Colin_S
Well-Known Member
Back from delivery trip of yacht from Majorca to Lanzarote and got to say I had an amazing time.
The yacht was a Jeanneau SO 37 purchased by a friends sister who lives in Lanzarote. 2 of us flew out Saturday 13th and the remaining 2 joined us Sunday. Most of Sunday was spent checking and preparing the boat and included tensioning the rig properly - speculation suggested that the previous owner had slackened off the backstays to stop them rubbing on the bimini.
First half of the trip was a leisurly run out to Gibralter and included an overnight in Ibiza and a second stop somewhere on the Spanish mainland (name escapes me)
Reached Gib on Friday afternoon and spent a fairly leasurly 24 hours eating drinking and restocking. Managed to pick up a Whisker pole from a local chandler and a good second hand spinnaker via an ad in the dolphin trips office window. Tried, unsuccesfully to haggle over the price of the kite but the seller said he would rather burn it than give it away. I did proffer a lighter on the basis I wanted to witness this event but that went down like a lead balloon.
Set off Saturday eve for a fairly uneventful run down to the Canaries. Biggest concerns were lack of wind for first couple of days resulting in fuel situation becoming a concern and a boat appearing to shadow us on the radar close to the African coastline. The wind picked up for most of the remainder and we managed to sail pretty well the rest of the way.
Reached the top of Lanzarotte Weds evening and spent the night on a small island called La Graciosa and completed the final run down to the bottom of Lanzarote the next day. We were met by the new owner and a few friends in a rib a couple of miles out and the wind picked up nicely for a final close hauled blast into the marina, an excellent finish to a great trip.
Highlights of the trip.
Hitting a bank of fog about 2 miles out from Gib. Visibility went down to about 100 yards for a while.
The size of the swells in the Atlantic.
The various encounters with dolphins including a pod of about 20 all jockying for a turn on the bows.
La Graciosa. It was like a place from another era with the streets all paved in sand. Sort of wild western feel to the place but very relaxed and laid back. Well worth a visit IMO.
Looking at the stars after sunset and before moonrise.
Low points
Tomorrow, going back to work........
The yacht was a Jeanneau SO 37 purchased by a friends sister who lives in Lanzarote. 2 of us flew out Saturday 13th and the remaining 2 joined us Sunday. Most of Sunday was spent checking and preparing the boat and included tensioning the rig properly - speculation suggested that the previous owner had slackened off the backstays to stop them rubbing on the bimini.
First half of the trip was a leisurly run out to Gibralter and included an overnight in Ibiza and a second stop somewhere on the Spanish mainland (name escapes me)
Reached Gib on Friday afternoon and spent a fairly leasurly 24 hours eating drinking and restocking. Managed to pick up a Whisker pole from a local chandler and a good second hand spinnaker via an ad in the dolphin trips office window. Tried, unsuccesfully to haggle over the price of the kite but the seller said he would rather burn it than give it away. I did proffer a lighter on the basis I wanted to witness this event but that went down like a lead balloon.
Set off Saturday eve for a fairly uneventful run down to the Canaries. Biggest concerns were lack of wind for first couple of days resulting in fuel situation becoming a concern and a boat appearing to shadow us on the radar close to the African coastline. The wind picked up for most of the remainder and we managed to sail pretty well the rest of the way.
Reached the top of Lanzarotte Weds evening and spent the night on a small island called La Graciosa and completed the final run down to the bottom of Lanzarote the next day. We were met by the new owner and a few friends in a rib a couple of miles out and the wind picked up nicely for a final close hauled blast into the marina, an excellent finish to a great trip.
Highlights of the trip.
Hitting a bank of fog about 2 miles out from Gib. Visibility went down to about 100 yards for a while.
The size of the swells in the Atlantic.
The various encounters with dolphins including a pod of about 20 all jockying for a turn on the bows.
La Graciosa. It was like a place from another era with the streets all paved in sand. Sort of wild western feel to the place but very relaxed and laid back. Well worth a visit IMO.
Looking at the stars after sunset and before moonrise.
Low points
Tomorrow, going back to work........
