Fuerteventura to Las Palmas

Geir managed to get a bad cold while in Gran Tarajal. 

Our sail to Las Palmas therefore got postponed a few days. 

The past week things was pretty dramatic at times here. Just accross from our berth the local coastguard has their station. They have been out 3 times this week resquing migrants coming over on overloaded boats from Morocco. The weather has been nice with calm winds and thats when the migrants come. 

 

Migrants at the Red Cross station

When they arrive they are met by Red Cross on the quay for registration and heslth checks.  They get bussed off to camps where their requests for assylum will be processed.

Most of them are sent to Spanish mainland or returned to their homeland.

We finally got underway to Las Palmas. We departed from Gran Tarajal late friday (19.11) and sailed over night the 78 NM to Las Palmas. We arrived saturday at sunrise. 

We anchored just north of the marina. We were promissed a berth in the marina from monday - as by then the fleet of 150+ sailboats taking part of the ARC race had departed.  At one point wind picked up and we and a few other boats dragged the anchor. We did a couple of new anchoring attempts in a less  exposed part of the anchorage and found good holding. We slept peacefully the next two nights. 

 

Alcaravaneras - anchorage, Las Palmas

No - that’s not Santa

 

Monday morning Geir went into the marina office where a long queue already had developed.

After 45 minutes we had received a berth and paid to stay for the next 8 days.

Back out to the boat, dinghy & motor up on deck and we sailed into our berth.

We will stay here the next days and sail straight from here to our "winter-berth" in Puerto Mogan.

Our berth is located right by Sailors bar, toiletts/showers and a coin laundrette.

So were finally couldhave all our clothes washed. 

 

 

We have had visits from our friend Per - LA7FAA - who is visiting Las Palmas to survey a boat 

he is interrested in buying. It looks like the deal might come through for him, but he says there is lots of "Red tape" when buying a boat with a Spanish flag.

Great meeting Per, LA7FAA, here at Sailors Bar

Have had a few radio skeds up to Norway around 0930Z on 18.141. Very variable conditions.

While we are in the marina even worse conditions.

Lanzarote to Furteventura

 After 7 days in Marina Rubicon we filled up water and diesel tanks left the the 8. November.
We motored just a short distance over to Playa Papagayo where we anchored for a few days.

Playa Papagayo

After a week at anchor we set sail southwards to the "capital" of the island of Fuerteventura,
Puerto Del Rosario. We had tried to book a berth in the marina by email and phone, but had no response at all. When we arrived we were welcomed by the harbour police and they offered us several vacant berths in the marina.

Approach Puert Del Rosario

Well moored in the marina

 We spent 2 days in the marina and did some shopping and filled up our water tanks.

The port was nice and resonably quiet, being in the town center. We paid 20 Euros a night
for the berth incl water and electricity. There was no WiFi and no showers.
But we are lucky to have a boat with a good shower both indoor and at the bathing platform on the stern. As we left Rosiario we passed this nice sailing cruise vessel.

Sailing cruice vessel

Departing Puerto Del Rosario

From Rosario we sailed 4 hours sothwards to the town of Gran Tarajal where we anchored the first night. The anchorage turned out to be pretty rolly and we didn't get much sleep through the night.
So the next day we went into the harbour marina. Again we were offered several berths and we found one well sheltered and a place very quiet, we slept like loggs the next nights.

Gran Tarajal anchorage

Gran Tarajal marina

 

The rates here at Gran Tarajal is very low. 13 Euros a night for our 12m long boat. And thats incl.
water and electricity. There are toilets and showers here, but no WiFi. But 4G signal is good.
Our intention was to sail onwards to the next port of Morro Jable, but again we have had no response
when trying to book a berth. So we decided to remain here until monday afternoon.

The plan is then to depart for Las Palmas. It's a 15 hour sail.
We have to anchor there, as the marina will be open only for the boats participating in the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers).
We are stopping there to meet our friend Lars Hedman who is there with his boat Sandvita.