Canaries Outbound Day 1

Hi everyone,
We departed Puerto de Mogan on Gran Canaria island at 1115 yesterday (Friday 10th) towards Antigua in the Caribbean. Adios Spain. Adios Europe!

At noon today we are at 26 29N 017 39W sailing at 6 knots on a broad reach under double-reefed main and storm staysail. The wind is ENE 20G26. The seas are 3m. The air temperature is 19C, water 22C and we have scattered Cu clouds above. Our first noon to noon daily run was 128nm. We have 2702nm to go on our 2829nm route.

We were seen off by Kim and Ann of sv Ilanda. We met them in Mogan and spent several pleasant evenings with them. Ilanda is a very nice Lavranos 50. We hope our paths will cross in future.

We spent the first 4 hours motoring out of the lee of Gran Canaria. The last two hours were unpleasant with the seas and swell wrapping around the island and producing a nasty patch of water. Zen Again rolled violently enough for a tiny amount of diesel to pump itself up the breather valve onto the side deck. That was a new trick.

Once we found the wind we set the double-reefed main and single-furled yankee and we off. The seaway was still nasty but the sails help stabilise the boat. As we sailed WSW into the night the wind gradually increased and we furled the yankee in stages. Eventually we furled it entirely and unfurled the storm staysail. Then after a couple of round-ups we handed the main entirely.

One of the round-ups led to us catching a breaking sea on our beam. That sent green water over the boat from stem to stern. A lillte water made it down the companionway and onto the cooker. Luckily the cooker was covered so no damage done.

We spent most of the night under storm staysail only with winds gusting over 30 knots and large seas. During the night we gybed to get further away from the Canaries and to position ourselves for a wind change towards the NNE. By dawn the wind was doen to 20G27 and we set the double-reefed main.

This morning the wind has been slowly moderating. I expect we'll change up to the triple-furled yankee soon.

The WindPilot has been steering since the wind settled in. It's doing a brilliant job.

Trust all's well where you are.