Across the gulf

We had another enforced rest day with more weather warnings meaning we couldn’t leave Almerimar as planned.

Since it had kindly rained (the first time this trip) overnight the boat was fairly clean so Skipper Nigel spent the morning doing some more detailed cleaning on the instrument panel.

We went out for both breakfast and lunch at a lovely place called Muelle Trece and we generally relaxed aboard before what we hope will be a final re-supply before we’re back in Cartagena in a few days time.

The next day started early, Tines and I went out walking as usual only this being Saturday we came across the unusual phenomenon which I called “nighthawks v early birds”. In this case it was over 100 nighthawks just leaving “Macarena” disco on the beachfront. By nighthawks I mean young people, all dressed to the nines after a night out. I assume it was probably their school prom. They were well behaved and not that noisy but it is such an odd phenomenon seeing them wandering about the place outnumbering the joggers and dog walkers we usually see at 6:45am. We saw it in San Antonio in Ibiza too and it is just odd to see them finishing their night as we are starting our day.

We departed early having no problems getting out of our berth other than once again freeing our very tight lines after the gales of the previous day.

We headed out of the marina and into very swelly seas. We had anticipated a bit of this and Tines was quickly dispatched down below. We pressed on, knowing that once we got out into the gulf of Almería the conditions would be more in our favour with the swell behind us rather than across. Before too long the swell was pushing us along greatly helping our progress.

The weather was quite hazy but as Cabo de Gata rose out through the mist we knew the hard part of the day (crossing the gulf) was done – or was it ?? No sooner had we taken a couple of photos than the current really picked up along with gusty winds.

We were literally blown into the port of San José (luckily we knew the way 😉

Skipper Nigel jumped off to start re-setting the boat – only for us to discover in the process that involved moving the boat backwards in order to pick up the “lazy line” (AKA slime line or dirty line) which secures the stern. It was only after a few minutes of me running backwards and forwards on the boat re-setting the lines I realised how crafty the Skipper had been, I was sweaty and exhausted whilst he “supervised” making sure the boat was properly set!! Good skippering methinks 😉

No sooner were we set than we saw the mast if another yacht arriving behind the breakwater. As it came into view I started laughing, here was Costa Blanca Sailing and Walter who we had seen in Ceuta !! They were berthed right next door and we managed to have a nice chat before they headed off to dinner. What a coincidence again !!

Another lovely couple of days and now we have rounded cabo de gata we know we’re homeward bound.