1. Lagos to Lanzarote: 12 Oct – 22 Nov 2015

We are now back in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands – for the winter!  This time, apart from simply enjoying life in the winter sun, we plan to sail and explore parts of the Islands that previously we either merely  ‘touched on’ or particularly enjoyed.  We also intend to do a bit of ‘serious walking’ – ‘serious’ at least by our standards.  

Chart of Canary Islands

In May 2014, having cruised the Islands over the previous winter (2013–14 – 

see www.islanddriftercanaryislands2013-14.blogspot.com), 

we sailed back north where we decommissioned Island Drifter, our 37ft Countess ketch, before having her lifted out on to the hard at Sopromar boatyard in Lagos.   There we left her while we returned to the UK for the summer and autumn.  

 Chart of previous route to and from the Canaries

 Island Drifter on the hard in Sopromar boatyard, Lagos

Originally we had planned to return to Lagos in November and recommission Island Drifter prior to cruising to/in Greece in 2015.   These plans were scuppered when Mike was recalled to hospital in Leeds in January 2015.   Subsequently it took him nearly four months to recover and get ‘sailing fit’.

We decided, therefore, to delay sailing in Island Drifter and to return to the Canary Islands this winter. In lieu we enjoyed some good sailing at Calshot in our Wayfarer.

 Sailing our Wayfarer, Overdraught, 

at Calshot – Summer 2015

We also enjoyed cruising in northwest Brittany in July with Alan and Lynn Newton on their Sadler 34  Bucks Eagle. We have sailed on each other’s boats on a number of occasions since we first met in the Caribbean in 2000. 

 (See www.islanddrifterbrittany2015.blogspot.com)

Alan and Lynn on Bucks Eagle in Camaret

 Al and Mike enjoying oysters and white wine 

in the cockpit at Lochtudy

Since it is possible to get cheap flights (£25) to Faro, we also revisited Lagos twice, each time for six weeks, to service, repair and improve Island Drifter in the warm and pleasant late autumn and spring climate of the Algarve.  

 Using the boatyard’s cherry picker 

to resolve problems on the mast

 View from cherry picker at masthead 

over Lagos fishing port and town

 Mike preparing hull to re-Coppercoat patches

On both occasions we visited we lived off the boat in a small holiday apartment owned by our (now) good friends Ian and Sue Musgrove – two ex-pats who live in their large modern apartment on the hill overlooking Lagos town and bay.  Their holiday apartment, in which we stayed, is on the top floor of a traditional building situated within the defensive walls of the old town. It overlooks the Meia Praia, the 5-mile- long golden sand beach that fringes Lagos Bay.   

  Golden Church and public square behind which we lived

 The winding cobbled street leading to the apartment

 View from apartment balcony of Lagos Bay and beach

Peter and Ayli, whom we’ve known for some fifteen years, introduced us to Ian and Sue.   Both couples generously gave of their time to show us around and kindly included us in the hectic social life of the ex-pat community. Hence our visits to the Algarve were not ‘all work and no play’.

Ian and Sue having supper with us 

in THEIR holiday apartment!

 Helen enjoying a ‘Ladies Lunch’ with Sue and friends at Solar del Farelo restaurant out in the country

 Mike and Ian partying

Very sadly, Ayli, who was gravely ill with cancer, died just before we arrived on our latest visit in October to prepare Island Drifter for this cruise. She was a good friend who will be sorely missed.

 Peter and Ayli

The highlight for us of 2015 was the birth of our granddaughter Emelia Rose Norris (Emmy) to Will (our younger son) and Lesley in March.  We made a particular effort to visit them during her first six months and to help where possible.   As grandparents we have enjoyed watching her development – something one didn’t always have time to appreciate with one’s own children. 

 Meeting Emmy for the first time

 Emmy enjoying watching the Rugby World Cup with Mike

 Christening

First holiday – in hotel in Tenerife

We finally returned to Lagos in October 2015 to commission Island Drifter in Sopromar boatyard prior to relaunching her. Again, we enjoyed staying in Ian and Sue’s holiday apartment while doing so. A luxury for us, since we were able to separate working on the boat from our social life.   One has to admit that a range of social functions with our ex-pat friends, together with the knock-out stages of the Rugby World Cup, slowed our progress on preparing the boat – but so what!

 Lads’ Lunch, also at Solar del Farelo

 ‘Gentlemen’s’ Saturday Breakfast Club 

at the local bifana wagon outside the market.

(Helen was a guest by invitation on 

our last Saturday in Lagos!)

(A bifana, incidentally, is a very flavoursome snack in which thinly slice pork blanched at the last moment in a hot broth is served in a roll - very moreish!)

 An enjoyable 3-hour lunch in Chico Zé, 

a quality fish restaurant

 Helen caught out by Mario, a Neil Diamond impersonator!

Ian, a practical ex-building manager, took a keen interest in our progress and joined us to help with the launch.  

 Pre-launch picnic lunch in the boatyard

Island Drifter about to be launched

Next morning, while berthed in the adjacent Marina de Lagos, we reviewed the weather forecast and decided to leave after lunch for the Canaries.  There appeared to be a favourable 5-day weather window.  The wind was forecast to be moderate (F4) from the north for four days, albeit with stronger still-Northerly winds (F6–7) probable on the fifth day, during which we would be approaching Lanzarote.  Gales were expected thereafter.  

 

   Forecast for Day 5 showing the start of the forecast gale (©Passageweather) 

 

When we left we were seen off by Ian and Sue at the harbour entrance.  

Ian and Sue waving us off at Lagos harbour entrance

The weather during the first four days of our passage was as forecast, namely moderate winds and seas from the north.   We sat in the cockpit in the sun during the day and were able to view the stars in absolutely clear skies during our night watches.

 We sailed south in moderate winds and seas 

for the first four days

 Our planned and final route

We used our satellite phone on Saturday morning to call the ‘Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club’, advised them of our progress and received an update of Day Five’s weather from ‘Captain’ Peter.  He confirmed that the gale forecast to develop off the Moroccan coast was still expected. 

 Mike using the sat phone to call Peter at the ‘Lagos Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club’

The forecast for the final 24 hours of our passage proved accurate and we sailed downwind fully reefed in some ‘interesting’ seas.  We were fortunate in that as originally hoped we just avoided the worst of the weather, which only caught us up once we were safely berthed in Marina Lanzarote in Arrecife.  

 The wave behind had our name on it…

  …but it missed us!

The gale that saw us in is likely to continue for the next couple of days. Not a problem as we have a few things to sort out on the boat before we can start our ‘holiday’ in the winter sun.