27/10/2009, Gibraltar to Canary Islands
We've just spent almost 2 weeks in Gibraltar doing various boat repairs including the installation of a new radar cable, VHF, inverter and new AGM batteries. It's always a bit frustrating waiting for parts to arrive from the UK and for workers to arrive, but that's par for the course with boats. Fortunately there are lots of things to see and do in Gibraltar and the kids loved going to the local ice-skating rink almost every day! We took the opportunity to fully load the boat up with provisions and cheap gin too...
We departed Gibraltar mid afternoon last Friday with a rough plan to put into Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco on the 2nd and 3rd nights before the final passage to Lanzarote, the northernmost island of the Canary Islands. As the wind gods were smiling on us, we've bypassed Morocco and have just arrived in La Graciosa a small island off Lanzarote - 590 nm in 4 days at an average 6.2 knots, mostly sailing and some with the iron topsail (motor for the landlubbers).
We've found that Nika slips along really quickly in light downwind conditions. With the gennaker up, I am pleased to say we're getting 6 k nots speed in 6 knots of wind and 8 - 10 knots speed in 12 knots of wind. Sorry for being technical but my sailing friends will definitely understand the implications of being able to travel quickly in light downwind breezes as that is what we'll mostly get on this journey.
The last couple of nights have been spectacular starry nights (black as the ace of spades once the moon goes) with steady 8 knots of breeze allowing us to sail comfortably under full main and poled-out jib. With the phosphorescence in the water we can spot pairs of dolphins speeding towards us from more than 20m away in the dark. There have been loads of shooting stars too. This has been an excellent passage for us and it is true when 'old salts' tell you that longer passages are easier in many ways than day sailing or overnighters as you really get into the swing of life at sea.
The kids are in great form. Bosun boy Jesse is reading at a rate of knots and has managed to finish all the new books of the Chronicles of Narnia purchased in Gibraltar. Poor Hels had hoped they would last him longer than 3 days! Zodiac Zoe having run out of her Roald Dahl is madly reading Jesse's Treausure Island.. Captain Tykes is still showing a distinct lack of interest in anything school related but is turning into a consummate boat boy who can spot any rope, fitting etc which is not "shipshape". He has "saved the day" noticing a lose pin on the anchor more than once already much to our amazement!
We're expecting to catch up with our good friends Cath and Julien and their three beautiful daughters this weekend in Lanzarote. They're flying down from London for a 3-day weekend just to see us! We can't wait to see them.
We'll be in Las Palmas by the 9th of November where we'll complete final preparations for the ARC which starts 22nd November. Helen has organised a petrol generator to be shipped out from the UK to arrive in Las Palmas as our back-up power supply (thanks for your advice Rod and Uwe).
All of us can't wait for cousin Dean to arrive on the 19th as our final crew member for the ARC. Dean is arriving on Jesse's 9th birthday so I'm sure there will be a party that night. I hear that Dean will be wearing his brand new Dubarry sailing boots and wet weather gear in First Class on the flight over...
The kids and Helen continue to impress, and to borrow an expression from a fellow cruising family, they are in distgustingly good health and loving it. Grandad Pete is an awesome guiding influence whom I can't imagine being without. We miss all our lovely friends and family back home and wish you all the best.
This is NIKA NIKA NIKA Over and Out.
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Comments [5]
Dean
14/10/2009
Zodiac Zoe - We saw heaps of dolphins on our way into Gibraltar. We then went up to the big rock and saw lots of monkeys - one jumped on Dad's back and scared us all. Daddy thought it was Tyler jumping on his back.
Tykes- we put up the rainbow sail - my favourite - I am working on a new invention the bow skidder to use when the bow thruster is not working. Mummy keeps putting away my ropes for the bow skiidder - can you believe it?
Bosun Boy Jesse - Dad is a bit stressed with all theboat work so Mum is taking us away each day to get out of his hair. We have been going ice skating and bowling at the local Gibraltar youth centre opposite the marina. I skated round the rink 5 times without falling - Zoe is still falling heaps and Tykes has given up!! The monkeys hitched a ride on the car rooftop which was really funny. Hasta luego bebe!!!
