Captains Log: Gibraltar to Lanzarote, Day 3

Listen while you read:

October 18th, Friday, 11.00am - 400 miles to go!

Wind and swell continue to be fair, with winds between 13 to 16 knots, and the swell has eased to about a metre. The wind is coming from behind, so we are running downwind at an average speed of about 6.5 knots. It is warm and sunny, making for a very pleasant sail. We’re hoping the winds will pick up a bit so we can push it further.

We did hoist the gennaker but found that we made better velocity made good with just the main. The gennaker halyard (the line used to pull it up the mast) has a pulley on it, giving it a two-to-one purchase. This makes it easier to haul, but the two lines can get twisted. That’s what happened (not sure why, as it looked good going up). So our halyard is pulled up but now stuck with a nasty twist at the top.

It’s no drama—it works perfectly fine and can still be furled (rolled up), and we won’t be needing to fly the code zero or the Parasail on this leg. But it does mean we’ll have to send Cheryl to the top of the 21-metre mast when we get to the Canaries!

October 18th, Friday, 4.20pm - 360 miles to go

We are about 125 miles of the coast of Morocco, winds are lighter than forecast at around 13 knots, would love if it were 20! Stephen put a line out and we did get a fish on the line, but alas it got off the hook.

October 18th, Friday, 4.20pm - 326 miles to go

Thai chicken curry with rice for dinner (thanks again Cheryl). I'm on the 9 pm until 1 am watch. Just had to turn the boat to go behind a freighter, the first that has come close since we left the Straights of Gibraltar.

The wind has picked up nicely, blowing southerly at 18 to 24 knots. We are running down wind with only the main, this is very comfortable at night.Average speed is 8 knots, hitting 11.5 when we surf down a wave. On a direct heading to Lanzarote.

Full moon again tonight, in the total darkness at sea it feels like daylight.

October 18th, Friday, 11.59 pm - 300 miles to go

• Winds have been steady so progress is good. Dropping off a little bit now, hoping it is a temporary lull!

October 18th, Saturday, 5 am - 273 miles to go

• Good conditions continue.

• This is the most traffic we have seen since we have been on open ocean

October 19th, Saturday, 11 am - 234 miles to go

• Good conditions continue.

  
  

History snippet:

On this day in 1828, during the Battle of Navarino, a combined British, French, and Russian fleet annihilated an Ottoman fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, close to Greece. Although not directly on your route, this major naval battle was part of British naval dominance in the region, helping to secure Mediterranean shipping lanes during that period. It’s a reminder of the strategic importance of Gibraltar and the surrounding waters throughout history.