23:45hrs Monday 19^th November

Las Palmas Marina

Amazing sail down from Lanzarote. Steady F4/F5 from the North East, perfect conditions and we achieved a steady 7knots all the way down. At reception, they were waiting for us on the dock and we were in our berth with admin complete within a half an hour. We found a cool Tapas Bar in the old town last night which even Oliver enjoyed! Today was busy. A combination of registration, cleaning, visits to the chandlers, lectures on power management and our safety inspection. The safety inspection went fine – we need to buy some whistles (literally) and lights to attach to sling. Apart from that, we are in good shape.

Power management briefing was excellent, that is until a question was asked at the end about the amp usage of a deep freeze, not something we will have a problem with……!

We are surrounded by 50ft+ boats on dock 17, some very impressive – this is not the place to come if you have an inferiority complex! Place is very sociable - Francis from Mary B (Kinsale) just dropped by on the way from the pub to say hi and they are another 42 footer. They arrived tonight and are moored opposite. Earlier we had a drink with a dutch guy (Pleus) on a X-55 which is two boats along. Reports from the fuel dock suggest absolute chaos so we might give it a day or two yet then join the queue.

Plan for tomorrow is a combination of further briefings on Provisioning and I think Communications followed by making a start at provisioning ourselves. Boxes have been arriving on the dock all day. Oliver leaves tomorrow evening and Paul arrives. Louis and Richard arrive Wednesday.

Brendan