Arrival of new crew in Canaries

Christine's Atlantic Circuit
Peter Lansdale
Sun 25 Sep 2016 10:30
Weds 21st
These early morning flights are no good for me and I  arrived at Arriciffe somewhat jaded. However we pottered about doing shopping and washing and generally relaxing finishing off with cocktails for 5 until after midnight I slept well!! Sue and Terry departed the next afternoon with some sadness  and I felt I had lost some drinking partners! Still there was Lynn and I.
 
Fri 23rd General tidy up day washing etc. with a view to setting off to Negro to anchor the following day.
I had a brief look at the island layouts and soon discovered there would be some  40 mile passages which in itself was not a problem apart fro the fact that the winds were all north northeasterly so anywhere south you went we would have a windward leg to get back. The winds generally increasing to 20 knots plus as the day progressed.
 
Sat 24th
Set off at 0930, motoring with a light NE 10/12 knots. Felt a bit queezy maybe due to the Stugerons and the sea state. The wind picked up and we set the genniker. As the wind increased we could steer further south an were soon doing 6/7 knots. At 18/20 knots it was time to douse the genniker ( We were doing 4 knots under bare poles) Out came the genoa and we continued a pleasant downwind leg to Negros arriving at 1500. A quick look and we realised this was not a suitable anchorage in this wind and direction and swell, A quick U turn and we carried on to Tarajal which was only a further 10 miles arriving at 1700 Still windy but more sheltered under the lee of Tuineje Mountain.
Had a beer in the town and then a meal at the fishmarket restaurant Very good. Probably take a week to get the garlic aroma off the boat. Terry