Captains Log: Fuerteventura to Gran Ganaria

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We came sailing into this anchorage in the dark, so this morning we got to see where we landed. It was completely deserted:

It was a little trick anchoring as the wind picked up just as we were anchoring, gusting to 21 knots. Knowing we would be coming in at night we chose a big quiet anchorage. There was only one other boat in this huge anchorage (mainly because there is nothing on shore). We came into the bay and stopped in a depth approximately 7 metres, dropped 40m of chain (when we add the bridal that would be 50m). But before we got the bridal on the wind (and current) whipped the bow around and before we could do much all 70 metres of chain and line that attaches the Chain to the boat. That is about 80 metres. In this case it was no drama as we deliberately chose a spot with lots of space, so we simply left it that way. I will check the tension on the windlass clutch in the morning, it seemed to run out very easily.

In the morning we went to pull up the anchor and again it was slipping. We managed to get it up by ensuring that there was no tension on the chain. One underway, I dug out the Quick Windlass users manual, completely hopeless, who writes these things!!! In the meantime I found a screw sitting by the windlass and noted that the two screwa which hold the end cap on had both worked them selves loose! I assume the second one is somewhere in the well with the chain.

I inserted the one I had and tightened it up. That should be enough to get us by. Another item to add to my checklist. We were fortunate that we chose a desolated anchorage, I would not have liked this to happen in a busy anchorage with the wind blowing and the current flowing. I posted a note on this to the Nautitech Owners Facebook Group.

Las Palmas is about a 6 hour sail from our current location on the southern tip of Fuerteventura. We want to go to Las Palmas to check it out, but we know it will be busy. The ARC+ sets off two weeks before the ARC, it takes a different route. The ARC+ departs on the 10th November and goes from Las palmas to Cape Verde Islands and on to Grenada. The ARC departs 24th November and the route is directly from Las Palmas to St Lucia. The marina is full until the ARC+ leaves, so we cannot get in until the 10th November. There is an Anchorage in the harbour, but it will be very busy. I used the "SeaPeople App" to connect with someone who is already there, asking if there is room for one more boat? The response was "It's crowded but people are coming and going all the time so I think you will find a spot. Message me agin tomorrow for an update. On Friday they will open up two more anchorages so if it is tight the first night, you can always move to a good spot on Friday".

We need to get there before Saturday as the wind and swell pick-up making for an uncomfortable passage.

At 4.10pm we dropped anchor in Las Palmas, there is only one are in the harbour available for anchoring but it there was room for one more boat. We had a bit of trouble getting the hook to stick, but on the third attempt we got it. The harbour is industrial on one side and recreational on the other. It seems to be a significant container terminal and there are quite a number of bulk carriers. I need to do more research into what it supports. There are of course a few cruise ships too. Im not seeing the sea of ARC+ flags on boats in the harbour, maybe we are here to early for that.

We will probably have a quiet night on the boat tonight and go exploring the city tomorrow

Song of the day

Rod Stewart’s hit song “Sailing” has become one of his most beloved tracks, but its origins and journey to the top are as interesting as the song itself. Released in 1975 on his album Atlantic Crossing, “Sailing” wasn’t originally written by Stewart. It was penned by Scottish songwriter Gavin Sutherland of The Sutherland Brothers in 1972. The song, with its haunting melody and emotional lyrics about longing, freedom, and returning home, resonated deeply with Stewart, who gave it a stirring, soulful rendition.

Though “Sailing” didn’t immediately take off in the U.S., it became a massive hit in the U.K., reaching number one on the charts. Stewart’s distinctive raspy voice, combined with the song’s poignant lyrics, turned it into an anthem not only for literal voyages but for personal and emotional journeys as well. Interestingly, Stewart recorded the song in just two takes, capturing the raw emotion that makes it so timeless.

“Sailing” has since been used in various contexts, perhaps most notably in a British TV documentary about the HMS Ark Royal, a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, which further cemented its association with seafaring. Stewart himself has admitted that, despite the song’s success, he has a personal fear of deep water—a funny twist for a man whose most famous song is about sailing! Nonetheless, “Sailing” remains one of his most iconic tracks, evoking a sense of freedom, yearning, and adventure.

History snippet:

In the 19th century, sailors were often at the mercy of the wind and the unpredictability of weather, making navigation a perilous adventure. But in 1807, a brilliant Scottish engineer named John Loudon McAdam developed a surprising innovation—not for ships themselves, but for what they sailed into: the humble road. Yes, McAdam revolutionized road construction with his “macadam” surface, which laid the foundation for modern tarmac. What does this have to do with sailing? Well, it turns out McAdam’s work was so influential that it inspired a shift in maritime thinking about smoother travel—leading to innovations in ship hull designs and materials. Suddenly, the idea of a ship’s surface being smoother for efficiency wasn’t so far-fetched. So, in a quirky twist of fate, a road engineer helped smooth the way for faster, sleeker ships.