Sulana - Log Day 1 - The Crew and the Start!

Hello and welcome to the Friends of "Sulana".

After the cruise down and weeks of preparation, the loading of stores,
including amazing amounts of food, various seminars and loads of parties,
the 2010 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers finally started at 13.00hrs. on Sunday.

233 yachts crossed the start line in three large groups and set off in a
Southerly course down the length of the Island of Gran Canaria.

Our crew includes Alan and Sue, the owners, Fiona and James, two of their
children, and hands, Peter and Ben.

We will send a couple of pictures to our gallery showing the crew and the
Fruit & Veg market scene of stores swinging in hammocks below decks, taken
just before we left our berth in the marina.

The start made a colourful scene with spinnakers flying in the light
reaching conditions. "Sulana" made a fine start in clear air half way down
the start line, after a maroon rocket fired from the Spanish corvette
committee boat.

As the sun set we were making good speed among the leading group of our
class. The plan is to sail south, avoiding the wind shadow due south of the
islands and carry on for some 500 miles to pick up the trade winds which we
hope will carry us across the Atlantic to St Lucia.

By 20.00 we had covered 50 miles of the 2,900 odd miles of this voyage.

Bye for now,

Peter and Alan