• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
life in the boat
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Sailing
  • Recipes
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Sailing
  • Recipes
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
×

Home » Blog » Atlantic Crossing » Canary Islands - here we come

Canary Islands - here we come

Posted: Nov24,2020 | Modified: August 29, 2021 | by Karen

Looking back to 2002...

We did it! We finally left the Mediterranean and sailed into the Atlantic this morning. Dean has been watching the weather for the past week so that we could complete this 5 day, 4 night crossing to the Canary Islands in the best possible weather. This 700 mile crossing will be our longest so far- a good practice for sailing across the Atlantic next month.
Karen, October 6, 2002
Snowcat sailing with traffic
We had an incredible "speed boat" ride through the Straight of Gibraltar in 30-35 kt winds. In the process, Snowcat hit a new all time speed record of 14 kts, a very fast speed with two reefs in the sail. (The term "reef" refers to the system we have on our boat to reduce the amount of sail area which is exposed to the wind by letting the sail part way down and folding up the unused sail on the boom. Catana has a well engineered system which allows you to complete the entire reefing process from the safety of the cockpit within about 3-4 minutes.) We've learned that you always put in additional reefs as the wind builds up, in order to keep the boat balanced. We have been practicing throughout the Med and are finally getting quite proficient.
Dean, October 6, 2002


Through the night and this morning, winds and waves have steadily decreased. We first took all the reefs out, then tried the spinnaker (those colorful parachute looking sails) and finally the wind got so light that we were only going 3 kts or so. At 4 pm we finally decided to try the "iron sails", ie- Mr. & Mrs Volvo. They have consistently been up to the task and one or the other of them has been running all night. Although it's nice to have two engines, we use them one at a time to save fuel, except when trying to navigate a port or marina where you need the extra control of both engines.
Dean, October 6, 2002
flying the spinnaker
It's about 1 a.m. and I just took over the watch. Nothing out here, we have only seen two other vessels since we left the Straits of Gibraltar, one cargo ship and a sailing yacht, and only 1-3 more that showed up on radar but we never saw them. I know it sounds lonely, but it is so much more relaxing compared to the superhighway of boats that we experienced in the Med.

The guys usually pick one watch to keep us company overnight. Last night I had a bit of a chess tournament going, and beat Ben and the Jack. I was surprised to win, they are both turning into good chess players. We also have Yatzee tournaments, read, eat snacks or just talk during night watches.
Dean, October 8, 2002
Plenty of fun to be had on our passage to the Canary Islands.
Everyone has a job when we're raising the spinnaker!

0
« Peppery Turkey Breast
Fresh Cran-raspberry Relish »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome to my blog! I'm Karen Massey and I love food and travel. In this space I share (mostly) healthy recipes and tales from life on a sailboat and from our home in The Boat (Steamboat Springs, CO).
Still curious?

Sign up here!

Enter your email address and we'll notify you when we post something new.

Popular Posts

bowls of Red Lentil Soup with a swirl of yogurt sauce on top

Red Lentil Soup with Yogurt Sauce

Green Salad with Apples, Pomegranate Seeds and Maple Dressing

Salad Greens with Apple, Pomegranate Seeds and Maple Dressing

best beef tacos

The Best Beef Tacos

Spinach Yogurt Dip

Spinach Yogurt Dip

slices of key lime pie with ocean in the background

Light Key Lime Pie

Search

Footer

Instagram feed

life_in_the_boat

This just happened- Dr. Ben Massey!! He will begin This just happened- Dr. Ben Massey!! He will begin his residency in internal medicine next month in Tucson, AZ. We are so pleased and proud of our son!
We had a fabulous time in the Bahamas, but decided We had a fabulous time in the Bahamas, but decided that it’s time for a new chapter. After 6 years of sailing Snowcat II we brought her to Saint Augustine and turned her over to her new owners. Our land-based adventures from The Boat (Steamboat) will continue…stay tuned!
Awww…solitude with a view! Awww…solitude with a view!
Cruisers know how to have fun!The community of adv Cruisers know how to have fun!The community of adventuresome sailors that we met on the docks of Donny’s Marina were a highlight of our time in Green Turtle Cay.
It’s so nice to be back on the water after a few It’s so nice to be back on the water after a few weeks on the hard getting repairs. That’s boating…sh*t happens, things break!
Finding fresh produce is hit or miss in the Bahama Finding fresh produce is hit or miss in the Bahamas. Fortunately I can usually find plantains and Plantain Chips with Sriracha Yogurt Sauce is a crowd favorite. Fellow Steamboat cruisers Sarah & Chris shared this recipe with me.  The link in our profile will take you to the full recipe.
Amazing sight from our boat at dusk! We found out Amazing sight from our boat at dusk! We found out that it was a Space X rocket.🚀
Sunrise in the Bahamas can be spectacular. We were Sunrise in the Bahamas can be spectacular. We were preparing to leave Stocking Island when a fellow cruiser took this picture of our boat as the sun came up. Thank you Robert Hill aboard m/v Change of Pace, for taking this photo and for letting me share it. Robert entered it in the local cruisers photo contest and won first prize!
Chat n’ Chill beach knows the distance to Steamb Chat n’ Chill beach knows the distance to Steamboat! We’re enjoying our visit from family and the beautiful weather.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 life in the boat