SY Two Moons: September 2017

Hi All:

Well, that seemed to be a short season. It was as if we spent more time tending to the wants and needs of Two Moons, than we did sailing (which in fact was the case). We covered only 1060 miles before sending Two Moons to do hard time in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. In all fairness, much of the work time was examining all systems in preparation for next year’s big sail.

We came home early because a) we had exceeded our 90 day allowable time in Europe’s Schenegen Territory, b) it was so darn hot, c) the lure of grandchildren and d) we will return to The Canaries in January to catch the Trade winds across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.

It has been eight years since entering the Med and while much remains that we wanted to see, we decided the unrest was infringing upon where and when we wanted to go. So it was time to move on. After the Cape Verdes, the Caribbean will be our next cruising area, if the hurricanes leave anything to see.

In all we visited five of the Canary Islands, before hauling out in Tenerife. Gran Canaria was the previous island and we thought these two quite similar, except Tenerife has the volcano (Mt. Tiede), reported to be the third largest in the world. Both islands have magnificent areas of natural beauty and areas of blight – tourist centers – rows of hotels and condos around magnificent beaches. Renting a car to investigate all the island corners, travelling on an excellent road system, was time really well spent. We visited all the interior mountains, outlying towns and ports, which remain immune to the blight (12 million tourist /year). But what we didn’t see, anywhere, was a canary. Named after the island and not vice versa, there was not one to be seen. Do they migrate to avoid the summer’s heat? (It was averaging between 30-45 C). Africa, which is 60 miles east, wouldn’t offer any relief and everything else is 600 plus miles.

We can see how it would be very easy to spend a season visiting the entire archipelago, because each island offers something different. Although, sailing between the islands proved to be a challenge. The strong winds from the north funnel between the islands, thereby kicking up the seas and combined with the swell makes for some bumpy rides.

About this time of year, boats from the north start to gather in the Canaries in preparation for the annual ARC (Atlantic Rally Crossing) which leaves in November. Their timing is such that they will spend the holiday season in the Caribbean or enable them to fly home. Opinion today is that this can be too early and the chance of storms still high, which is why we will make the jump in January.

So that’s it. We passed season 13 unscathed and are now at home enjoying the end to summer, watching the leaves change, partaking in the abundant local farmers market and watching the never-ending CNN coverage of the hurricane devastation of our next port of call.

Fair winds…….Mike and Grace

Tenerife