The new year began just as well, as the old one had stopped. While we drank lazy after the strenuous holidays below deck coffee, we became aware of a couple on the web, made the images of our SUMMER. Very suspicious! Dietmar walked right out times, to go to the thing on the ground. A short time later we sat together on board with us and talked gorgeous. Peter and Manuela from the SY MELODY were only two of us lands away. They spend the winter always two months of your ETAP 37 in the Canary Islands. As an invitation to the New Year's coffee on the MELODY followed by a wine tasting at the SUMMER. Came as the friendly sailing colleague Falk aboard the MELODY, we found but actually every day a reason and an opportunity, to spend a little time together, while we were waiting for calmer weather.

So also was already firmly, that we would both leave on Monday with the aim of La Gomera the Port of San Miguel. Although we wanted to San Sebastian and Peter and Manu Valle, aber immerhin 🙂

The Way to San Sebastian on La Gomera with 30 A very pleasant nautical miles, almost short day trip. We slept a little longer and started nine clock on the way. Before the port was still the wave of recent stormy days and rocked us initially by duly. Somehow it gave the impression, that there would be no beautiful crossing:-( But after a short time we sailed miss our target with wind and wave from astern. The sun came out again her wonderful power and soon we were both sitting in shorts in the cockpit. This fully compensated us for the wet and uncomfortable Silvestertörn.

The SY MELODY was started something from us. After some time we had but can significantly reduced the projection. Now she was turned towards Valle, as we continue to track ran towards San Sebastian. So we decided, Peter, To give Manu and Falk via VHF radio one last greeting on the way. But apparently our paths should not separate, rather we were even a short time later connected more closely. Because of an engine problem, the MELODY requested tug assistance and hung soon after with a stable and long towline safely moored at our Heckklampe on the starboard side. The maneuver had worked smoothly and our SUMMER towed the yacht without much trouble. So we put the remaining twelve nautical miles to San Sebastian under engine 5,2 Node back speed. On the hook behind us we had the biggest fish, den Dietmar jemals an der Angel hatte 🙂

In the harbor entrance were like the MELODY but again the hook and she made the last meters from its own resources. But now cause research was announced. Already on the water and had Peter Falk tries out together, why hardly any cooling water came out of the exhaust manifold out. After the basic causes of the problem were excluded, had to dig a little deeper probably the gentlemen. After about an hour the problem was then solved. Before the heat exchanger of the engine NINE broken impeller blades had the water flow stopped almost completely. The maintenance of the machine Peter had always been commissioned and relies on a clean execution of work. It is not uncommon, that the rubber wings of an impeller cancel but not to remove them from the cooling circuit is an absolute disgrace. An impeller has a total of only 5 Wing and the presumption is very close, that the remains of at least 3 originate different impellers. Dietmar was seriously shocked glad about the lousy mechanic and Peter, to have preserved their machines from certain heat death. Falk had so situated right in his assumption, that the problem would be to find the heat exchanger.

The machine and thus the evening was saved and our reliable SUMMER had earned an invitation to dinner. About seven clock we headed to the capital, who joined directly to the Marina. Everything was still Christmas lights on the main square and a large open tent was set up, in which already had gathered quite a lot of children. In Spain it is tradition, that the Christmas gifts are brought only by the "Three Kings" on the night of January sixth. So why wait so many little newcomers impatiently for the parade with music, would end before this tent here. No 100 Meters we were already in the middle.

First came the musicians, followed by many life-size toy figures and finally the ambassadors from the East came. Beautiful costumes and authentic style riding on camels, attracted the kings past us.

Well as we could expect no further Christmas, we search for a nice restaurant and ordered for the entire troupe fish fed. The food was outstanding. Thanks again for the kind invitation to Peter and Manu. Wir helfen immer wieder gern 🙂 Leider wurde der lustige Abend durch einen DJ, who had built his system from a neighboring shop, ended earlier than we would have liked. Before dessert we left the restaurant on the run from the monotonous droning techno. But without something sweet the night should not end. In the marketplace learned the Canarian specialty "Barraquito" (Wikipedia: Specialty of the Canary Islands Tenerife, La Gomera La Palma und, served in a glass and consists of three layers: Evaporated milk, Espresso with a dash of liqueur or Tía María and a piece of lemon peel and frothed milk, which will be topped with cinnamon.) kennen und lieben 🙂