Stravaigin's Adventures: Cadiz to Ceuta

Before we left Cadiz, Mike and Simon had a most enjoyable day in and near Jerez with some hospitable friends of the latter [who, almost inevitably, turned out to know Bill and Shian Carlow, yachstmen of note and many thousands of miles, from Loch Striven, near Dunoon. Bill played the fiddle at our naming party]. Their family had converted a hacienda into a superb guest house with infinity pool, fabulous rooms, etc. and they came back groaning gently under the weight of a truly excellent lunch! I managed to squeeze in a much needed haircut and a new pair of sandals while they were away.....

We departed mid morning, making our way towards Cape Trafalgar

We were again almost surrounded by the Spanish Naval Fleet, but held our nerve and remembered our forbears.

After a good day with steady Westerlies, frequently giving us 8 knots on the clock, we decided to forego the dubious delights of Barbate Marina, anchoring instead just inside Tarifa Harbour. Yes, we know it is the windiest place on that coast and yes, there was a swell all night, not to mention much ferry movement, but Stravaigin was well tucked in out of harm's way and the distance suited us..... Not too restful, but a good point from which to cross the Straits.

Visibility was good in the morning and despite the pilot plotting a course in accord with regulations [see red lined route above....] for crossing the shipping lanes [that is to say, passing over them at right angles], the skipper and crew took a more pro-active approach of a good watch and a 45 degree angle which cut a good 9 miles off the distance to Ceuta. And indeed, their experience in CPA [closest point of approach - i.e., are we going to hit or miss that extremely large tanker?] held good, so the pilot stopped squeaking nervously and enjoyed the day.

Extraordinary skies - presaging the Levanter? We don't understand the weather down here yet

There wasn't a huge amount of shipping apart from frequent ferries (who completely ignore the rule of the road anyway) and the visibility remained perfect, so the most challenging part of the crossing was probably Stravaigin's first stern-to mooring in Ceuta Marina which is tight and had a firm cross-wind for Mike to deal with.

On the hill above Ceuta where we went for a Moroccan meal. Sadly, the restaurant was adorned with heavy, ornate windows which obscured the view of the Straits we had gone up to enjoy!