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cheers - Staffan and carina
07/10/2009
After mud bathing on the island of Espalmador (off Ibiza) we had a good night crossing making landfall at the lovely quaint Spanish port of Cartagena. So nice and given the cheap marina fees we decided to stay an extra day to explore the many historical sights. Since then, we have had the iron topsail going full belt with no wind to speak of!! At least it has allowed for some more comfortable school work and for some neater writing by the kids!
Things are looking up on the technology front with the purchase of an internet mobile connect card allowing us to access the internet at sea (bliss!). We also managed to find in an unused locker amongst a mass of spagetti wires the camera download cord so watch the Photo Gallery on the blog for some long overdue photoes of the first part of the trip. A few more days coastal hopping along to Gibraltar for a week on terra firma and some boat work!! Ciao for now! The crew aboard the good ship Nika!
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And tell Dad that Leon and I haven't completely trashed his house yet. Can't promise the same about his reputation though - in honor of the concept that summer may actually arrive this year, the fleet of motorbikes were taken out of mothballs last weekend - they're currently lined up on his front driveway. Looks quite sweet actually, rather lifts the tone of the neighborhood. Sort of like a Beaumaris chapter of the Hell's Angels. I think Dad would be proud.
Much love to all the crew and please keep the postings coming - we're all living vicariously through your blog!
See you in Panama xxxx
see ya
Staffan
04/10/2009
I'm only just easing back into addressing a keyboard after almost 6 weeks of no computer access. It feels good to be reminded of the joys of being connected with friends. Haven't read a newspaper for 6 weeks either but I assume all the usual problems with the world are still there.
Just backtracking a bit to fill in some gaps, the crew have been coming together nicely after a bunch of overnight passages. We had an interesting passage from the island of Lipari (just north of Sicily) to Sardinia last week. We left Lipari about 6:00am in the dark and, after a beaut day of fast downwind sailing, we were hit by a Force 7 gale during the first night (max gust 35 knots). The steep and confused seas remained with us for the rest of the second day before we reached Cagliari at 3:00am on the second night.
After resting in Cagliari for a day and a half, we struck out for the island of Majorca in Spain at 4:00 in the afternoon for another 2-nighter. We enjoyed much better seas and a lovely 10-20 knot downwind sail with poled-our Number 3 jib and full mainsail. On the second night we had a magnificent BBQ with pork chops and Dad's famous rice-with-green-peas and a chilled bottle of excellent 2006 Croatian white. This we devoured whilst listening to Fiddler On the Roof, then Les Miserables (not to be taken literally) as the sun set, all the while at least 100nM from land in any direction. Breathtaking!!!
We arrived at Porto Colom in Majorca at 9:00am with a brief thunderstorm on approach. I know all my sailing friends would be very familiar with the uneasy feeling you get when caught with full sails up and the wind suddenly climbing from 15 knots to 30 knots within a minute, blowing the tops off all waves into a misty horizontal spray. It certainly focuses the mind and it's amazing how fast you can reef sails when you have to. The squall only lasted 10 minutes and then it was back to full sails in 10 knots, whereupon we were treated to a fine sight with up to 8 dolphins doing full backflips and putting on a real show at our feet near the bow for at least 20 minutes. I should mention that the kids love the wooden seat set into the pulpit at the bow and can spend hours up there (clipped on in their safety harnesses of course).
We departed the island of Formentera (next to Ibiza) yesterday afternoon around 4:00PM and, after a very cruisy sail/motorsail, we are just about to arrive at Cartagena on mainland Spain - it's midday now. We saw plenty of dolphins last night and Grandad Pete had a little scare whilst on watch when he had a 500 foot tanker come past at 18 knots only 200m away. Hopefully they knew we were there from their AIS screen...
The kids had a go at climbing the mast yesterday. Tyler and Zoe made it to the first spreader and Jesse made it to the second spreader which is really high. Grandad Pete wasn't impressed - please don't tell DOCS. The kids are amazing - they LOVE the boat and are masters at starting the rubber dinghy and planing around the harbour by themselves. Of course Jesse is the most responsible and I trust him to be careful. No accidents or near-misses so far.
