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Date: 21 Nov 2009 17:26:03
Title: Last Day in Las Palmas
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Today is the day before the start and the pontoons are just a hive of frantic activity, crews busy with last minute preparations; all the more impressive being the morning after last nights very enjoyable ARC party at the Sotovento Club.
Delivery vans bringing fresh fruit and veg have been arriving since yesterday and the quantities being stacked, washed and repacked dockside is truly amazing. Even our own delivery had us wondering where we would store it all, but after some ingenious engineering we have everything hanging in the saloon from netting. Saying that, we hope that the bungy cords hold the weight of, what certainly appears like, 500 apples, oranges, peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic, let alone the 3 banana trees! All of this is just what you can see and in every conceivable hidden space we have provisions and water stored, although the location of the Kit Kats and Maltesers are a highly guarded secret. In fact a futures market has already been established for these highly coveted items - 1 kit kat on day 15 can bought now for a beer in St Lucia, just wait for the price to rise by day 12!!

The good ship Tioram is almost ready to sail and it has been noted by quite a number of crews that we appear to be the most relaxed boat on our pontoon. This has a great deal to do with Tony and Tina having done so much of the preparation over the last month before the rest of us flew in. We are also one of the smallest yachts on the pontoon, only 54ft in the presence of a mighty Wally 80 (Tony's new dream boat) and a couple of 80ft + Swans and Oysters, so we have less space and hence can't pack as much as them, but we have great faith in our fishing abilities and a tuna a day should be sufficient! Saying that we will not go hungry even if we don't catch anything!
Tony and Mike have just gone off to the skippers briefing for final details of the start, whilst the rest of us are stowing final items, finishing our painting on the marina wall, but I think we also have to go back into town to get another 10 bimbos for the trip!! (loaves of spanish bread, before you think otherwise!!)

For the 4 of us who met 5 years ago to do the same crossing, the memories are flooding back, but there is still a great sense of apprehension towards the scale of our voyage. Our ARC virgins (Skipper Tony and resident beer monster Pat - only joking Carol!), despite hearing all the stories from the last trip are taking it all in their stride and are very calm about leaving tomorrow, but am sure that this evening the adrenaline will kick in.

Anyway its time to go and get that Bimbo and then rehydrate at the nearest bar, you never know we may be forced to have our photos taken again in return for a wine tasting session. Hopefully the next entry will be after the start and Tioram's home for the past month is back in the distance.

Love to all back at home from a hot and sunny Las Palmas. Let's go sailing.

Tina, Tony, Moira, Pat and myself Al.

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