02102010 Monday Day 16

Up early and breakfast, there’s no escape and Lars has us yomping like a herd of Goats up the nearby mountain that overlooks the Marinia. The views were fantastic and we boldly entered the Parador (Very nice hotels using converted castles, Monasteries and other historic buildings) that looked like it had been and old Monastery. Not only the views but the gardens were fantastic with all sorts of tropical and sub-tropical trees, Cactii and other exotica, each labled and on show.

Pausing for a beer or two and a Tapas lunch we return to the boat knakkkkkkered.

We receive word from a fellow sailor who had recently arrived from Tenerife that marina space is pretty desperate what with the ARCS pre-booking whole marinas and Los Americanos deciding the ban all anchoring in the bay. Lars gets onto the internet and we find a “New” marina of San Miguel (or Puerto Amarilla).

Apparently  it was started in 1990’s in conjunction with the Amerilla Golf and Country Club. However the breakwater was severely damaged by a gale before it was finished, a pattern that was repeated several times over the following decade.

Work resumed yet again in 2002 with the breakwater being substantially reinforced

A phone call and we manage to book a place for the following day

Then off to find the Chinese Restaurant we had spotted on our route march around the town in search of the gas bottle. Success an excellent meal for four with wine, the best value for money we’ve had to-date and good food too.

Some music from my I-tunes library on the computer which we plug in the yachts sound system, its good job we all like the oldies, Roy Orbison, the Eagles and Queen who along with mandatory nightcap lul us to sleep.

01102010 Tuesday Day 16

Breakfast and time for departure. Its blowing hard 25kts plus and has been all night as well as quite overcast. As we haul in the dinghy Lars notices one of Connies “Crocs” has already set sail having been blown overboard in a gust and is merrily tacking its way down the marina. A quick relaunch of the dinghy and the rescue crew are away the haul in the errant shoe.

Departing the dock is a little fraught for those of us untying the boat and left dockside.  The distance between pontoon and boat increases at an alarming rate resulting in Connie and I making leaps aboard that would have impressed any Olympian athlete!

As we head out of the Harbour the North Easterly wind picks up to 35 kts and were doing 12kts on the heavy headsail alone. A steep sea of around 2 metres is running having built up in the Gale that has been passing by us to the African coast over the last few days. When we reach midway between Gamora and Tenerife the wind changes direction and then starts to die, were down to 3kts and its time to turn of the tin topsail (The engine to landlubbers).

By the time we get to the the tip of Tenerife and start around to the windward side of the island and our destination the seas build along with the wind but now were heading directly into it. The now useless sail is wound in and slamming into the wall of waves that advance towards us we’re gradually grinding to a halt and only upping the engine revs keeps moving. We advance at a snails pace, 3-4kts and when not hanging on spend our time ducking from the sheets of spray blowing over the decks.

At last we arrive and it’s all very peaceful inside the harbour where we are directed to moor alongside a long pontoon running along the harbour wall. It’s a bit tight and gap were directed to looks barely 3 feet longer than “Dawnbreakers” 65feet also there’s still a stiff breeze blowing over the wall. Lars and the bowthruster do a great job and those magnificent leaping men are on the pontoon, mooring lines to hand and have it all done and dusted before you can say “is it time for a beer ?”

A walk to “town” shows it’s a typical Spanish development of apartment blocks, hotels, small souvenier shops, restaurants, a mini market (with English papers!) and the inevitable Irish bar. A quick shop ..  Brandy, Bread, Butter and a Telegraph then to the Irish bar for a beer before we wander back.

The place appears to be populated mainly by Thomson, Monarch and Easyjet passengers from the UK and is reflected by the continuous stream of Planes flying into the airport behind the town and in the menus offering full English breakfasts, Fish and Chips etc., thought there is a good cross section of alternatives with Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Spanish menus on offer.

We pick one overlooking the sea and take our pick of a Spanish restaurant with a very extensive menu that seems to cover from Curry to Chinese as well for good measure.

Position 28.01’.1820 North 16.36’.75.50 West - Puerto San Miguel