Yesterday we decided to start to head through the Canary Islands in a route towards Gran Canarias - our destination for the start of the ARC. It is proving to be an interesting learning on how to work the anchorages and marinas in the Canary Islands. With the swell around these islands you have to choose carefully and some are noted as suitable for a lunch stop but not an overnight. There can be quite significant distances between suitable stops. On this occasion we worked our way down to the south of Fuerteventura to Gran Tarajal. This places us well for the next steps west.

During our trip south we had at least two moments of great excitement. Firstly, Bibi's first making of Barracuda Bread and secondly, our second fish - we think a bonito - this time landed and kept. The fish was filleted and served up for lunch under way with Bibi's bread - just delicious. Kate spent the trip editing a Finance book - we shall give her a mention here for effort.

We motored south on the east side of Fuerteventura - more good volcanoes to look at as well as a higher level of tourist development than we have seen in Lanzarote.

The wind filled in at last and up went the ParaSailor for a while until we hit the acceleration zone at the south end of the island when it came back down again (all good practice) and we sailed to our destination under genoa.

Gran Tarajal looks fine - nice wide open marina with very friendly staff and adequate facilities. We will stay a couple of nights and explore this end of the island.

A fine dinner on-board and then early-ish to bed. Still trying to get used to the time change as sun rise and sun set seem to have moved which is upsetting the natural rhythm of life on Barracuda. BTW the clocks here changed along with UK so we are still on the same time as UK.