That's right, Karen and I let the lines go from Rubicon Marina Lanzarote after 32 days and set sail for an overnight trip to Las Palmas Gran Canaria. The trip itself was almost uneventful passing through the reknowned acceleration zones with not much of a fuss at all. We sailed the entire voyage (with the exception of exiting and entering the harbours). This is a first for us and the entire trip would have used only the smallest amount of deisel - so cheap as well. The only event on the trip was a dance with a fast ferry as it turned across our bow to pass starboard to starboard and then shine a very strong spotlight on our boat. From my reckoning, we followed the colregs, turning to starboard to ensure we would avoid him before he turned across me so I am not quite sure what happened. Maybe he didn't see me.
On arriving in the marina with 24knot winds we were assigned a 8m berth down a narrow lane - needless to say , with these winds, I could not make such a small berth, and after a scratch from one of the neigbouring boats, we moved over to a much more appropriate sized berth on pontoon 17. The guys on the other boats on the pontoon were quick to assist in tying up and we were safe in Las Palmas. Although I was a bit shaken by the parking experience.
We were greeted by Nick Jaffe, a young Australian we met in Baiona, Spain before Christmas. He is sailing his 26ft Contessa from Holland back to Australia solo. For those of you, like us, who don't know a lot about boats and sailing this is a small boat. We were expecting him to have already left Gran Canaria, but like a lot of people he had been waiting here for parts for two months. Nick is doing this with the help of sponsors on next to nothing - check out his web site - www.bigoceans.com .
We have been making new friends and there a more cruising sailors here than anywhere else we have been so they have been helpful, offering advice, drinks, information and assistance where-ever we turn. Bill on Spangle has spent alot of time helping and even cooking us a vey nice fish dinner. I must admit being envious of Bill's wi-fi antenna that seemed to work as well as my expensive one imported from the States.
Kath and Bear, an english couple (from NZ) who have been cruising since 1982 are a wealth of knowledge and have suggested not putting a time limit on our trip.
On Wednesday - Ivan (the Terrible by his own admission) arrived on a 54ft Amel Super Maramu 2000. Bill, Maryann and I helped him tie up and when we were finished, he asked us if we spoke French - which none of us do - but when he said - "Voulez vous un apperatif" we all understood and we boarded for a glass of wine and a tour of the boat. On Thursday evening, Karen was invited over for the tour and we spent 2-3 hours conversing in a combination mainly French, a bit of English and a lot of sign language. It is amazing how much can be understood without a common language - we got tips on anchoring, use of the inverter, washing machine and dishwasher etc. The Amels are very nice 1/2 boats with a rich and warm finish inside. There is a definate difference between the feel of a single hull and a multi-hull.
Nick finally left on Friday after some final repairs to the mast light - and he was off for a 27day + sail to Barbados - alone. Ivan did explain that smaller boats handle rough seas without the crashing of waves - but somehow Nick's boat still looked very small as it left the marina.
He was followed a couple of hours later by a Kazakstani boat - carrying the country's first circum-navigation crew -complete with camera man. It left twice - the first time being filmed then they returned for the cameraman. This was necessary as the crew started off with eight in Kazakstan but by the time they were ready to leave here were down to four including the cameraman.
We have also done some sightseeing - mainly around Las Palmas -Santa Catalina and the old town.
We visited the house Christopher Columbus stayed in when in the Canaries and learnt more about his voyages of discovery. It said he went to his grave convinced he had found a quick route to China. He also had some very convincing charts of this continent. I took some photos in the museum of his boat and was promptly scolded by the attendent.
Unfortunately, I also had my bike stolen - the cheapest new bike in the world with 18 gears and Karen and I had a matching pair. Someone took bolt cutters to my 8mm wire lock and fleeced it in the middle of the night. All those blogs about security of the Las Palmas marina seem to be true as people told me of bikes even getting stolen off boats. So yesterday was spent finding a new bike. I have found the 2nd cheapest bike in the world 20km from the marina but am trying to find a route to get it home - non-mountainous and non-freeway - not easy on this island. Hopefully tomorrow I will be mobile again.
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