Oosterschelde Cape Verde Tropical Islands Exploration

Oosterschelde - Cape Verde Islands Exploration

The islands of Cape Verde are situated in the Atlantic Ocean, over 600 kilometres west of Senegal at approximately 16 degrees north. Cape Verde consists of 9 inhabited and a few uninhabited islands.

Island hopping on a schooner

Ocean going schooner Oosterschelde will be traveling to the Cape Verde Islands next winter 2012/2013 for some tropical winter sun. This will be her fourth season running 12 day island hopping sailing voyages in this relatively unknown archipelago.  This is a perfect alternative to the Caribbean with no jet lag and a local population with their own unique culture but  just starting to embrace tourism.

Circum-navigate Cape Verde

Sensational Blue Water Sailing Conditions

Wahoo, Flying Fish & breeding Turtles

Unspoilt Alternative to the Caribbean

The tropical climate is similar to the Caribbean but drier. Cape Verde has suffered many droughts so rain is very rare. The sea is rich in wahoo, tuna and in every port you see small boats unloading daily and wheelbarrow loads of fresh fish or seafood trundling down the jetties.

Download PDF -Debbie's photo diary of her Christmas 2011 Cape Verde Voyage

Download PDF Cape Verde - Voyage Notes & Itinerary 2011-2012

 Local Guide on Board

A major asset to the voyage is a local Cape Verde guide.

In 2011 the ship was joined by Ario who enjoyed pulling ropes with the guests as well as enthusiastically telling us about island life. At every anchorage he had put together either a great full day jeep safari or several independent options. He found us wild rock pools to swim in, opportunities to eat a typical meal in a Cape Verdean home, staggeringly beautiful mountain walks from crater rim to terraced fields of coffee and bananas...coastal drives through villages un touched by tourism and live music venues.

'Hands on' sailing & plenty of time to relax

You do not need any sailing experience to join Oosterschelde for a sailing expedition in Cape Verde as the ships crew will teach you how to set sails, climb aloft if you want or steer the ship.  The working language is English and the ship has many fans from different countries. It is ideal for individuals abut equally the cabins are either 4 or 2 person, so families or couples can have a cabin to themselves. There are good trade winds and plenty of open ocean between islands so there is no much tacking or gybing to do once the ship is going fast, so lap up the sun, read a book, climb out on the bowsprit or wander below and see what the chef is cooking.

The Cape Verdean People

The Portuguese colonised the islands, which were uninhabited at the time, at the end of the 15th century. The islands were used as a transit port for the slave trade. It was not until 1975 that Cape Verde became independent and there has been parliamentary democracy for 15 years. Cape Verde is one of the smallest and poorest countries of Africa. The official language is still Portuguese although most inhabitants speak Crioulo and sometimes English or French. Cape Verde has around 450 000 inhabitants, a mixture of different African races and some Portuguese, French and Italians. 
 

Whilst there is considerable poverty, our local guide enabled us to enjoy meals in Cape Verdean homes, hire 4WD jeeps from the locals, walk in National Parks, listen to local singers and musicians and meet many village farming and fishing communities far away from the developing tourism resorts on Sal and Boa Vista.

Cabo Verde - Green or Barren ?

As most tourists go to the flat islands like Sal with international runways and stunning beaches, they rarely see the green bits on the more mountainous islands. Up in the cloud forests pines drip with moisture, and the deeply incised valleys down from the volcano craters are terraced to use every available space for crops. In some of the valleys on Sao Antao, the intensive nature of the farming would not look out of place in China or Vietnam...and we even saw rice paddies.

 The escaped slaves were not crazy, running up into the hills.  The hot sun, moisture and rich volcanic soils must have provide a good life close to heaven, away from marauding pirates or slavers compared with the wreck strewn coasts.

Cape Verde - So blue it hurts your eyes

If sun, sea and swimming are your essential requirements then the islands of Sal, Boa Vista, the windy side of Sao Vincente have some amazing beaches. Swinging off the ship on a rope was a great way to cool off too.  This is seriously tropical sun so sun tan lotion is pretty essential. On the ship you can usually find some shade from the sails, and at anchor there is an awning to sit under if you are feeling frazzled.

On Boa Vista there are real inland deserts with dunes similar to the Sahara, drifting accross the land.

See more on each island and a typical day to day itinerary (top tab) in Cape Verde

See Port Info (top tab) for accommodation on the island of Sal and flight tips