OCC 70th Anniversary Macaronesia Cruise Summary

Hi everyone,

For the last two months we've been taking part in the OCC (Ocean Cruising Club) 70th Anniversary Macaronesia Cruise in Company.  Yesterday it concluded with the Gran Canaria Port Officer's (PO's) annual BBQ here in Pasito Blanco.  We logged about 1250nm on the cruise.  This is a summary of our experience in the Cruise.

Zen Again in Macaronesia

The Cruise perfectly suited our planned clockwise North Atlantic circuit.  We joined the Cruise at its start in Horta on the Azorian island of Faial.  We finished the Cruise at its end in Pasito Blanco on the Canarian island of Gran Canaria.  We skipped the Azorian island of Santa Maria and the Canarian island of Tenerife, the latter due to autopilot problems.  Instead of Tenerife we explored Fuerteventura with OCC SVs Asteria and Zora.

Overall the Cruise was absolutely fantastic.  We made some wonderful new friends, saw so many amazing places and had a wide variety of sailing passages.  The Azores part of the Cruise fits nicely into a clockwise North Atlantic Islands circuit starting in North America.  We cruised coastwise north along the American coast to Newfoundland then a 1200nm passage to Flores to join the Cruise.  The Canaries part of the Cruise fits nicely for those leaving Europe to cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean.

The Cruise started with 5 boats in Horta, increasing to 6 elsewhere in the Azores.  There were 3 boats in Madeira.  The Cruise ended with about 10 boats in the Canaries.

Some of the photos below were shared on the Cruise WhatsApp group.  If one is yours please advise and I'll credit you.

The Cruise in context

Azores track

Madeira and Canaries track

Graphs of Cruise conditions

The cruise was organised overall by Sao Jorge PO Linda.  Linda and Andy sailed with the Cruise from Faial to Sao Jorge.  In Terceira we were hosted by PO Siggi.  In Sao Miguel, Porto Santo and Madeira the fleet organised itself.  And in the Canaries Gran Canaria PO Agustin (and Sonya) organised, including an amazing BBQ at Pasito Blanco.

First get-together in Horta

Touring Faial

At Peter's Cafe Sport

Touring Sao Jorge

Dinner in Terceira

Touring Terceira

Touring Sao Miguel

Porto Santo sundowner with Asteria & Metzi

Touring Porto Santo

Madeira Beach Braai

Madeira Levadas with the Metzis

Lanzarote sundowner with Asteria, Caballito de Mar IX & Metzi

Touring Lanzarote

In Fuerteventura with Asteria & Zora

Touring Gran Canaria

Wonderful finale at Pasito Blanco

For more detailed information on our visits to each island or our passages between them use the search box at the top left of this window.  For some places you'll find 2021 blog posts as well as this year's.  To tour through our Cruise start here.

We hope the Macaronesia Cruise is repeated.  It's a wonderful itinerary.  It could be split into two separate cruises - Azores & Canaries - which may attract more boats heading out from Europe.

The Port Officers did a magnificent job organising the Cruise.  They organised tours, assisted with marina bookings and provided excellent advice throughout.  And where no POs existed the fleet organised itself - as OCC boats always do.  What a great organisation!

Gran Canaria

Hi everyone,

We're spending about a week here in Gran Canaria.  After one night at anchor we moved into Pasito Blanco Marina.  Since then we've been busy working on boat jobs and touring.  Gran Canaria is the final destination of the OCC 70th Anniversary Macaronesia Cruise.

Touring Gran Canaria

We hired a car for two days with the crew of OCC sv Metzi.  On day 1 we teamed up with OCC sv Singara who also had a hire car, and with OCC Gran Canaria Port Officer Agustin as tour director.  We spent all day driving around the southern part of the island.  Very dry but very spectacular.  We walked to Roque Nublo, known as one of the highest natural crags in the world.  And we visited Tejeda, known as the prettiest village in Gran Canaria.

Lunch in Ayacata

Start of the walk to Roque Nublo

At Roque Nublo
(sv Caballito del Mar IX photo)

Tejeda village

Tejeda bakery

Cave church

Inside the cave church

On day 2 we toured alone with the sv Metzis.  We started in Las Palmas where we hit the chandlers and hardware stores.  We then drove through the north side of the island along some very minor, one-lane roads.  Very scenic, very steep, with occasional trucks coming the other way.  Entertaining!  Much greener than the south side.

We went for a walk in the Tilos de Moya forest.  We continued our drive up and over the mountains where the clouds were lapping over the crests.  A truly spectacular island.

Apart from the two touring days we've been busy with boat work.  Jobs done so far include:

• Filling fuel (tanks and jerries)
• Freshening the nip on all halyards
• Servicing the anchor windlass
• Replacing solar panel connectors with directly soldered connections
• Servicing winches
• Inspecting and cleaning all bilges
• Tidying the forepeak after the headliner removal

Not strictly boat work, but Christmas cakes and pudding have been baked.  I just get to stir the bowl!

Stirring

Today we attended OCC Port Officer Agustin's annual BBQ.  He and partner Sonia have been putting on this event at their home in Pasito Blanco for some years now.  It has become an iconic OCC event.  But more on that in our next post.

Trust all's well where you are!