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Note to reader: The below updates were originally posted to a group chat that I was using to keep my family and friends updated on the progress of my sea adventure.
Update 28-October
It is now Saturday, and we have arrived in the Canary Islands!
Our plans changed again, we ran into some problems (read further) on Friday that delayed us, so that it made more sense for us to stop at the first island we came across, La Graciosa. We anchored there for the night. Now we are under way again, now headed for our destination of Gran Canaria. We are traveling southwest in a straight path to Gran Canaria.
On Friday we were sailing well, until our autopilot went haywire and in the chain of events that followed we got our fishing line wrapped in one of the catamaran’s propellers. So we stopped the boat, assessed the situation, and decided to continue on sailing, knowing that we can use only one engine until we have time to clear the line from the propeller of the second engine.
The catamaran was sailing fine without the motors anyway, so we could sail for most of the way, and made a night anchoring once arrived in the Canaries in La Graciosa.
In the morning the captain could more easily get the fishing line cleared from the propeller since the waters were calm. Fortunately for us (and especially for the captain as boat owner), there did not seem to be any other damage to the propeller, drive shaft, or engine, so that was a blessing. 🙏🏾
Now we are heading directly to our planned stopping point, Gran Canaria. We should arrive tomorrow if my back-of-the-napkin estimates are correct.
Here is our current location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9dF5ThkPTgLP1UiA6
Update 29-October
It is now Sunday morning and we have arrived at our destination of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands!
This ends our planned passage from Tangier, Morocco to the Canary Islands. The passage was planned as a 5-day nonstop voyage, and we arrived on day 5 as planned. Day 6 was spent getting to Gran Canaria.
The plan now is to have a rest, take a hot shower, shave and get into some clean clothes 🙂
Also we will take a few days rest, go onshore and explore a bit. And of course we will also start to discuss and evaluate the right day to leave, to start our 3-week nonstop passage from the Canary Islands to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Yesterday went smoothly. After the captain got the fouled propeller issue sorted, we used the motor all the way straight through to Gran Canaria, motoring through the night. We arrived at 8:30am, dropped anchor, and are now taking a breather.
Will update you more as our plans get firmed up!
Here is where we are anchored now:
https://goo.gl/maps/e5kcp7W4hj1CTvEm8
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( Part of series: Europe to the Caribbean with Abundance )