28:05.34 N, 017:06.53 W

 

Our night was slightly less peaceful than we'd hoped as the swell, which is always from the NW in winter, increased during the night from a bit less than 1m, which is nothing really, to between 2 and 3m which breaks on the shore with great plumes of spray and a roaring noise. We were safe enough as the wind stayed quite light and from the S but we slept a bit fitfully after that as the boat rolls and everything in the lockers clinks and groans.

 

We woke to a fine morning and went swimming round the boat and then at around 11am set off for the port of San Sebastian about 10 miles to the SE, where we are now. Apart from being where Columbus set off from, the pilot book describes it as 'quite the most pleasant marina in the Canaries', with good reason as far as we can tell. It's quite small and right in the centre of a small and low-rise town without too many tourists (not that we've any right to moan; we are tourists ourselves of course). As we were coming into the port a series of ocean rowing boats were leaving: they are practicing for the Atlantic rowing challenge race which starts from here on the 15th of December. Today is a bank-holiday however and the town is a bit shut up at present but we'll see tomorrow and maybe hire bicycles or at least walk up a hill.

 

Mount Teide from the SW

 

San Juan harbour – it was even choppier outside where we were!

 

Anchorage at Playa de Hermigua off the N cost of Gomera. Note the wall is to protect the bananas growing right down to the shore. Note also the surf which stopped us getting ashore.

 

NE coast of Gomera

 

Only 2760 miles to go!

 

An unexpected side-effect of the dry wind (known as the Calima) is that any sea-water spray evaporates and the boat is covered in salt crystals like this stanchion. We fear it means increased corrosion as well since the stainless steel doesn’t seem to like it much.