Bahia de Abona 28:09.6N 16:25.6W
Lotus
Thu 5 Nov 2009 16:36
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it's time to catch up with us folks, we've been a
bit slack on the blog recently but have had friends visit and very sporadic wifi
coverage.
Anyway, having spent a few days in Santa
Cruiz ordering new solar panels and a fast battery charging system(okay we
really spent days wandering around the streets, sitting in cafes drinking beer
and lying on the boat), we headed off in search of a free anchorage out of the
city.
On our first night we failed to find such an
anchorage, we thought we'd have a look in Candeleria harbour which the pilot
showed as a small fishing port, with slim possibilities for a visiting
yacht. However, we thought we might be able to pull up alongside a fishing
boat to raft up. On turning around the end of the breakwater and into the
harbour we discovered that it had been changed into a marina and already half
way in, with very limited space we decided the safer option was to find a
berth. We managed to shoehorn ourselves onto a tiny pontoon, really meant
for a 20foot boat; as there was no one about we decided to spend the
night. In the morning we were not only berated for occupying a private
berth which was clearly too small for us, but also for having swam in the pool
of a private club and for having a beer or two in the members only
bar.
Whilst walking in town we happened on a small
bakery with piles of 25kg of flour in the back store room. Having been unable to
find bread flour anywhere else we quickly purchased 10kg carrying it away in a
bright yellow flare canister.
John's old university pal and his family happened
to be holidaying in Tenerife and met us on the boat the next day. We left
the marina and had a fairly windless day, trying to get some sailing in with
them. We ended the day in Bahia de Abona, ferried them ashore in the
dingy and joined them for a few beers which was a nice end to a great day.
We returned to the boat at anchor and stayed put for the next two
days.
Bahia de Abona is some 20 miles south of Santa
Cruiz, a little village with purpose built swimming quays with exit ladders and
some great snorkelling off small cliffs and boulder slopes. The fish were
fantastic, many brightly coloured with electric blues, bright green and multiple
stripes - you really knew you were in warmer water here.
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