Sailing from La Gomera to Las Galletas, Tenerife 22 to 23 June 2011

After installing the new mainsail, we left the San Sebastian Marina at 1600hrs and motored a few miles south to Playa de Oraja where we had a welcome swim and anchored for the night
At 0920 the next morning, 23 June, we left the anchorage and raised our new mainsail - gleaming white in the morning sun. The weather forecast was for a light northerly and as there was hardly any wind we had the full mainsail up. Very soon we started to see the occasional white horse but still very little wind. Then without further warning the wind speed shot up to 30 knots and the waves suddenly increased - we were yet again caught out by the infamous acceleration zone. Hastily put two reefs in the main (found had not threaded the leech block properly, but luckily was still useable)
and unfurled a tiny mount of Genny
Once we had the sails set properly, we had an exciting fine to beam reach to Tenerife in the mainly NNW wind - a very good test for our new heavily reinforced mainsail.

Please click on arrow to start video clip


After an hour or so the wind gradually lessened and, 5 miles off the Tenerife coast we had to start the engine.
Anchored off the fishing port of San Juan on the west coast of Tenerife and had a swim. Had intended to spend the night here but did not trust the anchor holding , especially with a forecast increase in wind strength.
So raised the anchor and motored south past covered banana plantations and lots of tourist developments.We were entertained by several pods of Pilot Whales which swam lazily close to us.

Moored in Marina del Sur, Las Galletas by 1900 hrs in berth 70 on pontoon 4 which has finger berths. There is a considerable surge in the marina - memories of El Hierro - but the fingers are more substantial and hopefully will be strong enough to withstand the lurching movements of Dutch Link.

Had a stroll along the narrow beach inside the harbour - crowded with people till late at night most of whom were barbequing and having fun. Came across a group of musicians playing Spanish songs on various types of guitar and an accordian - very pleasant to listen to. It was the San Juan Fiesta.

New Mainsail finally raised on DL 22 June 2011

Thomas, the San Sebastian Sailmaker called us to say that the new mainsail had arrived from Lee Sails in Hong Kong and that we should bring the old second reefing block on Monday 20 June for transfer to the new sail. So we left our very enjoyable anchorage in Valle Gran Rey on 19 June and motored to the anchorage Chinguagime for the night. Monday 20 June we moored in San Sebastian Marina early morning and Thomas came round to pick up the block and take some measurements. Tuesday 21 June, all the reefing blocks and the luff connectors to the Fedrickson mast track had been sewn onto the new sail and the sail was hauled onto Dutch Link
The sail was then hoisted - great relief that the dimensions were OK - and Mike went up the mast to mark off the sacrificial spreader protection patches.
The sail was then lowered and taken back to the sail loft by wheel barrow
where Thomas cut and stuck on the patches
The blocks for the leech tensioning lines at the head of the sail
These blocks were covered with a velcroed flap. In order to ensure this does not come loose and flap in the wind , Thomas used his very powerful new industrial sewing machine to sew the flap - the needle had to penetrate the very heavily reinforced head of the sail
The video clip shows how easily the needle penetrates - we have a good sewing machine on board, a Sailrite - but this machine would not be able to do this.


Late Tuesday 21 June the mainsail was back on Dutch Link
23 June we reinstalled it on the mast track and installed the full length battens and reefing lines . We were very fortunate that the whole exercise was completed with very little wind








So now we are free to leave La Gomera and will be looking for a weather window to sail to the Azores

Hike La Gomera Arure 18 June 2011

Caught the 1010hrs line 6 bus from Valle Gran Rey to Arure on Saturday 18 June and passed under the aquaduct at 1015hrs at the start of our circular hike (altitude 826 meters)Soon we reached the Ermita/ Mirador del Santo which was completed in 2008 and provides amazing views down to Taguluche.
Soon after the trail splits - our trail descends steeply to the village of Taguluche - the first part of hike 33 in Rother's Walking Guide.

Part of the descent is via rough stone steps


Traversing a narrow ledge
and then continuing the descent
Wonderful views all the way

Eventually reached the village of Taguluche (190 meters above sea level)
Arrived at restaurant Taguluche, the start of the next leg - route 34 around the western flank of Roque de Mona
The route first goes to the Ermita San Salvadore
where we used the facilities for our picnic lunch

The next part of the route proved to be very poorly marked
following vague goat tracks along the loose scree slopes of Roque Mona
Past some very impressive dikes ( volcanic intrusions into sometimes vertical cracks in the original rock. The softer surrounding rock erodes leaving these natural walls)


The track, dropped to the floor of a barranco, and then the cairns disappeared
We decided to follow the Barranco upwards, involving some scrambling
Occasionally we came across some stones in a group on top of larger rocks - a cairn or not a cairn?
At a certain point, a dry waterfall blocked our route so we were forced to do some serious scrambling to find a route upwards. This proved to be more exciting than desired when seemingly solid rock handholds came away as one pulled on them.
However, we eventually reached less steep slopes on top of the rock
and followed a convenient goat trail to the road above.

A short walk down the road brought us to the start of the third and final leg of the hike - the spectacular section of the GR132 - route nr 35 in Rother's Guide which would bring us back to Arure
Views of the village of Alojera
The route climbed eventually giving views of Taguluche and the Ermita San Salvador far below to the left of Roque de Mona
Time for a break

The well marked route led us up to the base of very impressive cliffs.





This section of the travers amazingly had palm trees growing alongside
The narrow traverse continues

The narrow traverse on a ledge below the cliffs hardly seems wide enough to use - and kept our adreneline levels up - especially as when the path was sloping and covered in loose stones


Some strange plants thrive on the rock faces
Climbing in steep zig-zags to a higher terrace



Finally arrived back at the Mirador and Aquaduct after a thoroughly memorable hike. We had just ordered refreshments at the restaurant by the bus stop in Arure when the line 6 bus arrived (30 minutes earlier than the driver had told us on the outward trip) to take us back to Valle Gran Rey.
Had a celebratory meal at restaurant in Vueltas - very pleased with ourselves.