2012 is hopefully looking like a good year so far, with bookings coming in and enquiries up on last year. Its full speed ahead as we try to get Mar Menor Sea School ready for the coming season, the boat has been lifted and is now on the hard for antifouling and a polish. There a new mainsail to bend on but we are still trying to source a genoa, the existing one is still good but it would be nice to have a complete new suite to play with.
RYA courses start on the 12th February so we have to be ship shape and Bristol fashion for our first guests then.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Caribbean Xmas
Setting sail from St.Lucia we have headed South to Bequia, Union Island and our final destination Grenada. Once past St. Vincent we have experienced some great sailing and visited a few wonderful bays. Each bay appears to have its own special character and even the town of St.Georges on Grenada has a very personal feel to it. Last night the atmoshpere was truly local with steel pans and market stall lining the streets, the Xmas Eve last minute shop happens over here as well but fortunately its Caribbean time and nobody seems to rush! Unfortunately for us we have to cut our adventure short and will be flying back on the 27th Dec. The adventure is not really over, more like postponed, we will be back i'm sure.
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Arrived in St Lucia
We arrived safely after 21 days at sea, leaving Gran Canria we had all hoped for araound 19 days but the main thing was to arrive safely. It is impossible to sum up an Ocean crossing in just a few words but overall it was great experience. Naturally there were highs and lows, which included turtles, whales, dolphins, lots of fishing and some magnificent stars along with the acceptance of being totally alone in the middle of nowhere. Of the lows, sleep deprivation, giving the cruising chute a wash mid Atlantic and severe rope burn to both hands.
Having spent a week in Rodney Bay recuperating, it is now time to move on and let the adventure continue as we head South towards the Grenadines for Xmas in search of quite anchorages and more Caribbean culture.
Having spent a week in Rodney Bay recuperating, it is now time to move on and let the adventure continue as we head South towards the Grenadines for Xmas in search of quite anchorages and more Caribbean culture.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
The excitement builds
Sunday 20th November is approaching fast, 99% of the boat checks are complete and the excitement is building as the start date comes ever closer. The seminars are proving interesting and provide at least a couple of new ideas in addition to reinforcing best practices, lets hope they keep us safe and that the crew and boat arrive in tact!
Shopping is proving the most popular passtime for the majority of yachties in a last minute attempt to empty all the shops in Las Palmas of any food products, its reminescent of the major food stores on Christmas Eve in the UK.
Hoping to explore ashore this afternoon as we can finally start to relax - if were not ready now, it ain´t going to get looked at and well have to just deal with issues as they arise.
Really looking forward to setting sail and starting the second leg of our Caribbean adventure.
Shopping is proving the most popular passtime for the majority of yachties in a last minute attempt to empty all the shops in Las Palmas of any food products, its reminescent of the major food stores on Christmas Eve in the UK.
Hoping to explore ashore this afternoon as we can finally start to relax - if were not ready now, it ain´t going to get looked at and well have to just deal with issues as they arise.
Really looking forward to setting sail and starting the second leg of our Caribbean adventure.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Hooray - arrived in Las Palmas
Safe in Las Palmas, following a windless journey from Gibraltar which seems kind of ironic seeing as our departure was held up by foul winds we arrived in Gran Canaria on Friday late evening.
The trip down was uneventful with everything working well on the yacht, one of the advantage of light winds was being able to troll a line of the stern and our efforts were rewarded with 2 fish suppers (very yummy). Having departed from Gib just after midday we cleared the straits and set a course along the African Coast although planning to stay well off. In all the excitement we tried to settle into a night watch but none of us got much sleep the first night. Thankfully after a short period you get so tired that as soon as you come off watch and your head hits the pillow your out for the count. Its weird how your body apapts and on our first night back in port none of us slept well again as we kept waking up to fulfil our watch duties!
The atmosphere in Las Palmas is vibrant, there are still around 40 yachts to arrive, but we are here and resting before the next leg. The yachts are adorned in code flags and look very colourful, the crews are all in good spirits and there seems to be a party every night for those that can cope with it all.
Today we booked in at the ARC office, had our safety check and passed with flying colours so all is well on that front, we are planning a job day tomorrow before heading off for a swim followed by a paella and bottle of wine. We decided that a paella was almost compulsory as it will be some time before we have another opportunity to sample one.
Looking forward to all the seminars next week, hoping to learn lots and pick up some good tips which we can then use in the school.. Will set up a link on the website with tracking reference details and boat number which is 118 as soon as we know oursleves.
The trip down was uneventful with everything working well on the yacht, one of the advantage of light winds was being able to troll a line of the stern and our efforts were rewarded with 2 fish suppers (very yummy). Having departed from Gib just after midday we cleared the straits and set a course along the African Coast although planning to stay well off. In all the excitement we tried to settle into a night watch but none of us got much sleep the first night. Thankfully after a short period you get so tired that as soon as you come off watch and your head hits the pillow your out for the count. Its weird how your body apapts and on our first night back in port none of us slept well again as we kept waking up to fulfil our watch duties!
The atmosphere in Las Palmas is vibrant, there are still around 40 yachts to arrive, but we are here and resting before the next leg. The yachts are adorned in code flags and look very colourful, the crews are all in good spirits and there seems to be a party every night for those that can cope with it all.
Today we booked in at the ARC office, had our safety check and passed with flying colours so all is well on that front, we are planning a job day tomorrow before heading off for a swim followed by a paella and bottle of wine. We decided that a paella was almost compulsory as it will be some time before we have another opportunity to sample one.
Looking forward to all the seminars next week, hoping to learn lots and pick up some good tips which we can then use in the school.. Will set up a link on the website with tracking reference details and boat number which is 118 as soon as we know oursleves.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
The Adventure begins
Our Caribbean adventure has begun, the yacht we are crossing on Kinnirossi Blue has arrived in Gibraltar. El Rubicon has been winterised, our bags are packed and we are set to meet the yacht in Gib. However a massive low pressure sitting in the Atlantic is delaying our departure to the Canaries until the weekend, hopefully it wont leave too much fetch. The prospect of seasickness at the outset is not going to inspire the crew with confidence!
Still it gives us time to gather our thoughts and take in what we are about to attempt, crossing the Atlantic under sail is not to be taken lightly and the weather will play a major part in our plans, our current delay is weather related so it clearly isn't doing us any favours at the moment, lets hope its just asking us to show it the the respect it deserves and will behave itself from now until we arrive in the Caribbean.
Still it gives us time to gather our thoughts and take in what we are about to attempt, crossing the Atlantic under sail is not to be taken lightly and the weather will play a major part in our plans, our current delay is weather related so it clearly isn't doing us any favours at the moment, lets hope its just asking us to show it the the respect it deserves and will behave itself from now until we arrive in the Caribbean.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Countdown to Southampton Boatshow
The countdown has begun to the start of this years Southampton Boatshow.
Don't forget to come and see us on stand J105 where we will be launching information on our new Tidal sailing venue - Isla Canela. You can now join us as we sail between La Manga and Isla Canela on the Spanish/Portuguese border. Contact us for more information on our extended cruise and Tidal sailing courses.
Don't forget to come and see us on stand J105 where we will be launching information on our new Tidal sailing venue - Isla Canela. You can now join us as we sail between La Manga and Isla Canela on the Spanish/Portuguese border. Contact us for more information on our extended cruise and Tidal sailing courses.
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