After our delayed departure from Gibraltar we needed all the help we could get

 

Currently about 280 miles out from Las Palmas and it's Thursday 11am, our flights back with Easyjet are scheduled for 2140hrs on Saturday so it's a nail biting finish.

 

We had a frustrating day yesterday as the headwinds we had experienced since Gibraltar gave way to a wind void off the coats of Morocco. The forecast teased us with promises of winds further South to take is the last leg to The Canaries. To make matters worse the headwinds and lack of wind has left us to motor and motor sail almost depleting our fuel reserve.

 

We had no option but find that wind otherwise we wouldn't make our flights back in time. Yesterday evening as the wind from behind began to fill we tried time and time to get the downwind sail to fill and finally around 9pm we managed to get 4 knots of headway. When I can on watch at 11pm the wind built and with the wind directly behind we started to get some respectable speeds up to 8 knots and we passed the half way mark.

 

A few calculations now mean if the wind holds and we keep at least 6 knots then we will make Las Palmas around 8am Saturday so our planned big Friday night out as Ninja Turtles has switched to a big lunch on Saturday. There is talk amongst the crew of getting tattoos in Las Palmas and Han has sketched up a rough design that includes an anchor, a boat hook and a knife so this look like the favorite at the moment.

 

Here's hoping for fair winds, crew all in good spirits and we are eating like veggie kings

 

Next update tomorrow

 

Skip/Paul