S2.20 - Chasing Full Circle III: New Friendships
Oct 9 – Dinner with Familiar Strangers
After a full day of laundry and scrubbing off the layers of salt off of Lucky Enough, we finally rewarded ourselves with a dinner out at the marina.
Our dinner companions were Alan and Judy Soukup from Full Circle III—a couple Ryan had first met online through the Privilège 510 Owners forum. What made it even more special? They’re Canadian too, and, as if fate wanted to make things extra coincidental, Alan’s father was once a client of Ryan’s during his Springbank Aero days.
It felt like we had been chasing them across the Med for weeks in hopes of connecting, but our maintenance delays in Canet kept us just a step behind. They had already arrived in the Canaries about a week ahead of us. They’re part of the ARC rally, so we’ll be crossing the Atlantic together’ish next month. For now, though, we’ll each explore the Canaries on our own. Once again, our rails and fridge repairs meant we’d have to soon let them sail on just a little ahead of us.
Oct 10 – A Tour of Full Circle III
With the boys busy polishing, Ryan and I got a chance to step aboard Full Circle III. We instantly loved Al and Judi’s large galley and the walk-through master suite—the very same layout we’ll be getting on Lucky Stars, our future Privilege 650. Even though our boats are technically twins, it’s amazing how different layouts change the whole feel. Dinner that night was casual takeout: ribs and sausage. Sometimes, it’s nice to let the galley stay spotless.
Oct 11 – Lucky Enough’s Turn to Shine
The next day, it was our turn to play host. Al and Judi came aboard Lucky Enough for a tour, followed by an evening of cards—casino style, with a little Texas Hold’em mixed in. We capped it off with Tex-Mex, and I was relishing every second of not cooking. Dinners out were becoming a very welcome routine.
Oct 12 – Goodbye, For Now
This morning, we waved goodbye to Full Circle III as they headed off on their Canary Islands tour.
Full Circle III
To stave off the “left behind blues,” we rented a car for a “family” road trip toward Yaiza. The volcanic black rocks meeting the crashing waves, the surreal salt piles, and a leisurely seaside lunch (with our new favorite white wine) were the perfect distractions.
Oct 13–16 – Stir Crazy at the Dock
Days stretched long as we waited for rail parts to arrive. Cabin fever had us inventing our own entertainment. Cue “Bubble Boy Byron,” who waddled down the dock wrapped head to toe in bubble wrap so carefully designed by our favorite Captain - Ryan.
The Bubble Boy Waddle
Our dock spot was near the entrance, so it was never exactly calm—just one more reason we were itching to get moving again.
Finally, on the 16th, the welders arrived. We had to turn off all batteries (a first for us) while they worked. They packed up mid-afternoon, promising to finish tomorrow, so we slipped out to the bay for a short anchoring reprieve. Pizza, half of the Airplane! movie with popcorn, and the quiet sway of the hook—it was bliss.
Oct 17-18: Freedom at Last
Back to the marina we went, bracing for another round of “hurry up and wait.” After yet more laundry and scrubbing, the welders finally reappeared shortly after 3pm. This time, our metalworker worked absolute magic—his craftsmanship on the life rail was flawless, strong, and better than new. Huge kudos to him for such an incredible job!
We also took advantage of the day to pick up a 9L Dometic cooler (the only one left for purchase), destined to serve as extra freezer space for our Atlantic crossing.
After experiencing the frustration of our fridge failing right as we landed in Lanzarote, I can’t imagine how devastating that would be mid-ocean. With this backup in place, we finally had some peace of mind. Plus, the extra freezer capacity means I can prep a lot more meals ahead of time—because let’s face it, the less cooking while underway, the better!
By 5pm, the project was finished, and just an hour later we were happily anchored at Playa del Pozo, a couple miles east of the marina. With hatches open to the cool island breeze and waves crashing on the shore, we all drifted off into the best sleep we’d had in weeks.
The following day brought perfect diving conditions, so the guys donned their SCUBAs while I stayed behind to babysit Lucky Enough and let her batteries recharge. Truth be told, I was secretly delighted to have a quiet afternoon all to myself—made even sweeter knowing the guys were off enjoying their underwater adventure. Later, once hunger struck, we piled into Ugh and dinghied into town for kabob takeout from a spot we’d discovered earlier in the week. The ride in was a soaking one, with swells and waves splashing over us the whole way—but every bite made it worth it.
