So, here we are back home in Des Moines for a few weeks. We’re doing our civic duty by voting, celebrating my father’s 92nd birthday, and hosting Nancy’s family for a fall reunion. We are enjoying the changing of the seasons, but not the leaf raking part, uggh! Anyway, let me get you caught up on what has transpired since our arrival in the Canary Islands.

After departing Graciosa we sailed down the north coast of Lanzarote and around the western tip to Marina Rubicón. The sailing guides warn of acceleration zones around the tips of the islands and boy were they right. We went quickly from a pleasant 10 knots to 28-30 in mere minutes. Fortunately we were prepared and had put in two reefs. Marina Rubicón was a pleasant place to stay for a couple of weeks. There was a fine pool, tasty restaurants and The Flagship bar. We met a delightful couple Paul and Gillian, who own a vacation home in town. We shared a fantastic rib dinner, courtesy of Paul. They also turned us on to a quick trip to Marrakech, Morocco. Ryan Air flys cheaply so we took a side trip.

Marrakech is an incredible city. We stayed in a delightfully secluded Riad in the Medina (the old walled city) and spent four days wandering the souks and alleyways full of spice vendors, weavers, leather-crafters, bakers and even the occasional snake charmer. Always under threat by scooters zooming through the narrow passageways. The food was delicious, the people were welcoming and the sights were magical. I even purchased a hand woven Gandoura, the traditional outer dress for men. I wore it every day and received many compliments on my good taste!

Back in Lanzarote we moved the boat up-island to Arrecife and Marina Lanzarote to have the boat hauled while we returned home for a visit. Arrecife is a delightful town that is easy to walk around with a good vibe and fun music scene. There is really only one drawback to Lanzarote: It is only 70 miles from the Sahara Desert. When the wind is from any direction other than East the skies are crystal clear. But, any East wind, especially the Calima, brings in the desert sand that turns the sky an amber-orange. Visibility can be reduced to mere blocks. It also settles on everything. The rigging of the boat gets caked with it and when the morning dew rises it turns the dust to cement, making lines stiff. We had to hose the boat every other day to keep it from getting solidified. We completely down rigged Zephyr for just a 1 month haulout, grrrr.

You may be asking; “Why are you in marinas all of a sudden?” Good question. The anchorages in Lanzarote are few and tend to be subject to swell in all conditions. Besides, the marinas are inexpensive, very high quality, and easy to maneuver around. We are even letting the yard do our bottom paint this year before heading to the Caribbean in December. Regarding bottom paint: The last time we painted was July 2023 in Rhode Island. After 6,000 miles it was as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Cold North Atlantic water is the key. So, new paint for the barnacles of the Caribbean.

We’re gathering treats for Halloween and preparing for the spooky rush this weekend. Then back to Zephyr and Far Horizons. First we launch, then down islands to Tenerife where we are excited to have two crew members join us for the Atlantic passage to Cape Verde and Antigua. Stay tuned and join us in the Caribbean.