Portugal boat work in Las Palmas!

The Bay of Biscay crossing, a couple of weeks earlier, was a disaster in terms of our shifts and structure of how to handle the longer passages. Then it was only talks about 300 NM. Now we were facing a 700 NM sail and we've tried prepare as much as possible. And the small changes we actually did were all that was needed (Thank "god!"). We waved Caroline good bye at the bus stop and went directly to shop some food for the passage. Then back to the boat and we set sail shortly afterwards...

Last supper?

The passage from Sines in Portugal to Las Palmas in the Canaries did take us about 5,5 days. Which could have been about half a day shorter, but we really tried slowing down (yeah, I know. Slowing a sailing boat down. Who does that?). But we really wanted to come into the marina during daytime. Which of course we didn't do anyways.

The passage was calm and a smooth ride, most of the way, the wind turning and going back and forth, more from the west, then more from the east, resulting in more sail changes than I have ever been known to do. Like, one change a day. Ish. But overall, not that much that did happen. We "only" got to see dolphins one time and we barely had any close encounters with any other boats, big or small.

The shifts worked out perfectly and after 5,5 days we were not even tired, tired of each other or the sail. It was, like mentioned, over all a very satisfying sail. A little morale boost as we caught the first Mahi-Mahi as well. Small one, but enough to get us one piece of "fish stick" each. Some Aioli and lemon and the sail was completed!

The boat handles well and the wind-vane seem to do it's part better then ever, still some minor fixing needed but we are getting there. Slowly but steady! It feels much better at this time to start the long sail from Las Palmas to Brazil, knowing that we do not need to worry about the steering (well.. "hands on" at least!) !

The weather in Las Palmas has been around 25 degrees and partly sunny and cloudy. Water is warmer and it feels really good knowing the winter is slowly coming to all at home. Not because we want you to feel cold. Absolutely not. Just that we chose the right way to sail (south!) and not to some colder place. Even though we are setting course towards the horn of South America. Well... Can't win 'em all I guess!

Las Palmas Marina is known for their great Facilities to get stuff done on the boat. But it is also known for attending the ARC (Atlantic rally for Cruisers). Which means there is about 200+ sailing boats headed for Caribbean that are prioritized in the Marina. I have therefore, pretty much, every day gone to the marina office, begging to get allowed to stay some extra days. The Marina is dirty cheap and it is always so much nicer fixing the boat when you are in a marina if you need anything or just need the dock to "hold your stuff" for a while.

We have been here now for a week, or a little bit more. And Marina have now asked me not to show up every day. "Just stay! We can't take care of your little boat every day!" - Thank you! It seem we are alright to stay for some additional days. But I have a feeling we are getting kicked out quite soon. Either way, we are more or less complete with a loooong list of "to-do's" that has been haunting me since long. Since Norway most of the stuff. I've always just said; "I fix it in Portugal". Which, obviously I haven't. Haven't found anything useful in Portugal. This place seem to have it all. So we pretty much been hammering down a list of about 50 things to a bare minimum.

Pretty much just food shopping, Diesel/Petrol refill and Water maker to be installed. Maybe water maker will be "next lap in Portugal". We'll see. We are quite okay to just relax a couple of days now!

Of course new Grill and working light in the aft, known as "Barbeque light!"

The days have been long and the nights way to short. But we are really getting along with our marina neighbors and we are all boats pretty much working as crazy to get our boats ready for the big crossing. Some more than others. But still. All working. At least some of us. Okay. Most of us. There is like one or two boats that are not working very hard. But they seem to get involved with other projects and are always ready to give a helping hand. Which is much appreciated. Either if it is just with a tool or an idea.

Like this old boat from 1906 - completely rebuilt by the Slovenian owner as it was completely rotten.. He found out on the sailing here from France a year ago...

We are also awaiting Jonathan's dad that will join for a weekend. He will join at 18th of October. The 19th we'll be sailing from the north of the island to the south. A good days sail only. Spend the rest of the weekend there and then head towards Kap Verde.

Kap verde is about 900 NM away and we expect this little journey to take about 6-7 days. Well there we'll just try to adjust to "firm ground" for a couple of days before we once again set sail towards Brazil. A mere 1500 NM sail. But as we are a little on time pressure, we've decided to extend this sail, a little further south to Salvador. About 2000 NM from Kap Verde. An expected journey of about 15 days. Finally some good, relaxed and exiting days at sea without anything else but books, ourselves, our fishing lures and hopefully delicious food (now possible to be cooked on our barbeque!) !

We've have a way to long "shopping" list that we also been doing our best to fix. Getting us all from the above mentioned Barbeque to additional chain for the Colon (about 100m in the chain locker now!) and new Dinghy and of course, screws, screws, screws. A lot of them. And then some more. Always seem to need the ones that we don't already have. And we have a lot. But never the ones we've seem to need.

One of the bigger issues on the boat was the forward toilet. Something we knew we were to stabilize and getting some new hoses for. A job well done - but not something I wouldn't want my worst enemy to do. Years and years of old... "stuff" to clean and redo!

The Colon is a new boat from when He... She?... It...? hmmm... The Colon have had a great "face lift" since we (WE! thats it. Much Better!) left from Norway. Slowly but steady getting there. Looks real good now!

The Colon starting to take great shape! Never looked as good and felt so "complete!"

Yeah, I'm guessing this is the last you'll hear from us in about a month. So read it again! Save it. Mail it to a friend. Let the Friend read it out load. You'll miss us, but in these different cases, at least you'll have something to cherish and still keep close when you feel you miss us to much!

Finally some well deserved relax time and trolling for fish outside the marina. Got absolutely nothing. But always nice doing absolutely nothing...

Until then ! Hasta luego, manana or something like it! No need for Spanish now when traveling to Brazil. They have the "pretend" laguage of Portuguese which is very, very hard to understand. Specially if you do not speak it! Just saying!

Talk soon!

Over'n'out!

//Ludvig