Peace reigns again but the boat has been christened with a new name – Anarchy instead of Anahi! – who ever would have guessed the pressure points that could exist in paradise?!!  When people warned me before the rally how unwise it might be to have six people aboard I was smug in the knowledge that we would be fine.  Vic has left (again) and although there is a sense of balance once more we are probably all a little the poorer for it………

Bennett and Michael are doing enough socialising to make up for all of us and the marina bar is a really good social focal point each evening. There is such a good feeling on this Rally and the bonding process is tight already and growing daily.   Between us we have been clubbing, singing a long in Irish Bars, playing boules, enjoying a Sunday roast in town, visiting the local markets, sliding down the black holes at the water park and all this alongside the jobs being tackled on board.  A new temperature gauge and sensor have been fitted to enable to see if the engine over heats.  All the winches have been taken apart and greased, the bar b q assembled and relocated, new blocks attached to stop chaffing, guard rail endings secured which had worked loose on passage, new interior lighting fitted, a quick trip to Ikea for bits and bobs and the chandlers for a couple of blocks, wiring lights and fans, generally cleaning and washing (how wonderful to have the washing machine on board).  

There are some really talented guitarists and singers within the Rally and they have formed a group named Accidental Jibe.  A few nights ago they performed at the cave venue where the Lanzarote Tourist Board hosted a very special evening including drinks, dinner and local dancers. Oscar joined them and sang Garth Brooks’ Unanswered Prayers.

It is the first time that Blue Water Rally have chosen Puerto Calero as an Atlantic stopover and I have to say they have been superb in their welcome – last night all yachts in the Marina were all invited to yet another function where the owner made a passionate and genuine speech of thanks. Some beautiful J Class yachts have visited during our stay including Velshelda, Ranger and although not in the same class Sapphire.  These resurrected super yachts of a bygone age dwarf us all and make us feel humble!

Velshelda in all her glory and up her mast??!!

Tomorrow is our official leaving day although some 5 or 6 yachts have left already and some want to wait for more wind. We have got all our laundry sorted, vacuum packed meat stacked in the fridges, shopping trips to hypermarkets completed, books swapped, letters posted, Vodaphone internet cancelled and most of everything neatly stowed.  We have hired a car this last week jointly with Hakuna Matata which is a great idea to share costs as the marina shops are expensive and shops are a long way apart here – the marina fees have worked out around 500 euros for the 14 day stopover and our supermarket food bill for the trip across the pond was 1,000 euros…… if it takes us 25 days to sail across it works out at 40 euros a day between the five of us.  With no prior experience of provisioning for five people for 25 days it has been a guessing game – let’s hope we have enough or catch a fish or two!!  Every fridge and locker is jam packed and even under the floor boards too!!  The only dilemma is a lack of wind but I think we will set off in any case - we aim to sail as much as possible and only use the engine in emergencies.

We have decided on a different watch system this time – 2 hours each on at night and 22 hours off!!!   This leaves 14 hours unaccounted for but as we will mostly all be around during daylight hours we will see if it works……..  I will try and blog on route but last time it didn’t work for some reason……..