Back in Lanza

Karinya
Tim And Vicki Schofield, Captain Cal 7 and Jess 4
Thu 14 Oct 2010 19:18
28.55n 13.42w
 
Hi All
 
Well we are back in Lanzarote, had a rather bumpy fast passage back here. We were very fortunate and got the wind coming out of the NW which meant going NE was ok. There have been some big Atlantic storms, so the swell was 20-25ft, when the periods were long it was fine, but as the waves enter the gap between the islands they build up steeper and shorter, so hence the bumpy.
We left at 3.30 in the afternoon and did the passage 3 hours faster than anticipated. We arrived at Rubicon marina at 6 am still dark. just before the marina we heard someone calling us on VHF and answered, but they did not answer back, just before the marina breakwall we saw a 55ft German monohull anchored just at the entrance....in 15ft waves, we thought this was silly and avoided him to get into the breakwall. The wind was still howling and we tied up at the fuel dock and went to sleep for a few hours. When we woke up we saw a helicopter in the sky and then saw the German boat banging into the breakwall, the coastguard boat had a tow line on them and was trying to drag them off in those seas, pretty manic and rough. I'm glad he did not get back to us on the radio, cause we would have tried to help and probably both of us would have landed on the rocks.
Anyway they managed to salvage the boat and get it out of the water before it sunk.
We spent a few days there, swimming in the pool etc then went off to a small island just off Fuerteventura. The swell was still running so the anchorage was a little rolly.
Today we sailed up to Puerto Calera, on the way in we almost rammed into a racing sailing boat. They hosting the world championships (all the pro sailors with the fancy gear) we did not know we were sailing into the middle of the race track, and this boat tacked heading straight for us. He probably had right of way, but Vic was in the cabin teaching, so I had to quickly turn on the engine and race out of the way. They were not happy, but neither were we, nobody said there was a race and we were only 1/2 a mile out from the marina entrance. Anyway collision avoided, but if I see the pretty boy I will introduce him (at close range) to his own prostate.
 
Today we shopped and tomorrow we off to Graciosa to meet the Winks for a few weeks.
 
Sun set on the crossing
 
Fancy night out at the steakhouse, is Vicki starting to fill her flowers
 
Kids all formal with clothes on
 
Only for the pics are they this friendly!
Blogs may be slow for the next week.
 
Bye for now.