Are You Joining the Eendracht?
On November 17, an email popped up in my inbox: Do you want to go island hopping around the Canary Islands during the holidays? From Portugal, I flew to Spain to join the Eendracht in Gran Canaria.
Onward to Gran Canaria
From Faro, I traveled to Seville, one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited! Two days later, I boarded a flight from Seville to Gran Canaria.
It had been a while since I last visited Gran Canaria, but I immediately recognized the landscape. I stayed a few nights in the capital, explored the old town, did a little work, and enjoyed the sun on the beach. Not bad for a working holiday!
Island Hopping with the Eendracht
On Monday, December 20, I was expected on board the Eendracht. I was a bit nervous, but there was no time to think about it as an enthusiastic crew welcomed me at the ship.
On board, I got a pleasant surprise: a four-person cabin all to myself!
The skipper gave an introduction, we enjoyed a delicious meal, and finished the evening with a drink.
The Watch System
On the Eendracht, you participate in the watch system of “4 hours on, 8 hours off.” The watches continue day and night, since the ship sails around the clock. During your watch, you get various tasks, such as helping to hoist sails, doing the dishes, steering the ship, or scrubbing the deck.
During your watches, you learn a lot about sailing a tall ship—and it’s also a lot of fun.
Sailing for the First Time
My first watch was at 8 a.m., and we left the harbor of Las Palmas. I heard so many terms about the lines and what to do with them while sailing that my head was spinning—how am I going to remember all this?
Luckily, I could practice right away because the wind was stronger than expected, allowing us to hoist the sails.
I’ve never been seasick before, but my stomach felt a little uneasy. I was happy to crawl into bed that evening after a day full of impressions.
A Quick Visit to El Hierro
The next day, we reached our first island: El Hierro. We had three hours of daylight to explore the island, and together with Jan, I walked from the harbor to the capital. Quite a climb and a challenging hike!
From the mountain, we had a beautiful view of the Eendracht. It’s great to mix sailing with visits to such stunning locations!
A Day at Sea
Unfortunately, we had to sail under motor power today because the wind was lacking. Occasionally, we spotted dolphins and even caught a glimpse of a whale. We also had lessons in knots and did a man-overboard drill.
Christmas on La Palma
Today we docked at La Palma, which was a bit exciting since a volcano had erupted there months earlier. Fortunately, the volcano is now calm, though traces of the eruption are still visible.
Together with my watch, I explored Santa Cruz de La Palma. The volcano’s sulfur scent was noticeable—a distinct smell of rotten eggs. We went on a 19-kilometer walk that took us the entire afternoon.
That evening, everyone dressed up for a Christmas dinner. The chefs went all out, and the dining room was beautifully decorated. We enjoyed a delicious three-course meal.
Island hopping has been a great experience so far. I love the combination of sailing and visiting the islands—it keeps things exciting.
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