We decided to leave Garachico with a night sail to give ourselves a greater selection of destinations. In other words to keep going if the going was good. Plan A was Santa Cruz de La Palma, plan B Tazacorte and plan C Gomera. It's good to have options.
In retrospect, the night sail after so long in Garachico, a very sheltered,calm, flat water marina was a mistake. I felt queasy getting back on the ocean and in the night we couldn't see what the sails were up to. Our speedo wasn't reading correctly, the vhf was playing up again and the crew were a bit rusty from 6 weeks off! When the wind and sea state got up in the acceleration zone between the islands we had trouble slowing the boat down and the autopilot belt snapped.
So plan A, the nearest destination was chosen - Santa Cruz, La Palma's capital
We radioed the port authority for permission to enter marina La Palma as the port is busy with ferries, cruise liners and cargo ships.
We berthed on the reception pontoon whilst it was still dark and slept until the office opened.
A very nice town, lovely marina office and facilities and a mini Spa supermarket and cafes facing the marina. We had read that the marina suffers from surge and swell and yes it is 'rolley' like being at anchor but probably very good for keeping your sea legs.
We did some sight seeing and stocked up on cheap tobacco and recovered for a week.
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