LAS PALMAS – GRAN CANARIA                                      CONTINUATION #2

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."

- Thomas Watson (1874-1956), Chairman of IBM, 1943

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

How a few moments in time change things dramatically?

Las Palmas continues to impress. The local yacht club which graciously allows all ARC entrants temporary membership has WIFI, a great salt water swimming pool, sauna and a terrific restaurant. Juan the part owner of this restaurant has adopted us and makes sure we are eating his best food. One of the delights we discovered was Bermejo white wine from Lanzarotte and it is hard to come by in Las Palmas in the shops but plenty in the restaurants. We mentioned this to Juan and he promptly bought us some from his supplier at wholesale prices. Sexy bottle too!

We have spent all our time readying of the Atlantic crossing and apart from some great meals out have really been attending to duties.

The yachts continue to arrive here in Las Palmas. We have found out that it is now a record year with 243 yachts entered. The come in all shapes and sizes from sleek racing machines of 80’ long to older craft at 30’. There are now 7 or 8 Bénéteau 57’s in the rally. We keep saying it is not a race but our competitors keep moving weight out of the ends and to amidships!

All the seminars have started and I learnt more in 1 hour today about my SSB radio than I have in 4 years. I had some experts look at it in Malta this past winter and they installed a new ariel connection from the tuner to the backstay ariel and the people from Yachtfunk; an excellent German company who specialize in yacht communication, said it was plain no good as it was coaxial sheathed cable. I will have to replace it all over again. Boy I just hate all the wrong advice we get all the time.

Anyway you know what an Expert is don’t you? A drip under pressure!

Friday 16th November we spent the day on a bus tour organised by World Cruising the organisers of the ARC. Tremendous value €25 for the day, including a 3 course lunch with water and wine. Saw about 1/8th of the island including the remains of a huge volcano with a crater about 1 kilometre across and 200 metres deep. The nice thing was the cool clear air as we were high in the mountains complete with pine forests and the smell of the pine trees.

There are five Australian yachts in this years ARC. John Gilder & Sue Donovan off Storyteller (Bénéteau 57), Phil & Robbie Hearse off Blue Anteater (Hanse 461), Ian & Andrea Treleaven off Cape Finistere (Bénéteau 50),  Hans & Susanna off Mullee Mullee (Hanse 54) and Southern Princess (Bénéteau 57) and some surrogate Ossies; John & Sue Allison (Poms in disguise) off Swagman a Hanse 461.

‘Vale Swannee’

Saturday 17th November 2007 is a sad day. You will remember Lorraine Swan who has graced these pages for the past couple of years (Swannee) with our mate Bob Culbert from Marlborough New Zealand; Swannee passed away last Monday and was today buried in her home town of Wellington NZ. A gracious and lovely lady, we will miss her. Bob we are heartbroken for your loss.