Land ahead, Lanzarote!

The hazy , blue hilltops far off grow into the red-brown volcanic mountains of Lanzarote. They are bare, right down to the flat, lava-flow valleys. As we get closer some chalk-white clusters of houses appear in the valleys.

The lighthouse at Punta Pechiguera grows taller, at first looking like a thin mast, out to sea, still a distance from the point. It grows to a 55 meter yellow pencil as we round the point. After 22 hours of motor-sailing we enjoy a few hours of quiet, 3 to 4 knots sailing in the warm breeze.

Rubicon Marina is what "Quinta do Lordo" in Madeira, aspires to be. They've made quite an effort building miles of rustic brick walking paths, lined with lava boulders, palm-trees, flowers growing on ground-cover, bushes and trees. There are fountains, pools, low, white-washed cafès and shops, a swimming pool (no charge!) alongside the "natural" pools, and a huge marina with lots of berths to choose between. The facilities, the showers, are great. Still it's a sort of la-la-land for happy holiday families. No messy laundry hanging out, no smokey grills at midday in the middle of narrow lanes, no skinny dogs sniffing at trash. No trash.

We cool off in the pool, rest after our two-day crossing. Our 3hrs on/ 3hrs off watches over.
No complaints.