Reboot under tow, Canary Island Winds

Reboot under tow, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Did you ever wonder what it looks like from the tow boat? Captain Hernández was kind enough to send me some pictures. Apparently their SOP is to take pictures during a rescue and again when they have brought the boat to safety. I guess there are lawyers in Europe too!

Yes, it was a bit bouncy out there. After a long and quite pleasant passage from Rota with 10 to 15 relative (sometimes on the beam, sometimes on a broad reach) the wind picked up to 25 to30 as I approached Tenerife. The waves also picked up. My assumption was that this was a result of Tenerife Island "bending" the wind around the end of the island. Of course I also said "once again I have to make port in strong winds." As I approached Santa Cruz de Tenerife the winds started to moderate. While bobbing around (the jiffy furl for the main was just enough sail area to keep me in place one mile off the breakwall - hows that for luck?) I still had 10 or so as the rescue boat was towing me into the marina.

Since then I have noticed, as was true in Cadiz and Rota, a cycle of winds. After dark it is very still, no or almost no wind at all. At some point in the morning the wind starts to pick up. It moderates in the middle of the day, then picks up again around sunset. Now I understand about sea breezes and land breezes. What is interesting to me is that this same cycle happens several hundred nautical miles off shore. It does make it easier to plan reefing.

Fair winds and following seas.