Las Palmas in November

[Arclight]

After crossing from Newport, RI last summer, we are currently in northern Portugal awaiting a weather window to depart for Gran Canaria and then on to the eastern Caribbean. I had hoped to depart earlier, but conditions have not permitted it. Our plan is to sail to Las Palmas as soon as our port opens. I am, however, concerned that the ARC Rally will make it difficult for us to find a slip, mooring or anchorage. Will this be the case? If so, any recommendations for an alternate staging port would be most welcomed. TIA

[boatman61]

An L380 I took down this time of year faced these problems.. ended up going to La Gomera.
Nice island and people.. give it a go.
Alternatively drop the hook S of Tenerife just across the channel from La Gomera near the ferry port.

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by boatman61

An L380 I took down this time of year faced these problems.. ended up going to La Gomera.
Nice island and people.. give it a go.
Alternatively drop the hook S of Tenerife just across the channel from La Gomera near the ferry port.

Thanks! On La Gomera were you in Vueltas? On Tenerife, Los Cristrianos?

[boatman61]

No.. San Sebastian de la Gomera.. the anchorage was Los Christianos.

[scallowayuk]

hi, im in the ancorage in las palmas ,its not as crowded as last year, still some room. but there are other ancorages, mogan ,and arguineguin are ok.then come to las palmas after the arc leaves to stock up and get clearance.los of ancorages in the canaries.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Arclight

Thanks! On La Gomera were you in Vueltas? On Tenerife, Los Cristrianos?

Where are you weather bound Viana or Porto..
Several days of bad weather from tomorrow from the SW.. the fronts are low down this year as normally they clip NW Spain before crossing the Biscay.
On the bright side.. when you do get out and down to the islands the ARC may well have gone.. 11th.. 15th and 25th after which theyll be glad to take you in at LP marina..

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by scallowayuk

hi, im in the ancorage in las palmas ,its not as crowded as last year, still some room. but there are other ancorages, mogan ,and arguineguin are ok.then come to las palmas after the arc leaves to stock up and get clearance.los of ancorages in the canaries.

Thanks for the info! I'll look into Mogan and Arguineguin. Where is the anchorage in Las Palmas? I thought that the one in the harbor between the marinas had been closed.

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Where are you weather bound Viana or Porto..
Several days of bad weather from tomorrow from the SW.. the fronts are low down this year as normally they clip NW Spain before crossing the Biscay.
On the bright side.. when you do get out and down to the islands the ARC may well have gone.. 11th.. 15th and 25th after which theyll be glad to take you in at LP marina..

We are in Póvoa do Varzim, north of Porto. Large waves today and the harbor is still closed. The problem is that when we do get a small window the waves from the previous low keep the harbor closed.

[boatman61]

Yup.. I sail out off Fig da Foz when I have a boat.. same thing.. the ports closed fairly often in winter.
If you do get a break out your next bad weather shelter is Peniche.. the islands and headland shelter the entrance from the prevailing NW swell/waves so is one of the last to close.. anything before then has the same problem off river bars.. after Lisbon tho' you should be good for a fast run down..
Best wishes..

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Yup.. I sail out off Fig da Foz when I have a boat.. same thing.. the ports closed fairly often in winter.
If you do get a break out your next bad weather shelter is Peniche.. the islands and headland shelter the entrance from the prevailing NW swell/waves so is one of the last to close.. anything before then has the same problem off river bars.. after Lisbon tho' you should be good for a fast run down..
Best wishes..

Thanks for the heads up boatman! Navionics shows an anchorage in the Peniche harbor while Garmin does not. Is there one?

[boatman61]

Theres an area to stbd after you enter where one can anchor.. gets a bit rolly when the fishing fleet go in an out .. Its rarely used these days most head for the pontoons.. also subject to the wakes..

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Theres an area to stbd after you enter where one can anchor.. gets a bit rolly when the fishing fleet go in an out .. Its rarely used these days most head for the pontoons.. also subject to the wakes..

Thanks again!

[boatman61]

If your making a run for it tomorrow its doubtful you'll make it halfway to the Canaries before the next wave of strong S'lies slam you..
Theres a good anchorage at Sagres just round the corner of St Vincente.. if you want shore time for the few days while you wait for the weather head for Portimao 25 mile to the E and the anchorage there behind the breakwater to stbd.. or head for the marina across the river.
Good sailing..

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by boatman61

If your making a run for it tomorrow its doubtful you'll make it halfway to the Canaries before the next wave of strong S'lies slam you..
Theres a good anchorage at Sagres just round the corner of St Vincente.. if you want shore time for the few days while you wait for the weather head for Portimao 25 mile to the E and the anchorage there behind the breakwater to stbd.. or head for the marina across the river.
Good sailing..

Thanks, not sure if the port will open tomorrow, the seas are still high. I've been looking at Baleeira in Sarges and it's good to know about the Portimao anchorage, it looks very well protected!

[boatman61]

Orange warning for Portuguese coast tomorrow for min 24hrs..
Hope your snugged up somwhere and not bouncing around somewhere to the SW of the Algarve..