Captain’s Log

See what the crew has been up to, and where the voyage will take them next.

Captain’s Log Entries

  • 2024 Fall Voyage
Final Days of the Fall 2024 Voyage

The wind was still up as we approached the entrance to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The crew did an excellent job sailing us into the harbor, then striking sail in the lee of the breakwater. Soon, we were secured at our berth in the marina and, after taking care of some details on board, we dined on Amelon's excellent chicken tikka masala and enjoyed our first evening on Tenerife. 

Yesterday morning, we kicked off the day with the marine science final exam. Everyone did pretty well. Next, we had a score to settle - between the port (Jules, Hyland, Reed and George) and the starboard (Teddy, Amelon, Avery and Holden) sides of the boat. In recent days, during a few competitions, they had split and so a winner needed to be decided. The fall trip's annual scavenger hunt started off with a pin chase on board, to determine what group would have a head start. Starboard was off and running early, after narrowly winning the pin chase (a competition testing knowledge of the lines on board), and didn't look back. Although both groups did well on the scavenger hunt, starboard pulled out the victory. Either way, everyone enjoyed exploring the lovely city of Santa Cruz and having an excuse to talk to its inhabitants, which really was the point. The rest of the afternoon, we went out to explore the north side of the island. The jagged peaks were beckoning. We drove up to the top of a ridge for amazing views, and encountered some unexpected tropicalesque vegetation. We stopped on the windward side of the island on the way back, in a town called Bajamar. 

This morning, our final full day, we had a busy day planned so launched right into field day. Not the one with potato sack races, but the one where we clean Geronimo down below and on-deck.  The crew buckled down and did a great job. From here, we went out to explore more of the island. This time we headed south and drove up to Tiede National Park, passing through pine forest that spilled out into a large caldera with amazing views of the peak of Teide and surrounding islands. Descending down to the southeast coast, we found ourselves in playa de Medano for a final afternoon of playing in the surf. Back in Santa Cruz, we enjoyed a dinner out on the town, gelato and our closing activities on board. It is getting late, and everyone is moving in the direction of sleep - and enjoying our last night together as a crew. Plan is to depart the boat at 1000 tomorrow morning for the airport. 

  • 2024 Fall Voyage
Underway for Tenerife

We departed our marina yesterday morning, and headed west in the lee of the island. Fueled by a ridge of high pressure to our north, the wind had built out of the northeast. In the southwest corner we found some good protection. Passing hotels and resorts, parasailing boats, and a rather large tourist infrastructure, we eventually got around the corner to a quiet area on the island. The anchorage just off Playa de Veneguera was all ours, and we anchored off the black sand beach between two steep cliffs rising out of the Atlantic. Unlike the windward side, this part of the island is dry and arid, with alternating dry ravines and steep precipices. You would be forgiven if you thought yourself in southwest Utah or northern Arizona - at least until you realized you were in the ocean. Swimming, the rope swing, more swimming, a trip to the beach and relaxing rounded out our last day at anchor. 

This morning, a final swim call in the deep blue 78 ºF water and we were underway toward Tenerife. We could see Tiede in the distance, the highest peak on Tenerife (and Spain) as we sailed off the anchor and hugged the coast north. Approaching Cabo Colorado, we emerged from the lee and the wind turned on very quickly. Soon we were bounding along on a close reach doing 9-10 knots under a single reefed mainsail and double-reefed jib, and the seas were a little sporty.  Owing to the cape effect, the wind within 5 n.m. of the coast was elevated from the gradient wind offshore - so we were taking on some spray. As a write this, we are close to 15 n.m. out and the seas and wind have backed off quite a bit, the cockpit is considerably dryer and the crew is starting to dry off and contemplate a late lunch.  Everyone is enjoying the sail, but also looking forward to reaching Santa Cruz, our final destination. 

  • 2024 Fall Voyage
Gran Canaria

We had a relaxing two nights anchored at Sotovento,Fuerteventura, a few trips ashore for swimming and exploring the sandbar. Early yesterday (the 0400 type of early), we departed for Gran Canaria and made the trip across. Avery had the watch bringing us off the anchor and getting us on the way, while Hyland brought us on the homestretch. We arrived at the marina in the late afternoon, and squeezed into our spot, for perhaps our final Mediterranean mooring of our voyage. I won't be sad to have to go alongside a dock. Geronimo was due for a good cleaning, so we got to work. Afterward, we went ashore for som much-welcomed showers. 

This morning we went out to explore the island. Amelon's port report on Gran Canaria kicked us off, and soon we found ourselves driving up into the mountains. The change in biomes as we climbed up to over 6000' was quite remarkable. Starting in an arid, desert-like area, at the top of the island we found tall Canarian pines creating a dense forest. We hiked out to Roque Nublo, for some amazing views of the island and beyond to Tenerife, where we could see El Tiede - the highest peak in Spain. We also stopped at Tejeda for some great ice cream, then on to Pico de las Nieves, before descending on a winding road to a restaurant set off in the mountains for dinner. Our plan is to depart the marina to an anchorage tomorrow, and then sail across to Tenerife the next day. 

  • 2024 Fall Voyage
Fuerteventura

With the intention of going for a run and scouting out the dock situation in Rosario, I woke up at dawn and went ashore. It was a peaceful morning and the small city wasn't quite awake. Our watermaker can make up to 40+ gallons per hour from seawater, but not at the moment. We are waiting on a part. So, we need to go to a dock to top off on water.  I actually ran into the same guy I saw on Lobos the day before, and he helped point me in the right direction. 

Back on board, Hyland was making scrambled eggs for breakfast and things were stirring. Teddy had the helm as we came alongside the dock, Jules and Avery caught dock lines, while Holden, Amelon, Reed and George managed things on board. It didn't take long to fill up and we were underway for our anchorage about 20 n.m. south. Holden was JWO sailing us off the dock, with Jules at the helm. We set the jib, floated off the dock, gybed around and then set the main. Soon we were sailing south and making good time. At the halfway point, Teddy took over as JWO to bring us the rest of the way in. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we enjoyed sailing in the lee of the island. Reed decided to put out a fishing line, and within 10 minutes landed a sizeable yellow fin tuna!  In the mid-afternoon, we sailed up to the anchorage at Ginginamare. Some relaxed on the boat, while some went to explore a blow-hole and go for a walk ashore. The island is beautiful but quite dry, except for some greenery around houses. Reminds me of the southwest United States in some ways. 

This morning we are underway for Sotavento in a calm. Jules is about to make grilled cheese for lunch. Hope the weather holds to spend two nights here before departing for Gran Canaria. Getting close to a week to go, most of the students are nearing completion of their schoolwork and we are enjoying our last days on board. 

 

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