We have decided that we will circumnavigate Gran Canaria over the coming weeks, it is a couple of hours extra but we like the idea of completely going around the island. The plan is to do this in two stages, firstly anchor on the east coast and then go around the north of the island to Las Palmas, our start point for the trans Atlantic. 

Before we can leave we have decided to change insurers after pantaenius nearly trebled our quote with the expectation that it would increase further as we go into the pacific. We consulted a few organisations and Admiral had been recommended. When we spoke to them the quote was better but because of the age of the vessel they would need a survey before we left the Caribbean. Rather than try and sort that out after the Atlantic, we decided to have the survey done before leaving for Las Palmas, it would also provide any pointers for things we had missed – not that we were expecting any. Marcos came on board in the morning and took a thorough look around the boat. He gave me some pointers of things I need to do as part of standard maintenance but absolutely loved the boat, commenting that she was a very strong boat and clearly well looked after. We had provisionally booked a lift out so he could inspect the hull but, having shown him a lot of photos of recent lift outs, he was satisfied that he could see there were no issues. By lunchtime the job was done and we were ready to make a move. 

Pasito blanco has been a good marina, we have met a lot of people and everyone has been great. It is very busy though and difficult to get in but the Director tries his best to accommodate all and we found him very friendly and helpful, like the rest of the staff. As we are settling the bill, the yanmar specialists message me to tell me my spare raw water pump for the engine has arrived. Another spare that we hopefully won’t need but will be useful should we need it.

It is now lunchtime and we have to get the rib back up on the davits and head out. 

The thirty five mile journey will be by engine as there is no wind. We also have specific instructions from the yanmar team who checked our engine running hours and told us we weren’t pushing the engine enough. So we will get to maximum revs, 3000,  today and give the turbo a workout.

We have dropped the lines and are starting to move forward when a french boat decides to go across our bow, start to go astern and come back across our bow – he seems completely oblivious to other boats. Maria gently brings Mariadz out as the french boat continues to go astern out of the marina. As he heads towards the anchored boats we slip down the outside and we are ready to go. 

There is no wind to speak of so it will be under engine. 

We ramp the engine slowly up to maximum revs, and 8-9 knots, for thirty minutes and then gently bring her back down to cruising revs. The engine and refurbished propeller work great with no vibration since the prop rebuild.

After four and a half hours, we are approaching the anchorage as the sun sets. We have timed it well so we still have light as we anchor the anchorage at Sardinia Bay. The town in the bay has a lot of colour and is very attractive but the anchoring needs care. There are a number of pipes and cables on the seabed and also quite large patches of rock which can snag an anchor. Today we will anchor in ten metres of water with our anchor buoy and trip line deployed. There is only one other boat in the bay when we arrive and of course they are in exactly the spot we were looking to take. Mariadz tiptoes through the bay avoiding the path of the pipes and I find some sand to drop the anchor and forty metres of chain – there is no wind tonight. A snubber takes the strain off the chain, with two further snubbers higher up to protect the windlass! We like to protect our gear…. Anchor ball up and anchor light on and we are ready for an evening on anchor.