17 November 2012 | San Andres, Tenerife, 28’30.14N 16’11.41W – Las Galletas, Tenerife, 28’00.44N 16’39.64W
The fine ship that we have been living on for over a year now is called Ruffian. We felt that Ruffian was an ideal name as our tagline could be ‘Ruffian: Fi and Iain living ruff’. (Get it). Over the past few days we think that she is called Ruffian because a Ruffian is no gentleman and gentlemen don’t go upwind. Since we have arrived in Tenerife we have done heaps of upwind sailing meaning that we are no gentlemen.
We have managed to avoid sailing upwind for the past 4000 miles by having a simple philosophy, this being; ‘If the wind is in the wrong direction, then it’s wrong to go’. This however wasn’t’ going to wash as we had the important engagement of meeting Sue & Chris in Las Galletas, 50 miles upwind. They’d travelled 1000 miles so the least we could do was travel a further 50.
As we plodded upwind we always seemed to be an hour from our intermediate destination, a perfect little crescent bay at the foot of a town called Abona. When we were 5 miles away we were making 5 knots, then at 4 miles we were doing 4, 3 at 3 and finally 2 at 2! This continued with the chop and wind building, until finally after what felt like eons, we got into the lee of the land and could finally drop the hook. This sail came as a real shock to us as we’ve not had to think about difficult sailing things like sail shape, plan, VMG, and driving through a wave minefield for such a long time.
With the sun out and sea now flat we were able to dive on the anchor and wow what a sight. We now know why NASA train their astronauts in swimming pools. We felt as it we were astronauts as we were weightless and we could see forever as the water was so clear. There were little fishies playing on the bottom around the anchor and we could see in the far distance waves crashing onto the beach. This was a far cry for the 6 inch visibility we had in Scotland and we could feel another ‘Steve Sassou and the Life Aquatic’ afternoon in the making.
The respite was all too short and next morning we once again had to brave the elements and sail upwind. Into the mix this time, instead of the short chop, we were given torrential rain. Fiona started the day very much a happy little camper by the end of the morning had transformed herself into a drowned rat. This was made all the worse as she discovered that she’d left her jacket on Isla Graciosa and had to use Iain’s instead. The oversize neck and cuffs meant that rain happily poured into every opening and found its way into the most holy of holey areas.
As we pulled into Las Galletas the same feeling came over us that you get on Christmas Eve as you put out the sherry for Santa and the Carrot out for Rudolf. It was now just a waiting game until we’d meet up with Sue & Chris, have a fun filled few days and unwrap all the exciting kit that they’d brought with them from the UK.
The Spanish are really into their architecture. We were disappointed to find out that this wasn’t a clam waiting to be eaten but an opera house in Santa Cruz.
Sailing upwind seems to be the norm at the moment and it’s so much like hard work.
You get wet and the water is a freezing 28.3 degrees at the moment.
Upwind sailing clearly doesn’t agree with Fiona or Larry, poor souls.
The sail was worthwhile as we found just the most perfect bay to anchor in, even if 2 other boats followed us in.
Another dawn start meant we’d be all spic and span for Sue and Chris.
Fiona quite enjoying the gentle sail to Las Galletas.
Fiona not enjoying the pounding rain quite so much.
Rain and upwind sailing, not a good combination. We could be in the channel.