5-15 November at Las Palmas

Working away on boat at snags of all sorts. Fridge and main SSB radio playing up. Fridge is old and can't get spares or support. Radio engineers on the island are all busy with mega yachts right until we are due to leave. Radio is a must for the ARC so its all a bit of a pain in the butt. If I can get the radio working then I will be able to post simple messages on the blog via an HF Radio/Web service provider called SailMail. Alternatively, I may get someone ashore to put blogs in and I will try and get basic text to them via SSB.
Las Palmas is very busy for the ARC season. About 250 extra boats and 1500 extra yotties crammed into the marina. The little cafes and bars are crammed as hell. Its all a bit like the Anchor Bar in Cowes week. There are some huge beasties here, and I don't mean the womenfolk of this manor. There are Oyster 80's, Discovery 90's, and Swan 75's, and thats just the small ones. Some of the more bling boaties have ickle underwater floodlights for the mullet to see where they are going.
Its been a damn busy 10 days or so and the boat down below looks like the aftermath of a tsunami. Haven't had a chance to get any tourist stuff in. Prob have to come back in the future. Seems a nice place, although I hadn't realised Las Palmas is a world transgender/transexual hotspot. Read into that what you like. You do see an unusual type of dress sense out and about on the streets.
1st of noo crew joins this PM. David Mac the Irish surgeon. 2nd new crew joins Thursday. Nick, experienced sailor and ex-pongo chappy now living in Spain. Should help with the lingo over the last few days I guess. Anyway must get o as busy fings to do. Sorry once again about the photos. No time and no facilities.
Will try and do one more before transatlantic arc departure on Sunday.