Bob's gap years

05/04/2021

A good few days in Las Palmas. One evening Maria was contributing to a live Italian national news show as correspondent for the Canaries region. Much preparation and waiting for the studio to give her the thumbs up for video call. For a laugh we set up her kit in the cockpit with the red ensign in the background. It caused some interest from the other end! Damian and I had to crawl around on the cockpit floor to keep out of the way. The outboard was serviced, exit stamp from Spain obtained from the harbour office, tanks filled - 550 litres of water and PCR test taken. We left for the 300 mile sail to Madeira at 1910 on Saturday evening 03/04 two hours after getting the negative results from the PCR, 5 days before the strict time limit for the boat allowed in the Canaries expired but 3 days after the expiry of my Schengen limit. Legal issues in Spain were thus resolved when we were 12 miles out. While in Las Palmas I did not fly the red ensign to avoid any unnecessary advertisement that the boat was British. The police came to the marine regularly. The Portugese authorities look at the British much more favourably.
The weather en route was exactly as forecast. Reasonable breeze as far as the Ilhas Selvagens then going (unusually) light. For the latter half a lot of motoring was done as the wind was no more than 5 knots much of the time. We arrived off Funchal early Tuesday morning watching a beautiful sunrise over the Ilhas Desertas and straight to the marina. We were fortunate on the way to have some wonderful dolphin displays around the boat and especially one night when they were visible even when under water as they were surrounded by phosphorescence. A very rare and beautiful thing to see.
Next came Portugese legal issues. The SEF, Portugese immigration branch of the police, were notified and 2 plods came over from Funchal. We were berthed in Quinto do Lorde. They interviewed me for over 1 1/2 hours and were very sharp, but also fair and understood the complexities of boat rules as well as personal ones, including the difficulty of crew coming from the UK at present. They could not give me a passport entry stamp, now normal on EU arrival, but I have an official stamped document making my entry into Portugal official and giving me 90 days and I’m in the system so should be ok for the Azores. This document is the most valuable I have on board at present. If I have to be here for more than 90 days I will worry about it at the time although the plods understood that was possible. I also had made contact with an excellent Lawyer in Funchal before leaving Spain and who is on hand to help if needed.
So here we are. A Day in Funchal tomorrow and arrangements for Andre to join us from Porto (Portugal). Damian returns to La Gomera on Sunday. He has been a great help.
Today’s picture was taken late one evening on the seafront at Las Palmas. A wonderful promenade.
A more relaxed skipper out here after months with many concerns.
Beginning to believe I actually will get back and working on UK crew having justified reason of travel if the ban is extended.
Take care all. Miss everyone.
Robert