Tick Tock

~~~







As we draw ever closer to the launch date of Sunday at 13:00 hours (GMT), the local stores, boat shops, and repair shops are becoming more and more frenetic. 250 or so boats with crews from one person to 10 or even 12 are flying the ARC flag. A large number of these sailors do not speak Spanish or English. Conversations in stores often begin in halting Español.
"¿Ehhhh uhhh habla Ingles?"
"Mmmmmno. Eh, un poquito, para ... no."
Then the dancing begins. The two attempt to pantomime the particulars.


"Very impressive, but I'm still not going out with you."

Yesterday, we hit the Corte Ingles grocery store again to purchase fruits, vegetables, frozen vegetables, and meat. We bought a huge piece of beef that cost around £100.00. The butcher kept asking, "¿Todo?". Si, todo.

Last night, around 21:30, all that stuff was delivered to the boat. We are now heaving with food and water. As the trek across the Atlantic progresses, the boat will get lighter and the crew heavier.


Gettin' all carnivorous

This morning there was more scurrying around the island. Skipper Louie and I exchanged dirty jokes in a tackle shop while they repaired our main fishin' pole. We also found holistic meds for his stubborn sinusitis (thank you, Ellen, for the recommendations), and continued to try to kill the life raft issue by using shuttle diplomacy between the ARC offices and the Ino.

Many thanks are in order for Polly in Malta, who helped track down paperwork in the UK for the aforementioned life raft. Cap'n Mark worked that issue from Las Palmas. A new wrinkle has arisen from the probability that the good ship Ino may be taking-on a fifth crew member. If this indeed happens, they will need their 6 man raft back and we will need to look elsewhere for a boat with four or fewer and a raft for five or more.

Quite frankly, this reporter doesn't have a list of achievements for Barry and Tom, as I was trudging around the city all morning. I know, though, that they have been non-stop as well. Tonight, for the first time since our chef arrived, we will dine out. The Cap'n and his bride are attending a soiree, and the rest of us want to save the food onboard for the trip. THE TRIP! We are 44 hours away from The Crossing.



Weather for Las Palmas 20 November 2007 There is a complex area of low pressure that extends from the UK to Portugal and west to Madeira where there is a small depression. This will give us an unstable south westerly airstream with the chance of rain and showers. During today the wind will be SW force 4-5 offshore, although we are sheltered in the port of Las Palmas, where the wind will be lighter and more variable. The temperature will reach 25C during today feeling colder in showers. The wind will stay from the SW until late tomorrow when it will veer to the west then northwest as the tail end of a cold front passes over the Canary Islands. The outlook for the start is for a moderate north-easterly trade wind.








~~~