At 26.014,-16.837 Wind NE force 3.
652 miles to go. ETA at 5 Knots is 20:00 Monday 24th Nov. We have a 0.5 knot current which should mean we get in at first light on Monday.

Wind was oscillating overnight with a 90′ shift every 2 hours or so requiring a gybe. The spare battens came loose in the boom requiring an all hands on deck to lower main at 04:00 and then on the hoist one of the in use battens popped out. We sorted that and left the main down and motored for a bit while we caught up with sleep!

Very little shipping by comparison with north of Canaries. No wild life. Can see one other pleasure craft on the AIS about 6 miles towards the African coast. They are going to Cape Verde according to their AIS transmission.

David

We got away from a small port on the east of Gran Canaria, Puerto Taliarte, (27.987, -15.371) early this morning. We had moved across from Lanzarote to test out the water maker after fitting the bits Sheana and Ewan had delivered to us. It can only be run in clean waters out of harbour. It had a leak so we anchored outside the harbour to sort it and test. Easily sorted but the anchorage was very rolly hence early start!

On route now to Ilha do Sal in the Cape Verde, a distance of 812 miles (6 1/2 days ish). This is the longest leg we have set off on so far. Wind acceleration zone off Gran Canaria gave us 30-35 knots from the stern and now we have a north westerly wind force 4. Should get back to NE 4 soon.

Cape Verde are on GMT-1 and we have changed the boat time to this.

David

As predicted last year, all our Christmas wishes are by email, so here we are.So this is Christmas. We are in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, 16th November 2008. The sun is shining and I’m in shorts so I don’t really feel I should be writing this now. We have had a great six months, [Read more →]

The chicken has Madeira in it and we cooked it on Madeira!

First prepare the chestnuts, this takes time unless you cheat with tinned chestnuts.

If starting from scratch, cook chestnuts by piercing and placing in boiling water and boil, when cooked, take a few from the pan and peel, then a few more it’s easier to peel if they are warm. This bit takes time, be warned. A partner/ husband is useful at this time. When they are all peeled, mash.

Now cook the chicken. So first season chicken breast and cook in oil and garlic, till brown.

Add in two tablespoons of Madeira into juices and simmer.

Go back to the chestnuts reheat and add cream.

Serve with green vegetable, just looks good.

Now the competition, Link here to original post (opens in new window).I’ve not had any correct answers so the holiday for 2, wide screen TV and the flight to the moon will have to be carried forward to the next competition, but I guess you want to know what the wooden blocks were for.

They act like a plug, to keep water out of the anchor locker.  They fit on to the windlass, to try and block the holes down into the anchor locker, where the chain goes, simple when you know.

Oh my producer has just said we can only carry forward the prizes if we have a rigged phone in!

Mary

Well we did have heavy seas and the wind was quite strong, but with the correct sails up (trysail and little bit of genoa which rolled away to next to nothing, and in the lower wind rolled out a bit more) Giselle was very well behaved and we just kept on going. We left Funchal, Madeira, at lunch time and arrived Graciosa, island north west of Lanzarote lunchtime 2 days later. Winds were very gusty from force 4 to force 7 sometimes within minutes, and sea was up and down! However, with the anchor down, a shower, a sleep and a feed, life is wonderful again! Oh how you can forget! [Read more →]

Photos of our time with Sheana and Tom in the Gallery.

I have passed my PADI open water diving course so can get my air bottles filled.

A few days of maintenance before we move on – Fitting a new membrane to water maker; Mast check; Bottom clean; engine anode change etc.

David: Been here a week now. A great week with Ewan and Jane despite the near Scottish weather on occasions! Weather forecasted to be better for Sheana and Tom this week.

• Photos of Madeira in the gallery and Mary’s story is on the blog as well.
• Photos of Ewan and Jane’s visit in the Gallery. Story to follow.
• I have put on links to WindGURU to let you see the weather forecast for where we are and the key locations into 2009 – see right hand column towards the bottom.
• Many thanks to Andrew for putting on the “At Sea” posts which I email to him.

Mary: Porto Santo in daylight looks very different, no twinkley lights all along the shore. One harbour one end and one town half way along the beach. Looks quite barren not much green. Time to explore the town, and buy some fresh food, not that I ever buy old food, so why do we say fresh food? [Read more →]

Position 29.482,-13.69 at 08:49 BST. Wind NNE 5. 3m swell from North.

ETA La Graciosa is 13:00 today Saturday. Plan the night at this island just to the north of Lanzarote and then on to a suitable spot to meet with Ewan and Jane on Monday.

Looking forward to a night with less movement in the boat. Anchorage on Madeira was rolly poley and the cross swell has made the passage rolly as well. Wind has been 5/6 nearly all the way and we have had up the trysail after the short patch of 30 knots when in sight of Madeira. Turns out to be a good sail combination. No boom moving about either.

David