Mindelo - First Impressions

Our First impressions of Mindelo was total surprise. The marina is smart and well run with a popular floating cafe/bar (yes, they do an English breakfast, albeit a spicy version). Clean toilet facilities, a ship shop chandlery, good key card security and very proficient marinios. Mindelos atmosphere is relaxed and laid back. Not far away, past the commercial port is a lovely white sandy beach. There is several small supermarkets, a fish market and a outside market where we found Merci (flag lady) and purchased 2 courtesy flags and ordered a red British ensign.

Alison found a new friend

Mindelo beach

Merci, Merci !

There were several familiar boats/faces that we were pleased to see again in the marina. One thing we have been looking to buy, for quite a while, is a new anchor. The ship shop has another premises in town that we are directed to and we purchased a spade type anchor at a very good price. We also decided to buy a big round fender to protect our stern from nudging the pontoon when the swell builds up (so glad we did!). We thought about those rubber or spring shock absorbers for our ropes but one of our neighbors said his only lasted around 10 days and another said they made their boat spring back and forward so much that they couldn't sleep. We used reinforced hose pipe and 3 ply nylon rope plus some 8 ply from our middle cleats as insurance, which worked great !

Anchor in situ

After our very tiring trip from the Canaries, hand steering all the way, we had to make a decision regarding a new auto pilot. After speaking to Raymarine specialist Gilson, we pulled the trigger and ordered a linear drive 'Evolution' system to be fitted. Also new cables for our VHF handsets.

La Palma

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.

The Balconies

Note the balconies house the toilet

Maritime Museum

Beautiful Square complete with bandstand above cafe