Jun. 26th - 28th 2005 - Benalmadena to Denia
Posted at 1:15 PM, Saturday, July 2, 2005
We saw a tearful Robbie off into her taxi from the Marina at 0730 and having decided to get to Denia with all haste, Swagman departed at 0800 on our easterly turning to north easterly course.
I'd like to say the winds were favourable, but they hardly existed as we motored out of the harbour and headed out to sea and lay Cabo de Gata, from where we could turn slightly more north and up the eastern Spanish coast.
As it was now all down to Sue and I, we rotated on 3 hourly shifts through the day and into the late afternoon. In all that time we had not a breath of wind working for us - at best the light F1 was right on the nose.
By late afternoon we were abreast of Almerimar and calculating fuel usage to realise we would not make the whole journey without taking on more, we diverted into the port. A call in advance let us know the fuel dock was open until 2200. Just as well - as they also had a problem with their one usable pump - and we had to wait over one hour before they could start topping up our tank. As it was we only took 75 litres - not bad for 12 hours motoring at 7 knots.
We also knew our previous and much loved Grand Soleil was temporarily parked up in Almerimar Marina - so we chugged around after we'd fuelled to find her nicely snuggled between a couple of much bigger power yachts - and slap bang in front of a pub. Some things never change even if the owners do.
Good to see her. She still looks great. But why was she smaller today than I remembered???
I'd like to think the two boats said their hello's also. Sad case, eh?
We motored onward from Almerimar and as the sun dropped and did manage to hoist the sails to advantage as we closed Cabo de Gata. We looked forward to a romping night sail as we now turn almost directly north and should get the F3 / F4 breeze on our starboard quarter.
Pigs arse.
Sue was asleep as we slid round this cape and you would not believe it - as we turned from an north easterly to the north so the wind also turned to come from the same direction!
On we motored.
Some eirie thunder clouds led to lots of sheet lightening later overnight - and a spatter of warm rain washed us down. It was only when the sun came up we realised the rain had carried with it a fine red mud and the whole boat was covered - like we'd been through a dust storm.
Most got washed off as still under motor, we bashed onward into a building head sea across the Gulfo de Mazarron. As we approached Cartegena was did another quick re-calculation on fuel and decided we need not top up the tanks again until we arrived in Denia. So we plugged onward. Got around Cabo de Pelas about midday Monday, where at long last we were free enough to sail properly in a settled easterly wind.
Bashed onward up the coast off the Mar Menor through a medium sized swell - the coast here looks just like the Gold Coast in Oz with miles of high rise buildings - and by nightfall we were closing Torrevieja and the final couple of capes were literally just around the corner.
Sue was on shift as we passed Benidorm now motor sailing into an east / north easterly to keep up pur desired 6 knots, and I picked up the helm as we approached Pto Calpe. The winds eased even further, so it was then a lot more motor than sail. We topped our tanks with our reserve stock of 3 X 10 litres to allow us to crank up the revs and finish this tiring leg a bit earlier.
The three big capes of Morayra, de la Nao and de San Antonio were passed close to, each being wreathed in mist around each lighthouse far up on top of the cliffs. At sea level the huge moon helped light the way and made pot dodging a bit easier. It was a spectacular bit of coast in those conditions - the lighthouse beams through the clouds was spooky - as we sailed along underneath.
One last game of chicken with an obviously bored fisherman. He appeared to aim for us under full throttle and despite all my attempts to avoid his path - he continually adjusted his. The only answer was to stop completely and let him roar past our bow and away into the night. Asshole.
Then is seemed minutes later we were sliding past Cabo San Antonio and the lights of Denia harbour were flashing a greeting in front of us.
Slid into the marina on glassy seas at 0400 Tuesday morning - not a bad run of close to 250 miles in 36 hours - but we were both tired and wired. Crept in towards the fuel jetty intending to tie up there until daylight, but a nice chap on a bicycle arrived, asked us to move to a berth on C Jetty, and went round to hand us our lines.
Opened a bottle of red at 0500 to try and help the wind down - and hit the sack 30 minutes later.
Our Denia based pals, Stuart and Moira, woke us by phoning at 1000. By 1100 they had arrived to help lug the sacks of washing to their big 4 wheel drive for the 20 minute journey over Mongo Mountain to their palatial villa in Javia.
Have since spent the last three days in luxury.
Lovely pool.
Nice food.
Lots more booze.
Seems there's little to do except party.
Caught up with other pals Kaz and Wayne from last years Rally Portugal - and spent this morning watching the Kiwis thrash the Lions in the local Irish Pub.
Tomorrow (3rd July) we depart Denia for Ibiza and Mallorca with Stu and Miora. I'll keep you posted on how that week goes and the interesting places we find.
Cheers
JOHN