At Las Palmas Gran Canaria 23rd October to 9th November.
The ARC+ Rally starts in 2.5 hours at 13.00 and we can be followed at http://www.worldcruising.com – look for the Fleet Tracker for ARC + . our position will be updated every 4 hours and you can see how the whole fleet of 52 boats is doing.
We are expecting good trade winds for the 850 mile passage and to arrive next Saturday 15th November for a four day stopover at Mindelo, São Vicente Cape Verde Islands, before the ‘big one’ starts on 19th November.
The 17 days at Las Palmas has flown by in a flurry of final preparations, ARC events and stocking up. Yesterday we had visiting the boat, Jerry the Rigger ( rig check all OK), Superdino supermarket delivery, Laura from the meat place and finally Jorge from the veg place. The last got a bit confused between units and kilograms on our order so we have rather more of several things than planned – but it will be a good test of longevity and our storage strategies!
We had niece and partner visiting the Exody ‘caravan’ for 5 days of their half term break and took them out for a short day sail to remind ourselves how the boat sails! Our two crew for the next leg, both old friends arrived later in the week.
The main ARC fleet of circa 200 boats has been building with more than half of them here by The time of the big reception by the City Council on Friday 7th.
Internet at the marina has been poor so we will hope to upload some photos at Mindelo.
We also might supplement this ‘in port’ blog with some short contributions to the Boat Logs on the ARC website – so look out for those under the boat name in case we find the time in amongst everything else!
Cruising and liming 