Partys over - now it's on to The Med

Posted at 10:54 AM, Wednesday, June 22, 2005

The wind up party for Rally Portugal went off last night and were now planning to move on with our trip.

Lagos is a lovely place.  We spent weeks here last year, but Robbies need to get on a plane to the UK and onward to Oz - plus we've a need to link up with other pals in Spain - so it means we'll depart Lagos tomorrow, and do a longish 200 mile leg across direct to Gibraltar.

Our aim is to refuel there, probably spend one night at anchor off the airport runway, and sail on the day after to Benalmadena, where Robbie can pick up a cab for her Malaga flight to the UK early on the 26th.

Swagman will then sail onward up the Costa del Sol, probably overnighting at Alemeria and Cartegena, before arriving at Denia on the Costa Brava.  Both those legs will be 100 milers so we'll be hopeful for fair winds or if needed, use the engine to keep to the schedule.

We have our old boat - same name but a Grand Soliel 42 - already en-route going in the same direction.  We're aiming to overtake on the way as the new owner Chris plus his two crew, Maria and Mark, are people we enjoyed meeting last year.  Maria sent a text two days ago saying they were then parked up in Barbate waiting to go through the straights to Gib, so they are not far in front.  It should be interesting on the VHF - 'Swagman calling Swagman etc'.

We'll stay for a few days in Denia at Moira and Stuart villa, and relax round their pool and generally unwind.  The plan is to then carry them over from Denia to Ibiza / Mallorca for a week or so cruising.  They then get off and fly back to Spain, whilst we pick up two girl friends from the UK who are holidaying with us for a week in Mallorca. 

The plans from then on get more fluid - we have son and duaghter in law Rob and Lousie joining us with plas, plus Pattie and Paul for another week - but it all promises to be fun - and as we've never cruised these islands before - it should be interesting and new.  I anticipate lotsw of time at anchor in Calas as opposed to too much in marinas - but I'll continue to keep you posted as we go.

Cheers

JOHN