After our time in Las Palmas, we set off again on 12 August 2023 – heading for Tenerife. First we anchored up north in “our” secluded bay, and from there we went down to Los Cristianos, where we spent a few days anchored off the beaches – simply wonderful.
Breakfast with obstacles
After four or five days of nothing but swimming and lazing around on board, we had an idea: let’s take the dinghy and go ashore for a nice breakfast. The bay is enclosed by breakwaters with an entrance in the middle – and we decided to head for the beach on the left. Of course we also brought along all our rubbish from the past week, neatly packed in bags.
About 100 metres from the beach, a wave suddenly came from behind. I had already switched off the engine, the dinghy was turned sideways – and we flipped over. The dinghy lay upside down, we were soaked from head to toe, and our rubbish was scattered all over the beach. Half the beach was in stitches – we were the laughing stock of the day.
But people were also incredibly helpful: everyone pitched in, collected the rubbish, turned the dinghy back over and pulled it ashore with us. We rinsed off at the beach showers and then – still dripping wet – went for breakfast. One of the worst breakfasts we have ever had here, by the way: dry bread, rancid sausage – and all of it at a hefty price.
Rowing instead of motoring
The way back was no better. Waves kept rolling in, and it was really hard to get through the surf. When we finally made it, we tried to start the outboard – and discovered that it had swallowed salt water when we capsized and wouldn’t start any more.
So I rowed. Steffi sat in front and called out the course. After a good half hour, more like three quarters – in over 30 degrees – I look around and see: we had passed ME long ago. Steffi had unerringly guided me to a completely different catamaran. When we were finally back on board, it was of course another reason to laugh – and to celebrate.
La Palma becomes our home port
From Tenerife we sailed on to La Palma, which was to be our home port for the next year and a half. Because we had some things to sort out in our company, ME stayed there during that time and hardly moved at all – a real shame for a boat like her.
But we still treated ourselves to a few lovely days on the island: the Marcos y Cordero hike in the green north – through water tunnels and past waterfalls – and a dreamlike sunset up on the Roque de los Muchachos. On 26 August we took the Fred. Olsen ferry to Tenerife and flew home from there.
We kept coming back though, spending a week’s holiday at a time and checking that everything was fine. Friends of ours also came aboard for a week or two quite often, so there was almost always someone there. And so this time passed too – and of course there are a few stories to tell from our time on La Palma. But that’s a new chapter …