Dear All,

 

Well its all your fault!  What is it we hear, one of the driest Septembers in the UK on record, winds continually from the East! Well that’s what scuppered our chances of getting to Madeira.

The big Scandinavian High Pressure that gave you the fine weather messed up the Portuguese Trade winds and stopped us getting to Madeira. Instead we waited in Cadiz, but to no avail. We finally left one week later and sailed or rather motored all the way to the Canaries. It took us four days and three nights to cover the 630 miles finally arriving in Lanzarote on Monday night.

The passage was fairly uneventful with little shipping.  I most enjoyed the night watches. The stars show without any light pollution was phenomenal. Shooting stars abound amongst the faster yellow satellites. I was able to try out my star Identification ap on my Ipad whilst listening to Pink Floyd. “Far Out”  I think the saying goes.

 

Lanzarote, we can quite see the attraction, warm sunshine and warm sea temperature. An eerie Volcanic landscape whish was created some 350 years ago after half the Island was covered in lava and the ability to buy British bacon! Oh that sizzle, oh that smell, somehow the Spanish have not quite cracked it.

Whilst entering Lanzarote we recognised a familiar boat. “TIME” she is a Lagoon catamaran and the last time we met was in a Southampton boatyard the day after we bought “Take Two” in 2005.

Peter and Josie were about to embark on their travels whilst we were learning how to sail, now nine years on they have settled in Lanzarote although TIME  is still  ready to take them on their next journey.  We too now are on our way.

It was good to hear of their adventures and travels and both Peter and Josie were a good source of information regarding the Caribbean. In all we spent two days in their most enjoyable company, we know we shall meet up again.

Also whilst in Lanzarote we meet up with a Portuguese family who are sailing the first Catana ever built back in 1980. They are embarking on a trip around the world complete with their son wife and grand children!

After Talking to Peter our next destination was decided. La Graciosa an island to the North east of Lanzarote but very remote with warm sea temperatures and crystal clear water.

Upon arrival we were not disappointed, a secluded anchorage a sandy beach. We had the anchorage to ourselves for most of the time! That is until the party boats arrive, their loud music, incessant chatter and young topless Spanish females make for a most  entertaining afternoon. Then at four o’clock, peace and tranquillity descend once again. The whole Island is a nature reserve with just one small town, a good introduction to Caribbean life.

 

 

We leave at midnight Sunday, 130 miles to the south west lies Las Palmas, our final destination for this the last leg of our trip, we have been away for 76 days and sailed 1,910 miles.

As I write this last blog I have to say what good sailing companions I have been fortunate to sail with, doubly so as one of them is permanent crew for the rest of my life and has become a total convert to this way of life.

 

There have been times when things have broken or for no reason refuse to work which is plain frustrating considering the length of time I have been preparing Out-Rageous.

We have had long periods of little or no wind on passage which has been tedious but has reaffirmed my faith in Mr Yanmar’s diesel engines, similarly when the wind has been right. Out-Rageous brings a smile to our faces as she launches off on some tremendous down wind sails when we eat up the miles.

We have met old friends and made new ones who are also going to cross with the ARC in November.

 

This will probably my our last blog for now unless something of newsworthy value occurs, thank you for reading them and sending your responses, although we could always do with more of those!

We arrive home on October 5th for three weeks before we return for “the crossing.” Whilst we cross to the Caribbean Lynn will be visiting Singapore to see her Granddaughter before joining us in the Caribbean.

 

P.S one event worth recording Gary fell in the marina at Lanzarote !!!!  but you didn’t hear it from me.