The final part of our crossing was our entry into the lovely little port of Fertilia. This should have been fairly straightforward as it’s such a small marina but as you readers know by now nothing is ever simple on Gemini J.
We called the office as requested when we made the booking – there was thankfully no problem with us arriving at 9:30am (our earliest ever arrival). They would send someone to meet us – great. As we came round the breakwater wall we saw a large motor boat coming out – maritime convention says pass port (left side of the boat) to port (left side of the oncoming boat). Skipper Nigel manouvered us to make this happen – at which point the other skipper started shouting and wildly gesticulating at us. I realised just in time he was trying to get us to go to his starboard side where there was deeper water (my first experience of the language barrier) …… and then I realized he was the marinero who had come out on a boat to make sure we didn’t stray into the very shallow water in the entrance channel. Once we realised this and with lots more gesticulating we found our berth and I don’t know how but he quickly moored up the motor boat and ran down the pontoon to help us. We were so exhausted from our crossing I don’t think we really appreciated all he had done for us until much later. It is a beautiful place and so peaceful compared to our time in Mahon.
As soon as we were moored up and checked in at the office we slept, and slept….. I would like to tell you more about the first couple of days but they were a bit of a snooze filled blur.
After we got our mojo back we explored on the zodiac and had a great time out in the bay watching a regatta in the distance.
I of course enjoyed walking around Fertilia which is a small village – everyone is very friendly and it’s a bit like time has stood still here (although only since the 1970’s when most of it seems to have been built). We really couldn’t believe how under- developed it all seems after arriving from Spain. There are flowers everywhere – it’s gorgeous and so different from what we’re used to in Spain.
It was extremely hot whilst we were there and Skipper Nigel tried his best at the local’s “look” – we saw lots of the workers and fishermen donning a t-shirt on the head rather than a hat to keep the sun off. Since he’s lost 3 hats so far on this trip maybe it’s a good idea;-)
We had a great time in Fertilia next we head northwards towards the tip of Sardinia, very exciting.
The Adventures of Gemini J 