I arrived by plane on Tenerife, Canary Islands on Monday, June 30. Issuma was berthed at Marina del Atlantico, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, unique with a backdrop of dark, craggy mountains beyond the swaying masts.

From Monday 6/30 to Thursday 7/3, Richard and I scoured, organized and repaired the boat, went on multiple errands and missions to interesting shops such as Effectos Navales, Spinnaker, Firpe, El Kilo and multiple ferreterias for boat hardware. I'm quite certain that Issuma's head has never been this clean!

Mixed into the work and errands, we enjoyed the perpetually sunny, warm weather, exotic flowering trees, and were also fortunate to discover very friendly and festive fellow boaters in neighboring yachts. We invited them over to Issuma for cookies and Doradas (local cervezas deliciosas) on our very first night, which naturally triggered a mini-party circuit on a different friend's boat on each ensuing night. Paul from Oysterama across the pier mixed delicious gin & tonics and great conversation, while Maryann and Tommy of Audacious II shared wine, champagne, cigars and many laughs. Nicole and Chris were charming, and Steve of Cheng Feng was a lovely dinner guest on our last night there. We were sad to miss our friend Marco from Trattoria da Gigi on our last day in Santa Cruz, but it was time to move on.

Our enthusiastic friends made it difficult to leave Marina del Atlantico, but we were finally able to break away and depart for our first sail, auspiciously on the 4th of July.