Position 29 13.05N 013 31.79W

27/9/11 – 2/10/11

Lanzarote is to the SE – several lava cones and exploded volcanoes can be seen from where we are anchored.  Isla Graciosa is very barren, with desert like features, prickly dried out bushes all nicely spaced apart, until you reach a hollow and then all jammed in together.   The cove we are anchored in has sandy beach and, at low water, rocky parts.   Windy here though, regularly F5.

Visited the local village/town – Caleta del Sebo - which is about 2.8km away.  It’s a one street town – well two or three.  All single story, bright white buildings.  Chapel has alter etc. all made out of sea things, anchors, sea scallop shells.   Fishing boat came in whilst we were in the town selling ‘sardinos ‘– little fish bigger than white bait but smaller than sardines, some of which Helen bought.  The means of transport for luggage seems to be wheel barrows, the same wheel barrows that fish were offloaded into –presumably taken to restaurants.  Also drying fish, not seen any for sale so not sure what people do with the dried fish. 

Playa Francesca is obviously where the two fishing boats, that we have seen so far, fish.  Right next door to the yachts and ours seem to have a particular affinity for them.   They bait the water and one of the fishermen looks down into a glass bottomed box to see the fish.  All the time he is adding more and more bait to the water.  When he thinks there are enough fish the fishing boat circle the spot letting out its net in a complete loop and then haul it in. 

Paul and I walked up part of the volcanic cone near the bay.  The ground was covered in cinders, it really was like someone had gone out with the coals from their fires and sprinkled them around.

Developed puncture in dingy and leak in water maker.  Puncture is around seam, fixed once and now got a leak in another part of the seam.  One of the pipes on the water maker split – I could hear a hissing noise, lifted up seat and water spurting out everywhere.  Paul cut off some of the tester pipe and replaced it but reminds us to get more pipe!

Paul helped Helen and Mark install their two solar panels on their deck.  Mark has kindly offered to go up our mast and replace our LED navigation light.  For some reason it is interfering with our AIS, so when we switch navigation lights on at night we lose AIS.  Paul says LED must be same frequency as AIS? 

Paul on the cinder cone walk.

One of the two local fishing boats fishing at our anchorage.

Baiting and spotting the fish!

Caleta del Sebo.

Chapel in Caleta del Sebo.

Drying fish.