ploughing a direct downwind line
Sandpiper in the Isles of Scilly before heading south
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