Lanzarote to Gran Canaria

Hi everyone,

Last night we sailed from Marina Rubicon on Lanzarote to the anchorage outside Las Palmas Marina on Gran Canaria.

Sunset ahead

 It was a nice passage.  We departed at 1300 yesterday afternoon with light winds through the channel between Lanzarote and Fuertoventura.  Once out of the channel the wind died in the lee of Lanzarote so we motored for a couple of hours to get clear.  Then the wind returned and we a good NE breeze overnight.  We arrived at Las Palmas an hour after dawn in company with several other yachts.

Here are the usual images...

Track

Arrival Track

Graphs

And here are the vital stats for the passage…

    • Distances/Speeds

        • Route Distance = 96nm

        • Logged Distance = 108nm

        • GPS Distance = 113nm

        • Duration = 19h45m

        • Average boat speed = 5.5 kt

        • Average speed over ground = 5.7 kt

        • Minimum boat speed = 4 kt

        • Maximum boat speed = 6.6 kt

    • Weather

        • Minimum wind speed = 3 kt

        • Average wind speed = 15 kt

        • Maximum wind speed = gusts to 28 kt

        • Apparent wind angle range = 90 to 150

        • Seas up to 2m

        • Swell up to 1.5m

        • Sunny with scattered small cumulus cloud

    • Engine

        • Total = 2 hours (motoring 10% of passage)

Sunrise astern

Las Palmas is a big port.  There are a surprising number of oil/gas drilling ships in port in addition to the usual cargo ships.  The marina is very big too, accommodating over 1200 vessels.  However it's often very busy.  The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) starts here and happily they at least are now gone.  On arrival we found there's a waiting list to get in.  So we joined the 40+ yachts anchored outside.  It's a good anchorage.

Entering Las Palmas harbour

In the anchorage

We're enjoying a quiet day at anchor today.  We haven't had one of those for a while.  We've been calling the marina at intervals all day without getting an answer.  So we have no idea how long the waiting list might be.  We're thinking of sailing to the south of Gran Canaria where Marina Mogan has indicated they'll have room for us.  Prior to that we hope to dinghy ashore for a brief look around Las Palmas.