Blog week ending 21st November

Nightsong
Fri 20 Nov 2009 16:57
Dear Blog
 
Well we have passed all the safety checks, Tony B's head is OK, we have gone for a test sail, done a man overboard and fire drill, entertained Tony R's wife Mandy and Tenerife friends (and longterm residents) Anthony, Lorna and Chris and are all ready to leave Sunday morning. Crew of Nightsong photographed by them this afternoon
 
It has been hard work and we haven't stopped - disproving the thought that a week was too long to prepare for this voyage. The worst problem has been the Iridium satellite phone, which has never worked properly but which turned out to be a faulty wire between the computer and the converter box (found by the great guys from Mailasail). Even today problems still persisted with the bowthruster not working which with help from Northshore we found out to be the cockpit switch - Tony B has done a great temporary repair so that I don't make a fool of myself coming into Saint Lucia!! Otherwise we don't need the bowthruster for 3 weeks!!
 
Forecast is for 15-20knot easterlies on Sunday increasing on Monday so we should have a good start. I'll try to post a blof with photos of the start before we leave GPRS range - and only have expensive iridium satellite.
 
The partying has been fun with a colourful opening ceremony on Sunday - some of the 39 countries flags show in this photo
 
We also had a fancy dress party on Wednesday with us appearing as Tintin, Capt Haddock and the Thompsons see photo below. Well done John in thinking of this and making the great dog Snowy!
 
 
Best bloke award was won by John our Aussie friend from Lanzarote who appeared as Moses - pictured here with his wife Helen and 2 of the 3 children who are going on to OZ after St Lucia
 
Final thoughts about the Canaries of which we visited all 9 of the inhabited islands.
 
Surprising lack of wild life - the only day we really saw a lot was the day coming back from La Palma with the Wicksteads and Chadds. Altho' we did see turtles with Sarah and Tony off the W coast of Fuerteventura. No flying fish have come on board yet  - but we did have 2 squids on the passage from Lagos to Porto Santo
 
Also surprising lack of fishing boats or pleasure boats - that I have already commented on. Perhaps due to the fact that the original inhabitants of these islands were exiles from the outposts of the Roman Empire, all miles from the sea (rather like us Brits sending convicts to Australia) - and the seafaring traditions of the Spanish never overcame this fear of the sea. Very strange!!
 
AJB                                                                                                                            20/11/09