NIGHT CROSSING FOM FUERTEVENTURA TO GRAN CANARIA, 26 Oct

The rally organisers decided that an evening departure from Corralejo on the North tip of the island of Fuertoventura would allow us to arrive in Las Palmas during daylight the next day. Night arrivals in busy ports is not the best option.

So we lifted the anchor in Corralejo at 17.00 and headed out into the inter-island channel with a setting sun and a rising full moon. The winds were gentle and we sailed into the night at 6 or 7 knots, until about midnight when the winds dropped completely and we ended up motoring as did our nine fellow rally cruisers.

The island of Gran Canaria loomed in front of us and then at 09.00 on the 27th October we started our entry to the famous ARC port of Las Palmas. We berthed with the rest of the rally boats on pontoon R. This was a frustrating "squeeze" between other boats and unfortunately resulted in the failure of our propulsion system. We were berthed but incapacitated. More to follow:

ISLAND TOUR FUERTEVENTURA

When we arrived in Corralejo bay (Fuerteventura) we anchored off the port and went ashore to watch the rugby.. Next morning we were treated to a guided tour of the island.

Could only be described as amazing, and the highlight was lunch in the very old capital of Betancuria.

WE ARE OFF.! ON THE ISLANDS CRUISE.

Initially we wanted to go it alone from Lanzerote to the start point for the Atlantic crossing, which is in La Palma.

However after several event cocktail parties in the Marina Lanzarote, meeting the fellow participants and the amazing Jimmy Cornell ( event organizer) with his wicked sense of humor and wit, we just had to join them on the island hop.!

So the first leg of the Islands Odyssey was from Lanzerote to Fuerteventura. The winds were SE and sailing could only be described as "champagne sailing".

More to follow....

WAITING AND PREPARING FOR OUR EPIC ATLANTIC CROSSING

So we are still in Marina Lanzarote. Having taken a trip home to do some mundane but extremely important 'estate management' ( do our tax declaration etc.!) we are getting the yacht 'more' ready for the crossing. We bought two more 100 Watt solar panels and a new MPPT controller. The Iridium-Go satellite phone is turning into a small disaster. The company who shipped it are Satphonestore in Florida and now they won't reply to my enquiries even though their shipments are missing.

Apart from this every day is "meet the neighbor yacht crew" day. Great fun talking to all the Atlantic Crossers who are congregating here.