Sunday, D-day. Our start is at 1pm and Ian is keen to be off the pontoon by 11am at the latest, to avoid the rush: 200 boats will be trying to get out of the marina and it will be mayhem. Angelina Ballerina moved in early in the morning (huge bag!) and I trawl the marina to say goodbye to all our friends. It is all quite emotional, none of us really knowing what will be. I do hope that everyone will make it safe and sound. As predicted, getting out of the marina despite our early departure is testing. All sort of vessels are making for the narrow entrance. It’s like Picadilly Circous at rush our. The shore is lined with onlookers, many of them waving flags and music is blaring out, each boat passing being called by name as we pass the marina office, a real carnival atmosphere. It is very special.
Out in the bay, it is the prettiest sight, boats of all sizes and shape are milling around with the old town and the hills providing a picturesque backdrop. The sun is with us and it is pretty as a picture. There is a melee on the starting line and Ian is not keen to join it, so we keep away from the gaggle of boat at the front and position ourselves at a safe distance. Concentration is etched on his face as he listens for the starting gun. The wind is quite light and we have full main and Genoa. Bang! And we are off! 200 boats are now powering ahead. I have positioned myself at the bow, my favourite place, scanning the boats ahead, trying to identify them. Ocean Diamond II just zooms past us, loads of cheering and waving…I am chuffed, Gary is as per usual taking so many pictures, surely one will be a winner. The fleet stretches across the horizon now; strategic positioning to the north for the racing lot, loads of wind forecasted up north, most of the cruising boats opt for the southern route where the wind is lighter. The tip of Las Palmas is now in view and before night fall the island is behind us…That is it, 2,700 miles to go before we see land again….