Day 2 Position: N27.22,812 W15.53,54
PINBALL WIZARD
Nigel North
Thu 26 Jan 2012 11:38
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Pinball finally set off, late, at 1700
yesterday. It was supposed to be 1400, but after Alfie had given the
Skippers two broken pairs of glasses to Suzi to give to her man Rick on 'Tin
Lizzie' in the faint hope that this amazingly handy young man - who for instance
has just welded two inspection plates on 'Bulle's fuel tank next to us - might
be able to weld them, proved delaying material. Rick doesn't get up early,
to put it mildly. Lets say midday as the norm. But when he did, he
looked at the pile of broken bits and announced that it was not possible and
went back to bed; lay there thinking, then got up again and fixed them with
epoxy glue. Grateful beyond belief, Skipper went down to 'Tin Lizzie' to
thank them for their kindness - he charged about a fiver for all his trouble -
and was immediately invited in to admire his ten ton 36' boat that he had built
himself from scratch, shown the build photos, introduced to Shaggy the stray
dog, and left helpless with laughter at Shaggy's party trick. At the
command 'Heil Hitler' Shaggy would immediately raise one paw stiffly
vertical in a perfect salute (didnt think a dog could physically do
that) and sat there awaiting his reward. Rick and Suzi are working
their way around the big wide world, and have been here on and off for a few
years. Thinking the Skipper had fallen overboard, Alfie finally went
looking for him and joined in. Then the 'Bulle' crew - Belgians Patrick
and Anya - returned on board just as Pinballs crew looked like they might
actually leave, and Anya immediately began some serious horn blowing and
deck dancing to celebrate our departure. Clearly they had enjoyed a
refreshing lunch prior to this, as Anya who claimed to be unable to speak
English, suddenly started to. Then, at last, it was 'Let go for'd'
and we were reversing out from the pontoon - accompanied by a lot of horn
blowing and waving from Tin Lizzie and Bulle.
A quick stop to refuel next to a large shiny white
Norwegian boat, and we were off.
With a steady NE wind the genoa was poled out port
side and we made good progress downwind. But at 2300 the wind died
completely and we drifted in the Canaries Current southwards at 1- 1.5
knots. Then at 4am Wendy the Windgenerator whizzed into life again and PW
started moving - but not for long. Approaching the southern end of Gran
Canaria, the winds have been fluky and have now reversed completely to a
southerly right on the nose, so we are under engine again which is not what we
would wish. The forecast winds are for steady NE'ly, so this is probably a
local effect downwind of the mountains. The hope is that the prevailing
winds will return soon..!
Last night was split into 3 hour watches, and
uneventful other than a spectacular sky of a billion stars and sliver of a
moon. Some stars were even bright enough to reflect off the water giving a
glittering light trail, and the wake was marked by phosphorescence, with a
water temperature of 21deg. This will steadily increase as we creep
southwards. Our course is towards the northernmost of the Cape Verde
Islands leaving the opportunity to stop or continue on. We are both well,
have had some sleep, and Alfie has announced that he is enjoying himself.
PICS: Patric and Anya on 'Bulle'
 PW Crew
 Leaving Las Palmas
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