Nov 12 2013

28.57.75N 013.32.36W

 

 

We are currently sitting in the marina Lanzarote which is under construstion, facilities are portacabin style and it’s a dusty noisy place to be.  But we are happy, as part of the Odyssey rally deal we get 7 days here for free, for that price we can put up with a few inconveniences and we are being treated pretty well, it’s a small enough group to feel like a commmunity of sailors.

 

 

There are 20 boats on the rally, we all leave on the 17th and head for Martinique (2600 nautical miles on he rhumb line but actually we will sail nearly 3000 because the best trade winds are not on the direct path).

 

We have crew!  My cousin Jenny and her partner Brian have joined us and are busy helping with the preparations and attending all of the pre rally seminars along with us.  The kids are having a blast, there are TONS of other little people around, Asia has found herself surrogate mother for a week to the cutest wee red haired Irish girl, Moxie hosted about 10 kids last night for trampoline practice.  Hectic, noisy, friendly, stressful, busy it’s all going on.

 

There was a welcome reception held a couple of days ago, free beer!  Anyway Denise was cornered by some friendly chap called Michael Thurston off of an Aussi flagged boat, in the conversation our home town Otaki was raised, OK so he’s been to Otaki – small world.  Actually went been to Otaki in 1976 and he went there and bought a yacht.  So this is the part where I nearly passed out, Otaki has a beach but no port, no marina, it’s not the yachting capital of New Zealand, and although being only 7 years old I knew exactly which boat he bought (Riptide), the address is was at 142 Mill Road, and the great man that built, raced and owned her and who inspired me to do what I am doing now, Douglas Beck – my Grandfather!  I still cannot believe it, my pulse quickens every time I think about it.  Grandpa, he’s sending me a message from beond, what a destiny, I’m so happy (and teary eyed right now).