Any ybw members in the canaries?

[Mikedefieslife]

Here's a video from a bike trip I did around Gran Canaria:

That looks fantastic. If only my KTM hadn't been stolen.

I can't leave Lanzarote until mid October (waiting for packages), then I've got until early Dec to have a cruise around. Missing out La Palma makes it much easier since it's an upwind sail, or at best a beam reach which is no fun in swell. I did tell a leggy Swede that I would visit though.

Thanks for tip about about Navily, not used it before. Masca Gorge looks like it has poor protection from swell though and a rocky bottom.

 

[Tim Good]

Thanks for tip about about Navily, not used it before. Masca Gorge looks like it has poor protection from swell though and a rocky bottom.

We found Masca fine for holding in sand. Just don’t anchor right close to the shore. Swell wasn’t so bad but we purposely went there when the swell forecast was low. A combination of a bridle to stop you being beam on to the swell and a flipper stopper helps.

 

[capnsensible]

That looks fantastic. If only my KTM hadn't been stolen.

I can't leave Lanzarote until mid October (waiting for packages), then I've got until early Dec to have a cruise around. Missing out La Palma makes it much easier since it's an upwind sail, or at best a beam reach which is no fun in swell. I did tell a leggy Swede that I would visit though.

Thanks for tip about about Navily, not used it before. Masca Gorge looks like it has poor protection from swell though and a rocky bottom.

Are you still in Arecife? Im back on the island friday and will be nipping up to see a friend on the marina there over the weekend.

Can drop by?

 

[STILL AFLOAT]

Would like to spend some time in La Palma. From what I've been reading Gran Canaria, and Tenerife, don't seem the nicest places to visit by boat and anchor.

A few clips from a guide I was reading on Gran Canaria. Seems to rival some of my experiences in the Ionion.

"This oil slick came down on us during the night and washed to and fro for the following 48 hours. Although required, under international law, to clear up the mess, the port authorities did nothing. We are told that such spillages are not uncommon here."

"Most yachtsmen would consider this shore to be of no interest whatsoever. Having once been devoted to the growing of tomatoes, it is now an ugly brown landscape fringed with extraordinarily hideous holiday developments."

"Arguineguín is an uninspiring little hole. Most of the buildings look as if they were thrown up, piecemeal"

Those reports, must have come from around the 90s, when Las Palmas Marina, was a tiny open V facing the industrial dock, yes I left for the small village of Arguineguin, in 91, the day before the heavy fuel pipe burst, so I did not get anything on my boat.

Today, Las Palmas Marina, is completely encircled, with a large sea wall all around, so as soon as a heavy fuel spill is reported, the now, South facing ,entrance can be quickly sealed off.

Arguineguin used to be a great place to anchor, while waiting to cross, but around yr 2000, the maritime division of the New Age Travellers, in ramshackle boats, basicly tied up where they wanted, and blocked the entrance for all port users.
This led to the Guardia Civil threatening to jail them all, unless they left .
Once they had gone, the town council brought in a new rule, you can only anchor in Arguineguin for 48 hours..
How heavily this is enforced, if a prudent mariner in a well maintained vessel, anchors there, I have no Idea.
Arguineguin today,has expanded so much, that it is a city , even has 3 roundabouts, on the main street.

I like Gomera very much, but, compared to other marinas, it is quite expensive.
On top of that, due to a fuel crisis, the ferry to Los Christianos, then the bus, to the airport, cost more, than the flight from Tenerife South to Gatwick
When I left Gomera, in 2006, I was paying close to 900 euros, for 3 months, on a 36 ft Yacht.
Once I got to Las Palmas, The price dropped to 600 euros.
Then due to some legal problems, my private pontoon , was given to the public marina & suddenly my berth fee, was 850 euros, for 6 months .

 

[webcraft]

Yeah we're in La Restinga at the moment on El Hierro. Also have an article coming out about our adventures in the canaries in November issue of Sailing Today. Personally I prefer El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera hands down over the others.

Spent just 3 days in La Restinga in 2007, had to leave because of the swell. The only visitor berths then were on the harbour wall, has this situation changed now?

- W

 

[Tim Good]

Spent just 3 days in La Restinga in 2007, had to leave because of the swell. The only visitor berths then were on the harbour wall, has this situation changed now?

- W

Yes there are pontoons now but to be honest a harbour wall during swell can be better providing you let the lines right off. I prefer that to snatching. But yes there are pontoons or the wall now. Fortunately not too many else the harbour would be ruined by visiting yachts.

 

[STILL AFLOAT]

Yes there are pontoons now but to be honest a harbour wall during swell can be better providing you let the lines right off. I prefer that to snatching. But yes there are pontoons or the wall now. Fortunately not too many else the harbour would be ruined by visiting yachts.

I left La Restringa,after a couple of days, also, due to the bad swell.
In those days, the wall was nothing but jagged stones, sticking out of the wall like dragons teeth. They would have destroyed my fenders, in seconds, but a helpful local passed us 3 old truck tyres on ropes. Within minutes, the rubber was worn away, and the steel belts made wheels of sparks.
On top of that, the harbour wall, had a cap stone, that stuck out, enough, to trap the stanchions, so around HW, someone had to let the mooring ropes off, so the stanchions could clear.

Strange comment ? Be ruined by visiting yachtsmen ?
But, doesnt that, include You ?
Or do you considder yourself above the rest of us ?

 

[Tim Good]

Or do you considder yourself above the rest of us ?

Oh stop being facetious and take the trolling elsewhere. You know exactly what I meant. By limiting the amount of pontoons it limits the amounts of yachts that can visit. They could easily put in another 20 berths in there but I’m saying it is good they choose not to and kept space for the the traditional fishing day boats.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Are you still in Arecife? Im back on the island friday and will be nipping up to see a friend on the marina there over the weekend.

Can drop by?

Hoping to be gone by Friday, heading directly to anchor down by Rubicon. Need to get my watermaker sorted and apparently the guys at the boatyard there are agents for Eco Sistems.

 

[capnsensible]

Hoping to be gone by Friday, heading directly to anchor down by Rubicon. Need to get my watermaker sorted and apparently the guys at the boatyard there are agents for Eco Sistems.

Will be back onboard our boat in Rubicon Marina over the weekend. Boatyard office shut at weekend. Celia in the office there will help she knows stack. Dutch lady speaks excellent English. Just dont expect things to be donevin a hurry!

Gissa shout if you fancy a beer!

 

[STILL AFLOAT]

Oh stop being facetious and take the trolling elsewhere. You know exactly what I meant. By limiting the amount of pontoons it limits the amounts of yachts that can visit. They could easily put in another 20 berths in there but I’m saying it is good they choose not to and kept space for the the traditional fishing day boats.

I was not being facetious at all.
Nor was I being a Troll
I merely responded, to what comes across as a " Holier than Thou," type of thread.
You, may well have an idea, in your head, unfortunately,....we, are not mind readers...
So we ...only have the posted comments.....to think about.
If you Re Read your own comment, never mind what you meant !
Just what the rest of us could read ?
It comes across , as if, its fine for you, to be there, as long as nobody else is !
If you cannot see that, from your own comment....???
But Whatever....
Any other Canary Questions, Im here & Ill do what I can, to help out.
Pax Bonum