28:27.3N 16:14.8W Madeira to Tenerife

Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Thu 20 Sep 2007 14:15
16 - 17th September: Madeira to Tenerife (260M).
 
Only a light NE breeze was forecast but airline schedules for homeward journeys on Thursday 20th meant we had to leave though in retrospect it might have been better to wait another 24 hrs for the wind to increase since we had to motor for 24 hrs - Arthur who had put up a good show as the only dark blue in this otherwise light blue boat, had as planned jumped ship earlier to return to work.
 
Glacial calm sea, vividly royal blue in colour since leaving Portugal, and sparkling phorescence at night with a sky crammed with stars combined to make what is usually a monotonous  passage by engine exceedingly pleasant. The following day after a beautiful dawn, NE breeze returned and we were soon back making 6-7 knots for the last 24 hours. The only event just before dawn was an urgent course alteration on account of the risk of collision with a low lying star!  
 
The crew were well settled into boat routine and arrived with a almost a full quota of sleep. Moreover, all had shaved and showered long before arriving in Santa Cruz which is a miracle!
 
Spotted en route: Birds - Numerous Cory Shearwaters, a Great Skua, 3 migrating Heron, Manx Shearwaters, Bulwer Petrels.
                          Mammals - Numerous Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 large whale (unidentified),  a pod of Pilot Whales.
 
19th September: Tour by taxi through the beautiful forested Valle de la Orotawa and on to the spectacular huge expanse and volcanic plain  of the Teide national park (summit 3715m) and then to the attractive old part of Puerto de la Cruz and the not so attractive modern tourist area.
 
20th September: Edward Pank and Richard Genochio return UK; David Bostock is being joined for a few days by Angie his wife in the N of the island; I am tidying up over the next 2 days before returning to Shrewsbury.
 
So ends another over 60s outing. A wonderful start  to a gap year.
I return with John Smith, Jonathan Lane on 12 November; Richard Burbidge comes out 2 days later; and we set off for the Caribbean (Grenada) on 18th November 

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