Lanzarote to Gran Canaria
Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Sun 18 Nov 2012 21:09
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We have had a few days off and rather neglected the
blog since leaving Lanzarote. So here is a quick precis of the events since we
anchored for a chicken dinner off the southern tip of the island.
In the early hours
of November the 4th, we slipped away from Lanzarote under engine. As we cleared
the northern tip of Fuertoventura a light breeze began to fill in from the south
and we were able to motor / sail for a little while. By dawn, there was just
enough wind to sail without the motor and so we dutifully switched the engine
off and spent a couple of hours chasing the zephyrs and generally pointing in
the direction of GC.
After a while, we pinched ourselves to remind us
that we were, in fact, cruising. There is no need to wallow about when the wind
switches off as we would while racing. So back on went the trusty Volvo and we
motored towards Las Palmas.
Interestingly, for this 105 mile trip, we were
always in sight of land - mostly the northern coast of Fuertoventura - and Gran
Canaria, with it's impressive mountainous central terrain was visible from
over 40 miles away. And the final run in to Las Palmas was well rewarded with
visits from several pods of dolphins.
Karen had been remarking to others who seemed to
have been regularly accompanied by numerous pods of dolphins, that we had hardly
seen any - we had been visited by a single group, down in Cape St Vincent
on our way into the Algarve in September.
Well now the balance was seemingly being put
straight. For more than 2 hours, we were visited by a number of groups of a
dozen or more individuals. Our uneducated eyes were insufficiently trained to
formally identify specific species, but we are able to say that there were fat
ones and thin ones, each with discrete markings, so possibly some were common
Bottlenose dolphins while others were spotted, maybe Atlantic Spotted dolphins
(we have a new reference book to aid future identifications when we see
them!).Both species seemed happy enough and enjoyed the pressure wave off
Persephone's bow, with displays of jumping and some rivalry between individuals
to occupy "pole" position just ahead of the boat. The afternoon of dolphin
action dispelled informal fears that they might be put off by our bright orange
keel and rudder.
Arriving in las Palmas at dusk, we opted to anchor
adjacent to the marina in a dedicated anchorage between the marina wall and the
cruise ship dock. We passed a verry pleasant evening there, with a nice chicken
salad and a cheeky bottle of white rioja.
On Monday morning, we upped anchor in a new 25 knot
ortherly breeze we would have enjoyed sailing doown in, and registered at the
marina...to start our ARC administration. We were very noticeably back in
Spain, dealing with the municipal port authorities....long queues, loads of
forms, everything in triplicate, but all very politely done, and very cheap
too.
The ARC boats are gathering here day by day and the
atmosphere is building. As we write, the parties are starting to get going, and
new friends are being met. Peter and Christene Tanner from our very own F
pontoon inHamble are here with their J122, Oohjah, as are Janet and Paul with
Mathilda from the US and Russell and family from Madfish, whom we last saw
in April, again in Hamble! The rather swish Swan 48, Zen, seen and ogled
over by Nigel in Lanzarote has just arrived, and the special pontoon reserved
for the really big yachts (over 65 feet) is busy with a steady stream of
delivery vans bringing supplies.
So that's us almost up to date. Nigel flew
home for a last visit to Blighty to tie up some business ends before we set off
to the Caribbean.
Next week we vittle the ship, and Gav, Rich
and Mike arrive.
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