Hi Alex - thanks very much for your comments re: sailing south from The Canaries. We have not completely decided what do to do exactly however I am currently scanning the World Cruising Routes and Handbook of guru Jimmy Cornell for a more stategic way.

You are correct about both not being able to clear in to Brazil at FDN, however yes - they won't chuck you off the island for a few days which may work okay for us. I think that we will be going as far south down the Brazilian coast as poss and then across to Capetown. I had visions of sailing to St Helena and then Namibia however prevailing wind wise it does not make sense and also to go as far south as Rio and then come back up north to reach St Helena does not make sense either...

Happy New Year and thank you so much for sharing your insights and experience with us...

Michelle and Nick