Royal Air Force Yacht Club

More news from Mark Breton and Amanda Pirie

We departed from Vila Real at the mouth of the Guadiana River late afternoon aiming for Isla Graciosa which is a small island just north of Lanzarotte - the fall back was Madeira but we didn't want to go there as the weather was still not that settled and we thought we could get stuck there. Distance to Graciosa was about 550 nm but to Porto Santo was

510 nm but then Porto Santo to Canaries was then a further 330nm.

The trip was fairly uneventful starting with a light beam breeze which turned NE and stayed pretty much up chuff for the trip. When the wind went very light we did turn for Porto Santo as we could sail that angle but again it changed so we gibed back towards Graciosa and made the decision to hold that course having lost about half a day.

Inevitably if we reefed at dark we didn't need to and if we didn't we should have - that's sailing ! Top speed achieved was on the last day with Graciosa in sight was 11 knots doing some surfing down waves, slowest was 3 knots which is tedious, the option was either to spinnaker ( umm bit lazy for that and it was dark ) or motor so we used some diesel in the light airs to ensure we arrived in daylight but almost all the trip was under sail - change for the better at last.  Overall trip was about 3.5 days which for dead downwind was acceptable.

Species seen -

• Dolphins - Common, Atlantic ( white ) , Risso
• 3 Minke whales - Does that make a tripod ?
• Turtles
• Flying fish on the boat ( Amanda did a Jonny Wilkinson with the first of those !  )
• Squid also washed on deck

At last the time delay digital camera finds the target

GRACIOSA

Great place to make your first landfall but ladies don't expect luxuries - no laundry ( A got miffed ), actually there are no roads, one shower and its cold, marina pontoons have no electricity or water even though the fittings are there. On reflection that's a good plan and it stops log jams of people who would simply stop there and never move again.

The harbourmaster - if you manage to find him - is of variable temperament although he was fine with us I was told that a Belgian chap got so annoyed with him he threw him in the dock ! Food for thought Hamble River !!!!!!!

Graciosa looking at the village

LANZAROTE

We left Graciosa making for Puerto Naos ( Arrecife ) which was cr*p and moved down to the very empty and expensive Marina Rubicon - again not really worth a visit.

( Arrival included my first sight of a corpse along with a Cop stood over same - fishing accident apparently ) Corpses are common due to the high number of African immigrants who nearly make it - I was told that they get close to the shore and jump out of the boat ignoring the fact that the water is deep and they can't swim.

GRAN CANARIA

We had been keeping in contact with some Sweedie hurdy gurdies and started to threaten to test their new fridge beer capacity so we moved on overnight to Las Palmas Gran Canaria where we loitered both at anchor and in the marina. Robbie Wilderspin and Jax joined us for a week bringing essential stores (tea bags and curry powder) but it was too windy to sail so we did Gran Canaria by car. Looking out of the car window down a 1000ft drop is outside my comfort zone. With either Robbie or me driving neither could keep up with the coaches on the twisty roads !  Again the produce markets were brilliant and visitors were impressed.

The work of the Craddocks can be found far and wide

After their departure the wind eased so we set off for Puerto Mogan to track down part 2 of fridge testing ( We found same when by car ) . Puerto Mogan is on the SW corner of the Island and sheltered from NE winds and rain is a very rare occurrence. It is very full of Germans and only a few Brits although you can still find all day breakfasts if you look.

With assorted discussions we decided to lift the boat for maintenance and planned the work. Lift out was not for a week so we cleared off on some southish wind to Santa Cruz de Tenerife a good sail after some motoring even needing to reef down in the lively conditions - not a great place southerly swell gets into the marina then when the wind is northish the ferries and cruise liners in the next dock make engine noises and diesel smells all night. Produce market was again fine despite the unrequested help from Jehovas Witnesses.

I decided to change my phone sim to Spanish so went to the first 3 providers, none could speak English but also didn't have 'pay as you go SIMS' so decided to ask for same in Spanish - the attractive young lady in the Vodamoan shop listened to my request then asked if we were speaking English or Spanish today ! Still failed as despite her having the SIM you need a passport to buy one ! Armed with passport I went to a nearer shop and am proud to have bought a Mr Happy SIM !!!!!!

Sailed from Santa Cruz to Marina San Miguel still Tenerife - its unfinished and located within the wind acceleration zone so very windy. The place is part of a golf resort and very very Brit, cod'n'chips, all day breakfasts, John Smiths etc, there's only one supermarket and its twice the price of anywhere else. It's full of fat Brits and token Wigan supporters. The only good points are good showers and proximity to the airport. From there we sailed back to Puerto Mogan GC and prepared for the lift out or we thought we had prepared.

Puerto Mogan Maintenance Lift out

We knew it was a DIY yard but I did not understand that I was :

• Banksman to the Travel Hoist
• Stevedore putting in the support shores
• Doing my own hull clean with the 3 phase jet wash
• Etc etc

When you put in the shores lashing them to each other is fundamental but you don't expect to use your own lines to do it - so having not brought any from the boat I was duly lifted up - Stood on the forks of the fork lift truck - and put back into the cockpit to extract suitable lines and then returned to ground on the fork lift ( no photos sorry ) now what about the EEC and Health & Safety at work etc !!!!

The hull was starting with barnacle which confirms my view that antifouls are good for about 6 months only.

We stayed on board but didn't sleep well - if there was wind it shook the rig which made me nervous - would my work on the shores suffice !!!! When it was silent you can here every creak from the boat / shores again making one uneasy.

We carried out some essential maintenance to the saildrive & keel and I picked up left over antifoul ( Jotun 60 ) from a chap who had over ordered so the overall drydock cost was just over €300 inc 6 days ashore. Very happy to be back afloat and in the marina.

Red Boat	Redder Boat

Now follows the high risk activity of relatives coming to stay..........