Las Palmas and final preparations
Tamarisk
Wed 16 Nov 2005 21:01
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We are now in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria making
final preparations for the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). We're due to set
off for St Lucia on Sunday 20th. There are about 250 boats taking part, numbered
roughly in order of size and we are 243. There are a few smaller boats
around but there are some gigantic ones as well. The vast majority are
40-50ft.
Lots of Anna and Eddie's friends are here -
there's Koshlong, Wild Alliance, Blue Marlin and Blase and we've finally
caught up with Keoma and the Dearloves. Starlight were here for a bit but have
now gone to Tenerife. They and other non-ARC crossers like Regina and Sarah
Grace will set off from there on the 20th. Starlight plan to go via the Cape
Verdes. That makes it a longer trip overall but with shorter
legs.
Anna says: "I'm totally panicking! Three weeks at
sea sharing a bunk with Eddie! Ahhhhhh!"
The rally lays on seminars on things like First Aid
at Sea, Tips for Downwind Sailing etc. Plus there are parties and happy hours
sponsored by the likes of Yachting World and local chandleries. If you'd time
and the inclination, you could be fed and watered free for a
fortnight.
Tonight there's a fancy dress party and Anna has
made us all some masks. She is going as Carmen Miranda, Penny is a Zebra,
Eddie is a Lion and I am The Man from Atlantis (don't ask). Last night was the
family supper in a local pizzeria. It got very loud when the karaoke got
going. There are 36 children going on the rally. The youngest is 2 year-old
Nancy from Wild Alliance. Our friend Roy Beaumont on Zamia 2 is the oldest
entrant at 75.
The pump on the engine that was causing us trouble
in Puerto Calero has now been fixed and for quite a lot less money than we
originally feared. We passed our safety inspection first time. Penny
has sewn anti-chafe material onto the jib sheets. We've put up nets in the
saloon for fruit and veg. The bilges are full of bottled water. We're
taking about 500 litres - that's 4 litres each for 25 days. So not many
showers. Penny has done almost all the provisioning - we've just the fruit
and veg to order. We should be able to get it delivered to the boat on Saturday
morning.
Anna isn't really panicking but everyone is
apprehensive. Sue from Koshlong said it reminded her of the last days
before big exams. Some people have clearly had the most well designed
revision plans and have completed them, others are doing it a bit more
piecemeal. I don't think there's much more we can do. Penny and I both want
to get on with it. The forecast for Sunday is currently W10 and rain so we may
start with a gentle beam reach.
Giles (Middleton, our extra crew) has just rung
from the airport. He's arrived. It will be great to see him. Tomorrow,
we'll go out to get a feel for the sea again and practice some man
overboard procedures.
Las Palmas is not the greatest marina. It's a port
the size of Felixstowe and a lot dirtier. But the chandleries are amazing.
The main one has to run a customer number system like the deli counter in Tescos
to cope with the crush. People spend hundreds of Euros. We've not had time to
look at Las Palmas. WOMAD is on here and we went along for an evening.
Otherwise, our sightseeing has been restricted to supermarkets. Strangely, the
big, posh, John Lewis/Waitrose-like one is doing a big promotion of Les Roper
(that's right, George and Mildred) DVDs. Friends with TVs say Upstairs
Downstairs is another local favourite.
We've been to reception laid on by the city
authorities (folk dancing and free Canarian potatoes featured). There's a
big party at the main yacht club on Friday. Men who go in open-toed sandals have
to wear socks. Another yacht club has a swimming pool the children can
use. It's got cold again - 22 degrees the other evening. We need to go
South again.
I'll post some stuff re how to follow our progress
and, if I get time, a few pictures before we go.
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