From Torrevieja

Very few photos taken along the Costa del Sol – no point in depressing everyone!! 

So instead, here are a few of what we have been about when not sailing:

Mike installing the SSB antenna – swinging off the insulated backstay in La Linea Harbour  - and part of a wedding procession of dozens of yachts, dressed overall.  All guests in trunks or bikins except bride and groom, traditionally attired in long white dress & suit respectively!  

A neat little seat  made for the Beeb by the skipper – much more comfortable, though it has a slight tendency to tip – to be used with care after a good meal ashore!

The wind vane steering – installation now practically finished.    We requested a manual from the new owner of Fleming Self Steering, as ours, handed out by the previous man, was more in the way of a draft with a few sketches.  Delighted to report that Phil George, an Australian, began his manual with a tribute to Blondie Hasler.

The Breeze Bandit – what a great and simple bit of kit.  Unlike traditional wind scoops, this has four separate channels for the breeze, so even it you aren’t head into wind – which you have to be for other scoops to work – it picks up whatever is coming.  It's an American product which a kind friend ordered and sent over as they are a ridiculous price in Europe.   Now  loved and appreciated [the Breeze Bandit – though Bryan is as well] as are our mosquito screens.  Although well out in La Linea, I resembled a chicken pox patient for a few days!

Highly recommended, and now I’ve seen how it’s done, could be reproduced for other hatches.

Our renewables are just about keeping pace with the demands of fridge and freezer – plus top ups from the days – too many recently – of motoring.

Other jobs done more frequently in the heat – inlet strainers.  Each time they are checked a new form of marine life seems to have worked its way in – yesterday, it was a sort of transparent gel – rather like sea squirt spat – nearly coating all the surfaces, plus greeny-yellow scum.  Absolutely vital to keep these clean, for the running of the engine, fridge, freezer and generator.

Our deck mounted shower is really coming into its own now that we’re swimming most days [complete with one of those flannels that fit over your hand to clean the water line]  

The side screen by the cockpit awning – which we move as the day progresses– is an absolute boon – just a simple shaped sheet with lanyards, but it makes a huge difference.

As we head towards the top of the high season, we will be going into marinas even less frequently [quoted €78 for one night which, the manager proudly added, includes electricity and water…..  well, it won’t because we won’t be going in there!] so the big Avon will be out more for shopping trips ashore, etc..   I’ve made slings to lift it out of the water at night – for security and to keep the weed down.  We’ll tow it on day hops in the Balearics.

A long day without much sailing took us from Herradura to Almerimar marina, past huge areas of white plastic where, says our pilot, “most of Northern Europe’s winter vegetables are grown”.  The plastic is mentioned as a genuine marine hazard, if a sheet breaks free.

Almerimar proved much more attractive than anticipated for a purpose- built marina village.  Efficient, welcoming and very decent facilities.   We were directed to a mooring which turned out to be right besides JA NA – a German boat who had been at Tagus Yacht Center.  They had just returned from the Balearics and were full of hints, tips and enthusiasm.

Stravaigin and all who sail in her – and their towels & sheets – were thoroughly washed. 

We stayed a couple of nights and had intended just to go round to anchor in the next bay, as we didn’t leave till about 1600, but  a good breeze appeared, so we decided to keep going.  We rounded the Cabo de Gata at 2330 and had a steady [well, OK, quite slow on occasion…] sail through the night until the wind finally died around 0730 – so three or so hours of motoring before it obligingly got up again, and had a brisker sail to Cabo Tinoso, 8 miles West of  Cartagena.  Quite a quartering sea had built up from the SE  by then, requiring attentive helming .  We turned into Baia Saltirona, which got us out of the worst of it.   

Two other yachts at anchor, one of whom shone a torch at us – were we about to tangle in a fishing net?  No, it was PLANE SONG, Bruce & Becky flashing us a welcome!   We agreed that Saltirona was like Ardnamurchan without the heather – dramatic skyline all round, with a row of forts [OK, not quite like Argyll] leading to the lighthouse.  That’s one photo I should have taken

Apparently Drake raided Cartagena and took a whole bunch of their cannons back to the West Indies with him……….. 

It was rather a rolly anchorage, but we stayed a couple of nights, setting off on the 29^th to see how far we would get.  Happily the NE winds didn’t materialise and we had good fun,  round the Cabo de Palos, past the Mar Menor – a 12 x 6 mile inland sea which you can go into , but there were solid high-rises the whole way along the Eastern edge of it, and didn't appeal.  Anchored in Torrevieja around 2130. 

  Whilst bowling along at 6 knots rounding Cabo de Palos,  the skipper decided to have a look at the RNSA burgee – and was on the phone to the club 5 minutes later.  A new one has already arrived with the Mayos who are joining us in the Balearics – just as well, feel we could be struck off for this one!

That's not the cabin sole which is making it look grey....................

 We spent a blissful night in the inner harbour, sleeping like logs with no swell, but were chased out in the morning – they’ve decided to ban anchoring there – no seamanship reasons we can see – more a commercial decision with two marinas competing for custom??

Luckily, in a NE wind, there’s still good shelter outside the harbour, although not without swell.

We are giving ourselves one night in the Marina das Salinas here (the manager rejoices in the name of  Rodney Chinchilla).  Once again, friendly, polite, welcoming staff.  A pretty narrow berth, but we are getting more practised at bows to mooring and the marinieros have so far been ashore to help with lines etc.

Dad would turn in his grave to learn I am typing with our little washing machine going, but it’s great!  Very efficient, and saves an awful lot of lugging large bags of wet sheets & towels back from launderettes, and as most marinas include water & power, cheaper anyway. And drying things is NOT an issue!

Meantime, Mike is happily on deck busily deploying the hose and scrubbing brush.  We’ve discovered there’s a Lidl here, so can top up on chocolate & mueseli, and there’s a produce market and supermarket close at hand.  So the bike has been landed!  The produce markets are always good, but I do think wistfully of you Tesco-on-line customers as I wobble back with panniers full of the heavy stuff.  I spotted an enviable little bike trailer being ridden happily along a pontoon the other day – fear space forbids.   However,  it does give one a feeling of having hunted and gathered.

We’ve got 60 – 80 miles more on this coast, depending on where we decide to cross, either to Ibiza or Formentera.   Not much variety in the wind for a week – NE in the morning, SE in the afternoon, seldom more than force 4.   There seem to be better anchoring opportunities than there have been along this stretch, but we are looking forward to the heavily indented coastlines of the Balearics.