2016 Sail Las Palmas to Arrecife

1500 hrs Saturday 3/12/16 we left our berth in Lasp Palmas and, after filling the diesel tanks at the fuel pontoon, 

 

we set off on our 115 nmile voyage to Arrecife on Lanzarote. We chose to start our trip mid afternoon so as to ensure that we would sail through the gap between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote during daylight - there are often wind acceleration zones in the gaps between the islands and it is much easier to handle these in daylight.

Passed close to a ferry boat

 

Sailed for an hour or so after leaving Las Palmas but the wind then dropped to a light WNW 1 to 3 Bft, so we had to motor for a few hours

 

Beautiful sunset

 

By 2345hrs we had cleared the shipping lanes between Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura

 

For some time, we had seen lights directly ahead of us but there was nothing on our radar nor anything on the AIS. Finally, when we were a few miles from each other, our AIS told us that the lights were from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 2 and that it was on a reciprocal course making 12 kts - all lit up like a huge Xmas Tree. So when we were 3 nmiles apart, we called them up on VHF Ch16 and they politely agreed to change course - we passed a mile apart at around 0030 hrs.

 

By 00200hrs the wind had increased to a pleasant WNW 4Bft so we unfurled the Genny and started sailing

Dawn breaking as we approached the gap between the islands

 

Broadreaching in 15 kts apparent wind making over 6 kts

 

Grip files showing also our position ( blue dot)

 

Entering the gap

 

Shortly before this photo was taken we entered one of the infamous accelleration zones with the wind speed increasing fronm 15 to 30 knts in a matter of seconds giving the autopilot a problem ( we had too much sailup for these gusts) requiring a bit pf hand steering. Luckily the wind soon died down again to its previous speed.

 

The south coast of Lanzarote

 

1400hrs entering Arrecife harbour

 

We moored in Arrecife's new Marina de Lanzarote on berth K16 with the help of the very friendly marina staff after a trip of 115 nmiles in 22.25 hrs of which 9hrs motoring. Average speed 5.2 kts.

 

 

Sail Arrecife to Las Palmas 3-4 Dec 2012

December 3 the gribfiles indicated conditions would be very good for our sail from Arrecife on Lanzarote to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria - a 15 to 20 knot breeze from the NE

So at 1245hrs we left our anchorage in Arrecife - red arrow indicates Dutch Link's location

and headed out to sea

 for the 115 Nautical Mile downwind sail to Las Palmas

 

 with the wind forecast to be from behind, we kept the 2nd reef in the main (did not want to arrive in Las Palmas too early plus difficult to reef when sailing downwind with boom secured with a preventor) and poled out the Genoa

 approaching Punta Papagayo, the southern tip of Lanzarote

 Fuerteventura on port

 leaving Lanzarote behind

 sailing into the sunset

 the sun has set

 Breakfast time on a pleasant but fresh morning

 only 12.4 miles off Las Palmas, as our Ipad informs us

Las Palmas in sight

 La Isleta, north east of the port

 Moored at the Fuel Dock, Las Palmas at 1140hrs on 4 December after a 114 NMile pleasant downwind sail. Time taken 23 hours of which 3 hours on engine. Average speed 5 knots.

To our delight, who was on the jetty but non other than Nuno from the Azores. Nuno was on S/V Oasis during the Blue Water Rally and we had not seen him since then (2003). Nuno is now the Captain of the huge Sunreef 82 Cat mega yatch Houbara moored on the other side of the pontoon. He was fueling up and left shortly afterwards for the Caribbean

If you click on the below link and type "Houbara" in the box "go to vessel", Houbara's position will be shown plus info on the yacht

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/#

 We are now moored more or less in the same berth as last year in Las Palmas Marina - red arrow indicates Dutch Link's location

 zooming in

 zooming in

 We are now getting back into our Las Palmas routines and have already walked several times through the Parque Doramas and up the hill behind the marina to the S Korean Church

 superb spot for a workout

 Some photos of the Sunreef 82 as she left Las Palmas

 Nuno high-up in the top deck steering position

Sail Agadir, Morocco to Arrecife, Lanzarote 21 - 23 Nov 2012

Would have preferred to spend another week in Agadir but the Grib Files indicated that 21 November would be a good day to start our two day trip to Lanazarote in the Canaries - leaving it later, the wind was likely to drop and then be against us.


So we checked out first thing on the morning of 21 November and by 1330 hrs the lengthy but friendly check out process was complete and we cast off our lines helped as always by the very friendly helpful marina staff Hassan.
The wind was too light to sail for the first few hours and then picked up gradually from the NNE, as predicted

passed a local fishing boat. Luckily , unlike last year, there were not so many nets barring our exit from the marina

sailing into the sunset

once more AIS proved invaluable , allowing us to contact several ships who were almost on a collision course and who agreed to change course for us

approaching Lanzarote on the morning of 23 November.

Arrived at the anchorage in Arrecife on Lanzarote at 0930hrs 23 November after a very good trip. 

Total distance 226nautical miles covered in 44 hrs , motored 16 hrs 

Wind mainly from the NNE force 3 to 6.

Only issue was one of the straps in the Lazy Jacks broke allowing the reefed mainsail to sag over the boom - did an emergency job to secure it.

The holding here is very good - 5 meters water and sand.
This is fortunate as the first couple of days the wind was strong from the south - then we are on a lee shore and rolling a lot - reassuring to know the holding is good. With the wind in the normal northerly direction, the anchorage is very safe and comfortable

Used the old dinghy and outboard engine for the first time in a year - amazingly the 4HP Yamaha started first time

first time we landed the dinghy in the Naos port - a long dinghy ride.

thereafter we moored the dinghy off the rocks at the north end of our bay - had to be careful though as with a 2 meter tidal difference the first time we found the dinghy high and dry on the rocks!

Lydl and Ikea are close by

 our friends Riens and Ineke from S/V Zeezwaluw are anchored close by - last time we met was in the Azores in Horta