| By the time Fiona and I sailed from Lagos, it was evening, and on the dying nortada we made across the bay to Portimao, finding a quiet anchorage just inside the breakwater. The following day the wind was light and fitful, and it took all day to make another berth for the night, just inside the breakwaters at Cabo de Sta Maria, off Faro. Next morning it was up and away at 0200, still mostly under power in the direction of Cadiz. We were 17 miles off it when there came a breeze from the SW. In spite of Fiona’s complaints, we bore away to the south’ard, and soon were sailing bravely at last on a broad reach under the full moon past Cabo Trafalgar. A wee brown bird decided to hitch a lift with us for the night, in and out of the cabin. |
The Strait of Gibraltar is the mother of acceleration zones; it’s generally blowing forcefully either east or west, in or out, so one only tackles it with a fair wind. If it’s force 3 when one starts the passage, it’s liable to be 6 or 7 when one comes out. So it proved this time , and we were very lucky to whistle up it with no trouble, past Gibraltar in the first light of dawn, the mountains of Morocco looming to the south. I was going to take the ride as far as I could, the Anna M logging 9 knots, we roared into the Med and up the Spanish coast as far as Fuengirola. This I noticed was the first harbour with it’s entrance facing NE, it was afternoon, the wind was moderating, and in we went for a good sleep and some provisioning next morning in the excellent market.
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Gibraltar from the east |
Coastal mountains
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Fitful, changeable airs were all the help the wind gave for the rest of the trip, making for a somewhat tiresome passage up along the Costa del Sol. We had another good sleep in Puerto Caleta de Valez, but left early for a long day slogging east, with just the odd whiles of good sailing, and some breathtaking early morning glimpses of sunlit snowy peaks way behind the coastal mountains. But a freshening easterly wind, fitful and changeable with heavy rain showers, finally made me admit I had pushed things as far as was wise, although Fiona was actually bearing up very well. A very large group of dolphins accompanied us as we started to put in towards Almerimar. |
I had a chartlet of the place, but beyond that did not know what to expect. Waking in the morning, I had finally lost the energy to push on, with another day of light, flukey wind forecast, to be followed by strong north-easterlies. The place felt good, on a low-lying promontory a bit away from those brooding mountains. It is purpose built for yachties, but not flashy, reasonably priced, and with tastefully designed apartment blocks. We were offered a berth handy for all facilities and also a good playa; this seems to be the Anna M’s winter berth this year. The north-easterly is whistling in the rigging of the many boats, but it is warm and pleasant, and the swimming is good.
No sooner had we settled in than a remarkable thing happened; I got talking to a fellow oldie, and we gradually twigged that he had bought my father’s old boat, Clarabel. Here she is, though renamed Mr Mustang, very thoroughly kitted out as a long-distance cruiser and live-aboard, and for sale once again. Her owner, Tony, is asking Euro40,000. for her, more details he says if one Googles her, try ‘Westerly boats, Mr Mustang’. He has been living aboard and sailing round the Med since 1988; I’m looking forward to picking his brains about it! Now Fiona and I are going to continue our journey to Mallorca by road and ferry. |
Mr Mustang |
| Joe Aston |
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October 2007 report 1
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October 2006 report
Tuna Trip 2007
On launching Wavedancing - 19 April 2006
IWDG Cabo Verde Expedition - 11th March 2006 |
© Photograph - Tony Whelan |