The kids are getting along together much better than at home and fortunately, they seem to be able to sleep through a storm (literally) and not chuck up. My beautiful, intelligent daughter, Zoe, is by my side right now and wants me to say that she LOVES Nika and that she and the other two are eating very well - better than at home... She also loves being up on deck after dark, helping Mum and Dad with their watches.
As expected, my adventurous wife is thriving with the passage sailing and seems to love her solo watches at night. Of course!
We're actually making excellent mileage, albeit at the cost of seeing some nice places I'm sure. Still, we have to get to Grand Canary Island by early November for final race preparations and we need to put in to Gibraltar for up to a week to effect some electrical repairs and for provisioning. Then we're hoping to drop in to Rabat and Casablanca, Morrocco en route to the Canaries.
One of the biggest bugbears has been the distinct lack of internet access. We fight for computer access whenever we have the chance to get a wi-fi connection - it's positively unseemly! At least we've been getting some emails via the Satphone but we're yet to iron all the bugs out of that too.
Adios amigos!! Keep up the comments we love to hear from you!
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Quite an Essay. 6 weeks of typing coming out in one go!
Despite the feedback from the windsurfing fraternity you seem to be making good time (PS The Windsurfers would have starved/drowned,gone home by now, so you are already winning). Caught up with Kimits and Roly in Shanghai recently having travelled on the Good Ship Qantas. Great Trip scheme to find an Island somewhere in the Pacific next year Hatching.
Nice Try to get Dad cooking, recall he also does a good burger. Andrew down for the grandfinal weekend and says hello also providing battery advice!l, detail seperately. Keep up the hard work, stay away from the news!
Dean & Chris
Sounds like you're getting close to europe's best surfing and windsurfing areas which is south west coast of spain and portugal. I suppose you will not sail up the portugal coast as you are heading towards tha canary islands. One of Carina's and my fav windsurfing spot is El Medano on Tenneriffe. That place is quite nice as opposed to the tourist ghettos you'll find on gran canaria.
Good to hear the kiddies are loving it and keep their food in their tummies :-)
Keep safe and keep blogging!
Cheers,
Staffan and carina
Trev says you need an ARC crew?
I'd love to, but as we're just off to the US & Canada (15/10 to 30/10), I have no holiday left until June 2010.
I will have to ask Allan if I can have a month's sabatical.
I'm as green with envy as those thunderous squalls that whip the waves in to a spewme (sp?).
Be safe. Bill (xx for Hels)
02/10/2009
Following a two night passage with champagne sailing we have arrived in the Belearics and are enjoying the Spanish paella and the beautiful anchorages. We are now at Formenterra a great spot off the island of Ibiza. Tomorrow we'll leave afterlunch for the Spanish mainland and expect to reach Alicante in time for breakfast after a 16 hour overnighter. Will give more detail very soon... Adios amigos!!
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26/09/2009
Ok, from my perspective, it is a tough life being a sailor and not all of it is really fun. For we managed to hit a thunderstorm clocking 35 knots on our passage from Volcano to Sardinia. Mum told me the Med only had gentle breezes. Someone annoyed the windgod!! So the lesson is do not trust your Mum - only joking!! Mum joined the chucking club this time on fresh Sicilian swordfish!! Zodiac Zoe and I have started a dolphin tally so far we have seen 9 dolphins and no whales. Today we tested the handheld VHF radio by going in the rubby duckie and reporting to Mum on Nika. Captain Tykes hogged the handset and the tiller the whole way!! Well bye for now, Jesse
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There are strong winds in the Med, they are the "Le Mistral". They blow off the mountains.
Hope it's going well.
Love,
Uncle String, Sue & William
And make sure Tykes doesn't eat the radio by mistake.
Your loving godfather-once-removed,
Benson
Cousin Dean
Wow, life on the boat sounds fun. It is the last day of school tomorrow and we are going to the farm for the Holidays. write and tell us when you see your fist whale. Talk to you soon,
Angus
