set at 45 degrees. Instead of going across one large roller to turn 90
degrees, the chain goes to the first roller turns 45 degrees then to the
second roller and turns another 45 degrees. When I conceived the anchor
arrangement many years ago I went to West Marine and bought two hard
plastic rollers (I even recorded the part numbers). The system worked
amazingly well. But now the rollers have worn out. And those rollers are
no longer made. Nor is anything else that would fit. I was dragging the
anchor chain over the 1/2" bolt shaft of the now completely worn out
rollers. Then another thought. I took some 1/2" stainless steel washers
of different OD size, and using hole saws cut different OD discs from a
polyethylene cutting board, and came up with a really good roller. My
prototype worked well enough to use the concept for both rollers. The
last time I anchored was with John in Lynhaven, Hampton Roads. I
haven't thought about those rollers since June. No problem, I am no
longer in a marina, but the dinghy is in the water and I can get to the
rollers from the dinghy. I forgot that I was anchored in the ocean.
True, I was in the lee of the island, but the boat is really active. I
got the tools, got in the dinghy, and got half way to the front with the
dinghy pitching, jerking and rolling, and Advent pitching, jerking and
rolling; I aborted when Advent's chine rocked up, and on the way down
came down on top of the dinghy's gunwale, almost pushing it under water.
I guess I had gotten used to excessive boat motion. It honestly caught
me by surprize.
Then another factor came into play. The weather report showed calm
Friday, but 20 knots on Saturday. I know that I am in the lee of the
island, but with the acceleration zones I wanted to find a more secure
place to go. I started looking at all anchorages within range, and found
another anchorage within a commercial harbour, just what I wanted. It is
about half way up the eastern side of Lanzarote, about three hours away.
And, I could install the new anchor rollers there.
I have been anchored in a little cove with cliffs on two sides and
resort on one side. But just a little way down the island are sandy
beaches, beautiful sandy beaches backed by desert hills and rugged
volcanic rock, high cliffs, etc. I left early enough to stop at the
beaches, anchored with the six boats already there, and rowed ashore.
This is a public park and the beach goers had not gotten there yet. The
beaches are separated by cliffs and rugged rocky outcrops, and between
the outcrops are little sandy areas big enough for a family to have
their own private beach. I made my way from beach to beach along the
rocks to the last beach, then went back over the tops of the cliffs,
high in the desert hills. I found a historical site where the first
settlers lived. They have an interesting way to inexpensively protect
historical objects. They build a concrete wall around it and put steel
bars over the top. For example they have a well. It has a wall about
four feet high, with steel bars on top. You can get close to it, you can
see it, but you can't touch it. I eventually made it back to the beach
where the dinghy was.
The beach people were arriving for a perfectly beautiful day. I went to the dinghy to push it to the water when a man
came and asked if he could ask a question, and we started talking about
who I was, where I came from, (Advent was just a little bit off the
beach and the US ensign was clearly visible) where I was going, the odd
dinghy, all about Advent, etc. And others gathered. For awhile I was the
most interesting thing on the beach. They were not British, but those I
talked with had very good English. I had no trouble at all. But I needed
to get going to check out the new anchorage, and get somewhere else if
it was not good. I liked that beach. I liked being able to anchor
there. I liked rowing ashore, and being able to walk high in the hills.
As far as a place, I enjoyed it more than any other place on this trip.
Then it was motoring up the east coast across a flat ocean for about
three hours. I found the harbour, and yep, it is a commercial port.
Things can change since the book was written, so with much trepidation I
eased along beside the cruise ship, past the cement silos, and there,
beside the container dock is a . . . I don't know what to call it. . .
an area of water about two cruise-ships long and about half a cruise
ship wide. I will call it a bay, as in a work bay, not a large body of
water. And, thanks for the blessing, it is flat calm.
I am at peace. It feels funny for the boat to not be moving. This is the stillest I have been in months. When I transmit this I will request a grib and see what the weather has in store. I don't have internet here, and really want to call you, hear your voice, and catch up. As of last night the forecast was that I would have wind today, then tomorrow I can go to where I may be able to get pay-to-use internet, then Monday back here. I am in the same harbour as the marina where I am going Tuesday. If I come back here Monday, then I am assured that I can make it to the marina Tuesday. So far I like it here. The book says that it is "gritty". I don't know if that means it is in an industrial area, or if grit blows off the cliffs. I may find out. There is a beach at the end of the "bay". (I don't know what to call it. It is rectangular about two cruise-ship's long and one-half cruise-ship wide, with a container dock on one side and cliffs on the other. So the word "bay"
is like a work bay, not Chocowinity Bay.)I will start over. There is a beach at the end of the "bay" I am anchored just a little way from it. All afternoon yesterday about 20 were having life guard training. It was really interesting. Part boot camp running here to there, part on the beach care, sometimes multiple patients, and a lot of in the water exercises, most of it with one arm held in the air. Swimming with one arm in the air. Pulling someone with one arm in the air, etc. Then, after all the life guards had left, some friendly folks came by in a dinghy from the marina. I can see the marina way down at the other end of the harbour. We talked till after dark, then they left and went to the beach. I wonder what is there? Dinghy is in the water. I will row over after awhile and go exploring.
Saturday afternoon- About noon the wind picked up and light misty rain started. We had a real ugly day with 20-30 knot winds. I really made a good call this time. I was feeling sorta silly this morning, with the beautiful weather. I don't feel at all silly now. I am really glad that I am here and not down south anchored in the open off a beach.
This is the commercial harbour, where the cruise ships land. Yesterday when I got here I had to go down beside a cruise ship to get back to the bay. Since then three more have arrived. Great big things, with eight levels of cabins above the deck line. So for awhile there were four cruise ships here. Then about thirty minutes ago great, deep horns started blasting. Three longs followed by one short. All four ships did it. Quite impressive. Then they all left! All four of them. I wonder what all those thousands of people do on Lanzarote for one day?
Sunday morning:
Up early and left my wonderful anchorage at first light, which is 08:00. It is a pretty day with some of the wind left over from the storm yeaterday. I had a beautiful sail back down the east side of the island. I am going back to where I was a few days ago to try to find wifi, and talk to Normandie on skype. It was a beautiful sail down, but man is it rolly anchored here. It must have been really bad yesterday. The boat is rolling side to side on about a three second period. Every three seconds I have to stop typing and grab the edge of the table for support. It has a dampening effect on creativity. So I will stop. I sure hope this roll stops. It is hard to do anything.
Reef Early
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II
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