Hi everyone,
Our 120nm overnight passage from Puerto Rosario on Fuerteventura to Pasito Blanco on Gran Canaria took us 23 hours. We motored through four calm areas - three on the S coast of Fuerteventura and one when approaching Pasito Blanco. And we sailed through three wind acceleration zones which were great fun.
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| Passing Morro del Jable at SW end of Fuerteventura |
Here are the usual plots...
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| Track |
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| Arrival into anchorage |
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| Graphs |
All passages between the Canary Islands are interesting due to wind acceleration zones. Fuerteventura is unusual in having an acceleration zone across it - over a low-lying isthmus. We departed at 0930 and had a great broad reach down the E side of the island. We gybed a little too early (perhaps) and found ourselves in a calm area. We motored through it. Before the wind returned (over the isthmus) we noticed wind waves which warned wind was coming. We had our trisail-sized second reef in the main throughout.
The worst sea state was in the acceleration zone off the SW tip of Fuerteventura. The seas were very short and sharp, perhaps due to a contrary current. Mid-channel between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria the seas were much less confused. Then the wind and seas built again as we approached Gran Canaria. The wind was 10G15 mid-channel and 20G30 in the acceleration zones.
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| Passing Morro del Jable |
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| Westward Ho! |
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| Sunset anchored off Pasito Blanco |
It was great to have a broad reaching passage. The WindPilot loved it so we only used our last, very old autopilot actuator in the calm conditions. Twas a taste of the trade wind sailing to come! We anchored off Pasito Blanco at 0830.
Four OCC Macaronesia Cruisers arrived in the afternoon from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The next morning we moved into the marina which has Med mooring berths. No finger jetties, just 'slime lines'.
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| Zen Again in Pasito Blanco Marina |
We're now well into a long list of boat jobs preparing to leave Zen Again for a while and the Atlantic crossing to follow.
Trust all's well where you are!
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