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Aislig Bheag - La Gomera To Tenerife 4th - 8th August



Monday 4th August

John and I got organized and headed off from Santa Cruz in La Palma at around 08.30 using twin head sails which we soon had to set to one side as wind veered round to port stern and full main sail.  As wind increased John reefed in the main to second reef and then almost knocked himself out hitting his head on the boom.  Despite this we sailed all day with wind gusting to 24 knots in the acceleration zone off La Gomera. Arrived in San Sebastian just before 18.00 in time to book in to the marina and go through the formalities yet again. Enjoyed a tuna pasta bake I prepared yesterday washed down with a chilled Chardonnay outside. 

5th to 7th August

We stayed in San Sebastian for a few days during which time we travelled on the public bus to Vellehermoso in the north marveling at the agility of the bus and driver negotiating the never ending trail of hair pin bends, snaking it’s was around the hills, often with breath taking drops at the roadside. There are lots of forest areas and again, houses built on steep hillsides.

As most sailors will know, much of the entertainment to be found on board is sitting watching fellow sailors coming into the marina and berthing their boats.  This pastime is always better when it is not you who is the one trying to do the parking.  In San Sebastian we watched in horror as one such skipper came into the berth opposite ours somewhat out of control. John went to catch his line and found himself having to fend the boat off the pontoon to avoid a demolition.  The stern bathing platform looked as though there had been a serious injury on board but the skipper assured us that it was in fact water melon which had clearly been the product of a sea sick passenger. The Austrian skipper and his ‘crew’ were clearly three sheets to the wind.  It was a charter boat with a very rotund Russian guest with his three young female companions, a further ‘helper’, the ‘fist mate’, learning how to sail. The Large Russian immediately stepped ashore and dived off the pontoon into the sea – never a good plan within a marina.  Without an easy option to get back out, he swam to a near bye jetty and crawled out on his hands and knees.  Quite a sight to see.  Their merriment continued well into the early hours of the following morning. 

After a few days exploring and enjoying San Sebastian we looked for a window of opportunity to head over to Tenerife.  The wind had been blowing hard for days but the forecast looked like it would abate on Friday the 8th August to allow us the chance to set sail.

Friday 8th August

We waited patiently all morning for the wind to drop enough to allow us to take down, remove one and put back up the head sail.  The wind didn’t drop. We decided just to head out and manage the two head sails together as we had done previously although not ideal.  At 13.00 we headed out in to a gale force 8 with winds gusting up to 37 knots. Quite exciting, however the head sail taught us that in this wind direction we needed both sheets on one side if we were going to try and sail with both set to one side.  After having to recover one from flipping over behind the other several times, John had to clip himself on and go and move the port sheet over to starboard. We then carried on over toward Tenerife passing Los Christianos and surrounding resorts before the wind dropped and we started the engine.  At one point we heard a loud slapping nose just off the starboard bow and looked to see a whale a couple of feet away smacking its tail on the surface of the water, we assumed to warn its two mates of danger.  Then the three whales swam together away from the boat rising and falling as they do.  A little too close for comfort for me, but an amazing sight to see none the less.  When we rounded the point at the south end of Tenerife the wind started to increase again and this time on the nose slowing down progress considerable as the wind quickly strengthened back up to a force 8 again. We are starting to understand the fickle nature of the wind around the Canaries and the impact of the acceleration zones close to the islands.  It took us quite a while to reach San Miguel, our destination, arriving about 18.00.  We both felt quite pleased that we had managed such a challenging sail and were happy to get ashore for a refreshing shower before heading out to a local restaurant for dinner. We had a lovely evening and chatted to a couple from Newcastle who had moved here a few years ago.  It is strange to be surrounded by so many Brits after hearing so few English voices for weeks. The following morning we said Hi to Daryl who has sailed directly here from Madeira to meet his daughter who is arriving from the UK for a holiday. 

I’ll be back in touch after our guests, Davis and Rachel have sailed with us for the coming week.

Alison



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