We have a new parallel web site for posting our position while at sea: just google "jacktar`s web diary". We keep this blog going as normal, when we have access to the internet.
Before leaving Funchal in Madeira we took the cable car to the top of the mountain
Then saw these basket sleds and took a death defying ride back down.
We shifted to another marina, sailing past attractive coastal scenery
and terraced banana plantations
They didn`t have any flat land for an airport so built a runway on stilts.
The marina at Quinta do Lordewas built close under the cliffs
The wind and sea came up and the surge coming onto the marina was uncomfortable. We might as well have been at sea. Check the angle of roll of the yacht at the pontoon ahead.
The shck absorbers were out.
We departed Madeira in 35 kts of wind and 4 - 5 mtr seas for a bumpy ride down to the Canaries where we anchored in the lee of Graciosa island.
The village was very small and simple
bur very lovely
Again the weather dictated a move
so we shifted to Puerto calero on Lanzarote Is.
The wind was still up
We waited
and took a hire car to the lookout opposite Graciosa where we looked down on the anchorage and village
Drove past attractive villages
saw volcanoes
before sailing on to Fuerteventura Is and Puerto Gran Tarajal where we will stay a while before moving on.
This poor fellow was rescued after loosing his mainsail, the inner firestay had parted, the mizzen sail shredded and his engine then failed.
