29th Nov San Sebastian de La Gomera

Since my last we have been at anchor and have not been happy enough with the holding to go ashore.

My departure from Santa Cruz, on the 18^th Nov at 10pm, was delayed by two passenger ferries coming into the harbour, but having got out a good breeze (force 2-5) pushed us along, until we were in the lee of Tenerife just before making our first anchorage at Punta de Teno,

Sunrise over Tenerife

 beside a lighthouse under some impressive cliffs, the anchor bit first time on a rocky bottom, however I did do anchor watch every night, not taking the chance with that rocky shore!

At one point after dark I came on deck for a look around and saw the some clouds shooting past between us and the mountainside looking like wraiths, it took me a while to realise it was the lighthouse light (not very bright)shining on the hillside!

Punta Teno at bottomend of cliffs

 After a few days here we went down the coast and tried unsuccessfully to anchor at San Juan so moved further to Los Cristianos on rock again, tried to clean the green beard off the boottop but the swell was too much, so after a couple of days moved on to Las Tejitas at Punta Montana Roja

montana Roja

From the anchorage

 close to the airport off a sandy beach, out of the swell but not the wind. Managed to clean the worst of the green stuff off but wind meant it was cold. Having had enough of sitting on the boat we set off for the marina at San Sebastian on La Gomera with a nice wind building, however that didn’t last as the wind died half way across, so motored the rest of the way, one of the fast ferries barged past at 19 knots as I was getting ready to enter the harbour which unsettled me and on entering the marina the marinero directed me to the middle of a crowded pontoon,but we managed to get in without mishap, I must be getting better at manoeuvring.

In the marina there are a number of deep sea rowing boats, they are taking off next week for a transatlantic race, anything from 1-6 people on board, there are some crazy people about!