Bob's gap years

2 days in Santa Cruz - an attractive city with lovely shore side promenades and to which I would like to return to, if only for the facilities - life raft service, electrician (again!) and everything else you need for a yacht.
Left with the prevailing NE wind for a good sail 35 miles to an anchorage at Playa de Tejitas tucked under the reasonable protection of Punta del Ternero, although still with a fairly lumpy swell coming in. The whole coastline was pretty uninspiring and as everywhere lacking in beautiful English greenery. Watched the small number of planes coming into Tenerife South airport. A couple of days swimming off the boat to the beach and eating well on the boat. Fri 16th Oct. Up anchor, which was fouled by an old chain needing real muscle to clear (obviously not mine) then a relaxing 3 1/2 mile slow sail under jib only to San Miguel Marina for 2 nights and some paddle boarding.This was a massive apartment/hotel town and almost deserted. Not very nice, so:
To miss all the touristy resorts (sans tourists) headed 28 miles west to San Sebastián on La Gomera. Again a lovely fast controlled sail across sun kissed waters but was informed by radio on the way there were no vacant berths. The wind had unusually gone round to the South making most of the Gomera anchorages untenable so we diverted to an undeveloped harbour on the west coast, Puerto De Vueltas and anchored at 1915, not going ashore. Ugh! The wind changed during the night and we had the worse, most uncomfortable night ever on a boat. Waking up many times with the intense rolling and things rattling in the cupboards and sliding about the place. (7 other yachts enjoying the same) Woke early, upped anchor and headed 45 miles for Santa Cruz on La Palma island. Not without incident. A good sail until 12 miles off. With all Canary Islands there are ‘Wind Acceleration Zones’ along parts of the coastlines caused by the high mountains diverting and compressing the wind. Seriously strong stuff. That’s what we got (all part of the norm out here) We double reefed the mainsail, furled the jib and kept up the staysail, which gave us a safe and fast sail to Port. So tired. Quick meal ashore then bed.
So here we are in La Palma, 20th Oct. I like the town. Very few overseas visitors other than on the Marina (October and November are the busiest sailing months out here prior to the Atlantic crossings after the Americas hurricane season has finished.)
So far a lot of good sailing and not much touristy stuff. Hope is hasn’t bored you.
Picture of a calmer spot on the way here. (See what I have to endure)
Cheers and especially to Lucas who’s birthday I forgot. Sorry buddy.
Rob