A quick update

Salila
Peter Ablett
Thu 3 Nov 2011 11:38

Sorry about the lack of updates, but believe it or not I have had a very busy few weeks.

 

First my lovely daughter Liz came over to stay for a week, and we had a grand time driving around the island and seeing the sights. The best of which was probably the forest in the centre of the island and the cliff drive along the northern coast which is quite spectacular.

 

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We even managed a day out on the water with new friends Keith and Heather from “Sookie”.

Later Keith was hijacked by the Norwegians and ended up wearing their orange wig. Left to right is “Gary” (I’m afraid I cant spell his Norwegian name), Keith, and “Toby”. Great guys but dangerous party people...

 

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Then my wonderful sister Penny came out for a week, and after braving the perils of the Jabsco loo and the Sailors Bar settled down to some serious sight seeing, including the mini Sahara on the south of Gran Canaria near Maspalomas.

 

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Charlie arrived for a short week as well, and we had a great sail of about 50 miles over to Fuerteventura where we anchored for the night. The wind got up to 33 knots at times, but the good old Rocna anchor held us steady the whole time. At 0430 the wind suddenly dropped, so I was able to get some sleep. The next morning the wind was getting up again so it was time to raise said anchor. But it lived up to its name and found a rock to get wedged into. For 2 hours we tried every trick in the book, even reversing till the cleats complained. No joy. So I had to saw the chain off and leave it there. I’m still trying to find a local diver who will try and retrieve it, although I have a replacement reserved for me at the chandlery in case. The expensive joys of boat ownership eh?

 

Then it was back to the UK for a last visit before heading off into the blue, visiting family and friends and buying various boat bits that are expensive or unavailable here.  it was great seeing everyone, including Pete Bernfeld (who is shipwrecked in Fiji for the foreseeable future).

I also managed to have a quick look at the house, where the tenants are keeping it in good shape, and sorted out some tax things with the accountant.

It was the most fantastic weather when i came back, temperatures of 18 degrees and the autumn colours were stunning. England really can be wonderful when the weather is right.

 

But now I’m back in Las Palmas and trying to get the long list of boat jobs worked through before the crew start arriving. Will flies in on the 11th, Larry on the 12th, and Pete K dashes out of a meeting in Brussels on the 17th and comes here via Heathrow and Madrid. The ARC office has now appeared at the marina, a small collection of portacabins, and it opens on Friday for registrations. There are a fair number of ARC boats here now, but nowhere near the promised 250. Someone said a lot of them are weather bound up North, so its going to get very busy when they get here all at once. The marina is abuzz with the sounds of hammering, sawing and sanding, and the queue at the chandlery gets longer each day. Luckily I don't have any major works to do, but its still a long list.

 

More updates will follow now I’m back.