Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The first order of priority on Monday was to find all the chandleries in Las Palmas, as I think I mentioned previously, they are especially well equipped here because of the number of boats which leave from here to go across the Atlantic. Kev had a few bits to get (blocks etc) to improve the running of our preventer (to stop the boom flying across unplanned when sailing downwind). We also bought some specialist boat cleaning solutions to help keep the boat well maintained. Finally, we need to get pilot books, charts (may need some additional) and courtesy flags (you have to fly the host countries flag when you arrive) ready for when we cross the Atlantic.
We are debating at the moment whether we are going to go via the Cape Verdes Islands and straight to the Caribbean from there; or via the Cape Verdes to Brazil or just directly to the Caribbean from the Canaries. There are pros and cons with each choice but we will need to make a decision to finish our shopping list. We are both quite keen to visit Brazil, but want to do some more research into the route and the potential places to visit when we arrive. After Brazil we’d go via Venezuela to get to Grenada. I think ultimately it all rests on how long we decide to stay in the Canaries and therefore how long we have before we need to be in Grenada in February to see other places on the way. We plan to head off from Gran Canaria after we have visited the other Canary Islands, so if we don’t decide now then we can pick up the last items just before we leave the Canaries.
We headed into the harbour via the dingy, leaving Invincible for the first time at anchor on her own. We managed to find one of the larger chandleries Rolnautic which was very well stocked and we got a good few of the spares and other things we needed. I also went to find the nearest supermarket, which turned out to be another Hiper Dino, you know you have been somewhere for a while when you start to have brand preferences. It felt very strange being in such a big city again, I just can’t get used to the traffic noise and smell.
We had a look round the marina, it seems very good, very large with boats from all over the world, lots of bars and restaurants and shops, which is not what you normally find in a local authority marina such as this, but I think the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) has definitely added to the fortunes of the place. It’s certainly the smartest marina office I have ever seen, normally they are a single windowless room, this is a beautiful little building all curves, wood and local clay. A few beers overlooking the harbour then a trip back in the dingy – who needs a car!



An evening at anchor with our new neighbours