Storm Force Ten then 10-up
Juno
Mon 25 Aug 2014 13:59
| 28:55.00N 013:42.00W After having left Juno to admire the west face of the Rock and get a gentle dusting of Saharan sand for a fortnight I went out early to prepare Juno for the arrival of Alison, Anna and Shumps. After her rather blokey debut, it was flattering to have admiring looks directed at the boat for other reasons than her sleek Discovery lines and colouring. After a big night in the excellent Queensway Bay marina restaurant we pushed away from the dock with a forecast of F1-F2 variable for the straits - thankful for a full 1,300 litres of fuel. We were delighted as the wind freshened a little better than that to F5 easterly. In the neck of the Straits this rose inexorably higher and higher. The girls retired below when the windex anemometer recorded 45 knots. With just her blade jib flying we roared out of the Med on this Levanta. We have excellent video footage of Simon helming (the autohelm wants to go below in a F10) in over 55 kts. The new shrouds certainly got a little stretching for the five hours for which the wind held up above F8/F9. I had looked at the long range GRIB and so kept assuring all parties (female) that we would be motoring by dawn. The sun set as we turned slowly southwards after the two TSSs.... a true yee-haa moment. Next day the swimmies and Yanmar were on and all was well. We quickly settled into a comfortable routine despite this being Anna and Alison's first oceanic trip. They shared a watch whilst Simon and I singled up. A great way to travel and just what the Discovery brochure had promised....including morning dolphins. Simon can be quite fidgety during along day at sea but his incessant fiddling with line, lure and swivels paid off as we heard the tell-tale whizz of the reel and we landed our first proper fish on board. Slipstream, best of boats, never saw the like. Afetr we had performed a textbook MOB practice drill in closing down the rigs and turning the boat, we had pan fried fresh Mahi-mahi on a bed of samphire and avocado. Juno's afterdeck was properly "blooded"! We arrived in Arrecife harbour after three days and 690 nm with our ARC flag flying. This brought Jeremy Wyatt, the ARC comms director and the new harbourmaster from Cowes(?) , both holidaying in Lanzarote, down to the water to take our lines. What a welcome. We avoided the fish at the tapas bar that night becasue it did not look fresh enough but enjoyed the local geriatric X-Factor contest taking place in the lagoon-side square. They can dance those septuagenarian senoritas. The next day saw the arrival of Popz, Chris, Hatz and three friends. They were out for the bank holiday to enjoy Popz's 25th birthday. Great times. We swapped a relaxed and leisurely double couple situation....... ......for a 10-up gaggle and had a ball. Hattie verified the holding capacity of the forward black tanks. 80L exactly. Lanzarote on a yacht is about Puerto Calero (magic) and Papagaya beach. We sampled both. All in all this was a magical passage and a memorable party. Alison and I waved everybody off after the weekend and spent a leisurely (?) day or two shutting Juno down for a lonely two month spell. They were the best shore-lines I have ever arranged. |