Las Palmas

Mike, Mathieu and I are on the boat in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. I think that's Grand Canary in English, but I'm not sure. We joined the opening day parade today. We didn't get a written invitation, but that must have been an oversight. Next year we will probably be explicitly invited NOT to play...

There are a bunch of boats getting here preparing for the Altantic crossing, and more are on the way. I think will be somewhere between 225 and 250 boats in all.

Here's what we've got to do this week:
1. Hook up and test spare anchor.
2. Fix loose batten.
3. Clean props and check zincs.
4. Clean boat bottom.
5. Change engine oil.
6. Rewire light over chart table.
7. Inspect all rigging.
8. Varnish some wood.
9. Add missing washing next to cotter key.
10. Install sat phone antenna.
11. Put straps on helm seat cushions.
12. Add salt water faucets in back.
13. Replace board at washer/dryer thru-hull.
14. Raise microwave cover.
15. Mount life sling and man overboard module.
16. Vacuum engine rooms.
17. Make water filter mount more sturdy.
18. Make TV more sturdy.
19. Mount knife near cockpit.
20. Reorganize food and storage areas. (Mike and Serge will do this alternately for most of the trip.)
21. Install third propane alarm, in Kitchen.
22. Get groceries
23. Get the right number(?) of sheets, blankets, towels, etc.
24. Get some wood and fiberglass epoxy to hold eyescrews to fasten the propane tanks to.
25. Tie wooden plugs in the bilge near each thru-hull fitting.
26. Get toilet paper, pillows, hand towels, rubber feet for microwave, printer paper, 1 red hand flare, 3 red parachute flares, 4 white parachute flares, ziploc bags, frying pans (2), dish drainer, tea-brewing glass, paper bowls, towels, and cups, trash bags.

There's a swedish girl named Emma looking for a boat to join, but there are probably 5 wives who would object to her on this boat.

We were thinking that, at 225 boats, 4 people per boat, 3 meals per person per day, 20 days, that is a LOT of food people are buying here this week!