Page 210 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2024 SPAIN

Story & Photography by Brian E. Clark

SAILING THE CANARIES

n a sunny afternoon late in a La Gomera is known to history buffs as
two-week sailing trip in the the spot where Christopher Columbus
eastern Atlantic Ocean’s Ca- stocked up on water and victuals (provi-
nary sions) in October of 1492
O Is- before sailing across the
lands, my crew of Atlantic and “discovering”
four and I set out the so-called New World.
from the marina at On the leeward, south-
Santa Cruz, near the ern end of Tenerife, the
northeast tip of the seas calmed and we mo-
island of Tenerife. tored for a time. A strong
The wind filled breeze soon picked as we
the main and genoa headed west and we made
sails of Belgian skip- solid progress, propelled by
per/instructor Bart winds of around 20 knots
Pintelon’s 45-foot (23 miles per hour).
“Alphados” Dufour Then, in a stretch of wa-
sailboat as we made ter along the southeast
good time toward edge of La Gomera known
our destination in the as the wind acceleration
San Sebastian ma- zone, night descended and
rina on the island of the ancient Greek god Po-
La Gomera. seiden riled up the seas
With a population mightily.
of only 22,000, this Sailing in these waters
craggy, round island is consistently good be-
has a welcoming, cause of the same trade
laid-back feel and winds that propelled
can only be reached Columbus to the Caribbean.
by ferry, power or In the Canaries, they speed
sailboat. It’s a pleasant contrast to Tenerife, up as breezes are pinched between the is-
which has nearly 950,000 residents, scores lands. Add to that the craggy terrain that in-
of hotels and is visited by more than 5 mil- cludes Spain's tallest mountain - Mount Teide
lion tourists annually. at 12,198 feet - and blustery acceleration

210 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2024