November 15-November 28 2021
After 2 weeks of ARC preparation, courses, boat inspections parties and fireworks the start finally arrives. Only one problem … no wind. The bane of sailors. Most people think that sailors biggest fear is that “vicious storm“ and while storms make for exciting movies ;racers and cruisers universal worry is a lack of wind.
Sunday brought a parade of beautiful boats and the locals turned out for the annual sendoff.
Meanwhile back at the dock we castoff for the start of the race and motor sail to our first anchorage on west Gran Canaria , Puerto de Sardina. Then the next morning motor sail to Tenerife to explore the most populated island of the Canaries.
Tenerife:
The largest island with the largest population; has the tallest mountain in Spain, Mt Teide. It is a volcanic island with harsh volcanic landscape. Her beautiful sandy beaches are created out of imported sand from the Sahara.
The people are friendly . Santa Crus ,the capital, is fun to explore with numerous parks, walking trails and interesting architecture . One of the most famous buildings being the Auditorio Tenerife, stunningly beautiful.
We spend the next few days exploring Santa Cruz and getting Infinity ready for the crossing.
On the way down from Ipswich Infinity was the largest sailboat in every marina … until we arrived in the Canaries. Soon you see what you always knew that someone else always has a bigger boat. Unless you’re Jeff Bezos but then it is only a matter of time before someone has a bigger boat than Bezos.
As they say it is not the size but the way you use it and enjoy it.
Gomera:
Cold rain in Santa Cruz for the past 2 days put snow on Mt Teide . We sail down to Los Cristianos and find a rolly anchorage for the night. In the morning we catch a Fred Olsen ferry to La Gomera for a tour of San Sabastian, Columbus’s reported departure point.
We saw a small Columbus statue but no church or big memorial. It is almost as if the island is not interested in celebrating Columbus or his history. The bay is closed to yachts today but offers great protection and would have been a sanctuary for 3 small wooden ships.
Exploring the town we meet 4 ex military guys who are entering the Atlantic Challenge, a rowing race from Gomera to Antigua. Unbelievable …always the unexpected on our travels. Makes our trip look like a luxury cruise.
See you on the other side.