Finally we have now left La Gomera and the Canary Islands heading for Cabo Verde. These stop-overs took a bit longer than planned but now we shall have fair winds and following seas to make south. Cross fingers. Our adventure continuous!
Fair winds…
PS: Thanks for the video Marcel!
Together with Tobi, 1st mate on SY Sutje, I went for a hike today while the wind keeps blowing. We got a recommendation from Petra and Jan, both chief hiking experts besides sailing SY Sutje.
The bus ride to our starting point was already breath taking as you can see above. For details on the hike itself please have a look at the Komoot recording, if you like. I am still puzzled from today’s impressions. Amazing landscape!
Fair winds…
As expected, we are getting some gale force winds blowing over the Canary Islands at the moment. The eastern part at Lanzarote is hit even harder/longer than the western islands. As per the latest forecast, the wind will peak here in San Sebastián de La Gomera around noon today at 45kn. Tomorrow afternoon it will all be over.
I am impressed how well protected this marina is against these northerly winds. Hidden behind some high rocks, there is hardly any boat movement and no jerking of lines generating this squeaky noise from the mooring lines all over the place.
Peaceful night with restful deep sleep.
Fair winds…
What to do with 1kg fresh Wahoo filet? To start off, I decided, that my light lunch today will be a Wahoo steak with some Avocado dip, topped with some local grown Thymian. I learned that Avocados are also grown on La Gomera and wonder, what else you cannot get on this island. Still learning every day, but bottom line is, that my learning curve is much steeper compared to the days before this adventure started.
Fair winds…
Quite nice here in San Sebastián de La Gomera. Got my fourth jab within ten minutes in the Centro de Salud. Strolled around in the city and finished the day off with a “sausage & red vine risotto from Jamie” having same accompany as yesterday.
Fair winds…
It got late last night, well 11:30pm, not to bad. I got invited from Anne and Marcel for a very nice dinner. Wahoo was on the menu, fresh from a local fishing boat. Petra contributed a delicious potato salad and myself the desert, a sweet melon gazpacho.
Wahoo is an interesting and same time healthy and very fine tasting fish. Fresh from the ocean, no farming. First time experience and it stays on my list.
Enjoyed the accompany very much including 
Gara, the lively 8 month dog from a local sanctuary.
Fair winds…
Many people I have spoken to, and who have visited all Canary Islands, vote La Gomera and La Palma to be among the most beautiful islands of the archipelago. Obviously this is very subjective but what I have seen today impressed me as well. Less touristy, slow pace, beautiful scenery and an attractive little market hall to name a few of the high ranking criteria.
After my short walk through the town this morning, I went out biking for a sniff tour in one of the many vales the island offers until the dead end road stopped me.
The elevation profile of today’s trip is representative of the overall island’s elevation profile. With the mountain peak of the island reaching 1487m and sitting pretty in the island’s circle centre, it grades down to the ocean from all angles like a sugar cone.
Fair winds…
It is one of the rare moments, where I consider to delete the Boating from the Biking. They come and go regularly. The six hours from the southern tip of Tenerife up to La Gomera stressed me out and I just finished a 6 hours sleep, which is normally not required after a one-night-sail only. But this time my battery was below minimum charge.
The wind came on the nose as expected but was with 15 to 25kn a bit stronger than forecasted. The sea was choppy but again, nothing dramatic. Besides that, the current going south was also against us. I was just annoyed that we had to go against the wind/current again rather flying south to Cabo Verde. Still the right decision was taken.
6 hours motor sailing brought me on a straight line to the Marina de La Gomera without further tacking. Exact wind and sea state conditions at the entrance were not known to me and the darkness did not give a good feeling either. The question comes up: What the hack am I doing here? I arrived a bit early and had to hang around until sunrise, which was wonderful. Approach turned finally out – as so often – easy and safe.
Washed the lady and cleared up the boat for a week’s marina live.
Tomorrow the world will be fine again and I will start to explore La Gomera besides working on the never ending To-Do-List.
Another intensive 24 hours added to the adventure!
Fair winds…
It is another 15nm to the southern tip of Tenerife. Wind is around 10-15kn but took a breather a bit earlier and we motor sailed for about one hour. On the other side, there was a short acceleration zone which peaked 18kn for around 15 minutes. It remains dynamic and keeps us busy. Once we have reached the southern tip, the wind will probably be more on the nose but let’s first get there.
SY Sutje is running along in parallel on our starboard with 1nm distance. Boat speeds are very much aligned. The stars are out and some left-over moon is expected shortly.
Today is Day 2 at sea on our passage to Cabo Verde and I unpacked present #2 of the emergency package received from Elke und Ulli in Puerto Calero. It made this overnight passage a lot more sweet! Thank you.
Fair winds…
PS: I have 7 presents left, which will now need to wait for a while until we finally head off south.
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