With light winds on the first day we had to use the motor for a few hours to make good progress. Despite this, the following morning we could still see the Moroccan coastline!
Then the winds picked up and we could sail at a good speed in the right direction. The winds continued to increase, peaking at gale force 8 or 9 with large waves just as it got dark on the second day. Fortunately the winds eased overnight and the sea state improved, luckily we were still making good progress towards the Canary Islands.
Around lunchtime on the third day we could just about make out the faint outline of islands on the horizon. We had decided to head for Isla Graciosa, as it had been recommended by several people. As we approached the sun was setting behind the islands, and we continued under full sail. We anchored between the islands of Graciosa and Lanzarote under a bright moon and were very glad to have arrived in the Canaries.
The following morning we moved to an anchorage off Isla Graciosa, a tiny island north of Lanzarote. We spent a few days exploring the island, looking at the lava rocks, walking up the hills and exploring the village of Caleta del Sebo. We swam and snorkelled in the warm seas off the boat, we'd been waiting a long time for the opportunity to swim from our boat without freezing!
