Caroline Byrne
10/27/2007, Lanzarote

2 weeks on Jigsaw has been fantastic. Jamie and i have had a great time,
superb experience, with mild detox pogram thown in. Just what the doctor
ordered.
Started off from Lagos (Portugal) and sailed none stop to La Graciosa which
was 545 miles which took 5 days. The days consisted of bright sunshine and
sailing about 5 - 6 nautical miles per hour, with biggish waves.
The time was spent in pleasent company and delightful music thrown in and
plenty of sunbathing.
During the evenings were sat in the moonlight under the stars which became our
friends as we were using them as navigational aides. During the night again
we made great headway aided by Vera the Vane (great investment means 'no hands
sailing'). James actually left me for Vera on a couple of occasions to be
with Vera in the cockpit.
(You must understand that Vera is a hydrovane instrument which steers the
boat)

We arrived at La Graciosa is a tiny Island with a couple of costal hamelts
dotted about on a very barren landscape.
No roads on the island except a couple in the small towns near the marina.
We stopped at an ancourage which was at the foot of a volcano (none active)
idilic Very nice which was approx an hours walk to the village. Myself and
Jamie actually climbed the volcano and at the top where you could see
practically the whole Island.
Anyway we are packing now to come back to England and will see you soon...
Luv Caz and Jamie.

Thanks to Mary and Paul and of course
Kate and Molly for putting up with us.
XXXX see you in the Caribbean

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Paul.
10/26/2007, Lanzarote Playa Blanca

Been anchored at Playa Francesca since Sunday, a lovely place but we were subject to rather strong winds that made the anchorage rather uncomfortable to say the least,and landing impossible. We had to run anchor watches on three of the nights that we were there. At times it was a trifle marginal to say the least. Boats were bouncing around with gusto, but thankfully, despite the strongish wind, no swell or waves of any significance got into the anchorage. It was a beautiful location and when the wind did ease, as it did most days for a few hours, the swimming and snorkelling was first class. Wonderfully clear warm blue water, with a reef close by that was teeming with fish of many shapes and colours.

We ran out of water though, which made life a trifle difficult, but our friends Stephan and Tanya gave us water from their boat's water maker so we survived. Also had a slight problem with lack of electricity on board, mainly due I suspect to letting the battery charge go down so far as we were sailing for 5 days without using the engine at all. Got that rectified yesterday and now all systems go. Good job the crew on Jigsaw are a hardy bunch or they may have complained!! Good lessons learnt for future long passages though.

I sat up last night as the nearly full moon passed over the anchorage, it lit it up all night long, almost bright enough to read by. Staring sat the moon again, as I do rather frequently, I was impressed, best moon so far, I hope you saw it too!!

Finally got the anchor up at about 08:40 UT, today, Thursday 25th October, it was very very deeply dug into the sand. Now motoring towards Playa Blanca on the South of Lanzarote where we are booked into Marina Rubicon, to clean boat and crew all of whom are a bit grubby, fill up with water and food and get a few jobs done on the boat. Currently in position 29 11'N and 13 34'W, 25C and barometric pressure of 1016, no wind!

Now in Marina Rubicon at Playa Blanca Lanzarote. Lovely location and we will be here for a couple of weeks getting the boat ready for the Atlantic crossing prior to joining up with the ARC in las Palmas on about the 13th November.

Jigsaw.

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Paul.
10/26/2007, Isla Graciosa

Currently still anchored off of Isla Graciosa near Lanzarote. It is rather windy and we have not been able to get to shore at all apart from when Mary and Molly swam it on the first day, which was before the wind got up. Have run out of electricity, water, bread and cigarettes, but had a good birthday celebration aboard Bayzona yesterday afternnoon when the wind abated sufficiently for us to row the hundred metres over to their boat. We have picked up some water from Bayzona so have enough to keep us going in the short term. Still have wine apple juice and plenty of food, baking our own bread yesterday.

The crew seem to be coping with the depravations well, we spent yesterday trying to sort out engine electrics and am finally coming to the conclusion that the engine starting battery is probably U/S. So we are stuck in a beautiful location but not really able to enjoy it to it's full extent. Not sure what to do at present will need to get weather forecast to see what is likely to occur in the next couple of days. Still catching up after the five day passage from Portugal at present, but need to get a plan together soon. Hope the wind drops today so that we can get out and about a bit.

Still staring at the moon for inspiration! That helps!

Jigsaw.

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