Journey to Gibraltar

Shil and Helen came for a visit. Would you believe I've been friends with Shil for nearly 60 years. We stayed at the marina in the lovely Portuguese town of Olhão (oh-lyo) which is 15 minutes from Faro airport.

 Had a few lovely meals and went out on anchor for the night to show them the beautiful sunset. They took to the sailing pretty well.

We had no luck fishing for our dinner. I think we need some advice.

Then they were gone :-( I think they'll be back as Helen loved the bobbing of the boat and slept like a baby. 

After Mandy did her 3 days work we left the cool anchorage of Culatra and did an overnighter to Bonanza  in Spain. Goodbye Portugal. The nights are long at this time of year, 14 hours of darkness but there was a full moon so we could see the zillions of fishing boats playing Galaxians with us at 3 o'clock in the morning.

We arrived in the river Guadalquivir and parked at an anchorage just inside the river entrance to shelter from the coming storm. I didn't realize this river is like the Manchester ship canal for Serville, 40 miles up the river. So as well as a 4 knot tidal current and 37 knot winds we had massive container ships steaming past us 100 metres away blasting us with their wake all night. I didn't get much sleep. Still I would like to go back in the summer, great looking place.

We left the next day in the rain, foul weather gear and long trousers for the first time since leaving the uk. 

The channel out of Bonanza was crazy rolly, the boat was flying around, but it's a Nauticat so we weren't worried at all.

We drove past the area where the battle of Trafalgar took place, just off Cadiz, co-ordinates kindly supplied by Trotty. As if to punctuate our arrival we heard 4 or 5 enormous explosive booms. It sounded like an big cannon going off. Made me jump out of my skin every time. It must have been big gun practice day.

We arrived in Sancti-Petri, another river anchorage but with no big ships this time. A little crazy surfing up the channel but a really peaceful 2 days on anchor. Went ashore for a walk around and a beer. Super Spanish place, no English here.

Had another practice with the drone.

We left at sunrise Sunday morning thinking it would be quiet but no, everyone in town decided to go fishing.

Lovely sail to Barbate for the night. Great marina. Town was quiet as it was out of season but we still found a nice place to eat.

Reminded me of the hotel california cover for some reason.

Next day Mandy took us out the marina. She made it look easy.

We flew to Gibraltar, all the way at 6-7 knots, tide and wind with us. Sailed right up to the marina entrance avoiding lots of really really big ships on the way. 

And now are here for 1 month trying to claw back some Schengen days. Time to fit my flux capacitor.