Paul[Wils] and Hils visit the Kasbah

" If it moves you run left and I'll head right"

Second pic

Latest pics

1.Paul [ Wils ]fixing the steaming light , think he was saying " Does my
bum look big in this?

2. Hils up the Rio Vasquez with Dave and Sarah from Cape,saying " You're
dead right I'm not diving in that chilly water like those 2 lunatics!"

Pax Latest

Hola All,

Happy and healthy wishes for 2011!!!

We are currently in Las Palmas marina, Gran Canaria.

Our trip down from Alcoutim was great.After Paul [Wils] and Rene joined us
in Alcoutim we headed off down the Guadiana on11th December, hoping to make
it straight to Lanzarote. After stocking up in VRSA at the third attempt we
got over the sandbar at the mouth of the river, due to big southerly swells,
and headed south under engine. After a few hours the wind was increasing
from the east so we set all the sails and enjoyed some great sailing down
to Agadir in Morocco. It took us 4days and 3nights, we reached good speeds
and had over 20 bottle-nosed dolphins accompanying us part of the way.
Agadir marina proved very uncomfortable and swelly when the winds turned
southerly, we snapped 3 lines in one night, fortunately we had rigged around
15 so no damage done. The staff were very friendly and tried to please but
wi-fi capability was frustrating and the amount of bureaucracy made for a
wearing stay. We were stuck there for 9days but did get to see a bit more of
Morocco albeit the touristy part.
Finally we managed to escape there on 24th Dec, after 4 hours of waiting for
official stamps and visits and enjoyed some more excellent sailing to
Lanzarote. Christmas day was particularly memorable as we buzzed along with
Christmas songs blasting out of the ondeck speakers!! Our max speed over the
ground was 8.5 knots, and we managed turkey breast and fried new potato
sandwiches for lunch.
Arriving near Arrecife we looked at anchoring for the night in Naos, but
there wasn't much there and it was Wils birthday, so after fixing a new
piece if leather to the end of the main boom we headed south to Rubicon and
spent a night in the marina on Boxing Day before motoring over to Gran
Canaria.
Our plan is to settle here for a while, although it will be mostly at anchor
as prices are quite high, but we will be just north of the marina and able
to enjoy their facilities. Cape have already gone out ther this am [new
Year's Day]but think we will join them tomorrow. Haven't got around to too
much exploring yet but have found a good ferreteria and know where the
nearest Lidl is!!!
Hope everybody has a brilliant 2011,with lots of good news and good health.
Cheers, all the best Hilary, Paul, Pax and crew.

Captain and first mate resting

The Hard worked crew!!

Pax Nostrum latest

Hi everybody

Have realised most people will be saving up and getting ready for christmas
in December, so don't have much time or money to go off sailing. Therefore
we are considering sailing straight from here [ ie the bottom of the Rio
Guadiana where Spain and Portugal meet in the south] direct to Lanzarote in
December. This should take about 5 or 6 days max.
So anyone interested in such a trip please get in touch with available dates
as soon as poss and we can start making plans.

All fine up the river at the mo although nights are gettng cold and we have
had a bit of rain. Still not complaining been working in shorts most of the
day and now off to the bar for a few cold Sagres.

Hope to hear from lots of folks, cheers H&P