It is feeling a little fresher this evening so fingers crossed we'll be back to the usual hot/windy weather combination we love so much about this island.
It takes just 5 minutes to walk from our house to the beach path with views over the uninhabited island of Lobos and the more famous Lanzarote. I was amazed to see this beautiful sailboat in 'our' bay yesterday - spent the rest of the afternoon looking out for Captain Jack Sparrow (or his even cuter counterpart)
I managed to read the name of the boat and Googled it.
The boat is 'new'. Building work started in 2008 in Egypt and she was launched in December 2010. What made me smile is the statement that she was built as a replica of a sailing boat from the second half of the 18th century and the aim of the 'owners' is the revival of Czech marine history which is an interesting concept given that Czechoslovakia is a land locked country 500 miles from the sea!! She is available for hire for commercial outings or students wishing to learn more about traditional sailing skills.
According to their website 'La Grace' was a boat of the first real Czech seafarer Augustin Herman who worked for the Dutch West India Company before becoming a pirate and raiding the Spanish trade ships using La Grace as a Privateer. Later he bacame the largest exporter of tobacco in America . don't you just love these 'rags to riches' stories!!
Anyway, I'm pleased we saw her yesterday .... today she was gone
A good challenge for you to paint Sue. Haven't seen one like this in the UKCPS Exhibitions.
ReplyDeleteIronic isn't it Pauline. We live by the sea in Whitstable where we can see restored Kent Barges and we have a holiday house here on Fuerteventura but I'm not inspired enough to attempt seascapes/boats/beach huts etc ..... much prefer four 'living breathing' subjects!!
ReplyDeletei love ships like that, just something about them that calls to me (yeah I know that sounds really cheesy, but its true :p)
ReplyDeleteYep I know what you mean jennifer. I've just checked their website again and they've added a page about prices. heres the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lagrace.eu/en/main/plavby
Considering how 'very different' this is, the prices aren't too horrendous I guess.
Yep I know what you mean jennifer. I've just checked their website again and they've added a page about prices. heres the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lagrace.eu/en/main/plavby
Considering how 'very different' this is, the prices aren't too horrendous I guess.
I used to collect sailboats (no, not the full-sized ones!) and was fascinated by them until I actually went sailing one time. I guess it took the romanticism out of them for me or my wanderlust was finally sated or something but now they hold no more than a passing interest. This one is very cool though.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. One of my cousins was an officer in the Royal Navy and she took part in the 'tall ships race' on this type of vessel. - looked romantic and fun till I saw the state of her hands afterwards .... calloused and torn from the rope burns etc .... these days I prefer my travel to be a little more gentile (although travelling 'no frills' airlines can be pretty painful at times)!