A fast overnight passage from Lanzarote saw all Barbados 50 boats arrive almost all at the same time in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Marina.
Las Palmas Marina had to call for additional docking staff to cope with the mass arrivals
Dolojaime being shepherded into its berth by the marina tender
Gary Leisfield of Takamoana in Lawrence of Arabia sun protection garb
All together for the first time
Birthday party on Oysterbar
Holger and Karin Binz of Oysterbar
The crews were soon invited by Holger Binz to a glass of champagne on Oysterbar to celebrate his 50th birthday which he happily shares with the age of Barbados independence.
In contrast to all other Canary Islands, the arrival of the Barbados 50 fleet in Gran Canaria was ignored by the tourism authorities for whom the only sailing event that seems to matter is the ARC.
A nostalgic visit from Pepe Ortega who was in charge of the ARC on behalf of the local tourism board in the good old days when visiting events still enjoyed its hospitality
Undeterred, we hired a bus for a day-long tour of the main attractions of Gran Canaria in order to give our participants the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the island.
The stark interior of Gran Canaria with Tenerife’s Mount Teide in the background
Gran Canaria’s summit with the distinctive Roque Nublo on the right
Good friends on the bus: Mia from Jiyu and Erell from Balanec
Puerto Mogan
Lunch break at Puerto Mogan
The last stop on the itinerary was at Vegueta, the oldest part of Las Palmas.
Outside Las Palmas Cathedral flanked by statues of the dogs that gave the islands their name
The old chapel of San Antonio Abad that dates from the time of Columbus’s visit in August 1492 when his three ships were anchored a few hundred meters from this spot
Casa de Colon Museum in Vegueta
Casa de Colon – inner courtyard
Reconstruction of Columbus’s cabin
Map showing the route of Columbus’s first voyage
Two colourful macaws – one of the most poular exhibits
On Sunday morning, the 29 boats cast off their lines and headed out to sea… having to fight their way into the contrary wind for 2 miles to round Isleta Point before picking up the favourable NE wind to speed them on their way to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Barbados 50 is sponsored by Barbados Tourism Marketing and Tenerife Port Authority.
