Gran Canaria arrival

Cafeseerose
Thu 5 Nov 2009 09:08
27.46 n  15.42 w
 
After a easy days sail we are finally closing on Gran canaria,Our port of call being las Palmas marina.
 
Several pods of dolphins are spotted as we motor cruised the last few miles and lots of tankers lying offshore awaiting loading /unloading.
 
The water is a stunning blue colour and seeing the dolphins swimming is amazing.
The weather is a lot warmer than Gib as we have moved over 700 miles south into a sub tropical area.
The sun is out and air temp is 27 c.
 
With virtually no wind we are making 6-7 kts under motor sail and covering approx 130 miles a day ,progress i would describe as steady on the cafe seerose rather than fast.
 
Having not had a lot of wind filling up with the fuel from gib on passage has been fun (not)
But hey the best part was it only cost 40 p per litre ,
 
The pump action gravity feeder for pumping fuel was useless and i got a lovely face of diesel on our 1st attempt ( mmm tasty)
 
Since Ive purchased the 12v pump to switch fuel.
 
On arrival into Las Palmas we were met by ybw forum member tcm ( matt) with a big grin and a hello.
The only problem now being told we can only leave the boat here for 1 week, hence the hasty exit after a few days to Puerto rico where the cafe now lies.
 
After a inspection of hull a few days ago ive decided a dive is in order to clean off growth from the bottom before the final push to the carib.
 
The 2 head sails have now been flown and can even be reefed to about half way on the furling.
Im flying back on the 16 th with Jan with a big Kevlar head sail.Mike will alreday be there and greg flys in on the 17th nov with dept planned for the 19/20 Nov to the Sun and coral seas of the tropics 1st port of call English Harbour Antigua.