We were away by 09.30 and enjoyed force 3s and 4s, a superb beam reach on the starboard tack and with very little traffic, although we slowly overhauled another Red Ensigned yacht, a 38ft Ketch, and were unreasonably delighted when we slowly left her behind as we approached Alicante Bay - the conditions we had that day were certainly Sundancer's favourite. Late afternoon we dropped anchor of Agua Freddo, a suburb of Alicante, with an anchorage for perhaps 10 boats or so in fairly shallow water, followed in shortly by the ketch we had encountered earlier. Clair from the ketch swam over and invited us over for a glass of wine and we had a very pleasant evening and also refreshed our saloon shelf with a very welcome book swop - always a highlight of cruising.
A pleasant morning and we were quickly away, bound for Torrevieja. Clear of the anchorage, we were soon hoisting sail, close hauled in the hope of clearing the headland on one tack.
Bang!! With absolutely no warning our mainsheet car fell apart, wheels and axles flying across the aft deck. A quick inspection showed a need for spare parts we did not carry on board so we quickly changed course for Alicante Marina on the other side of the bay. We would hopefully find suitable spares in the chandlery there - alas, the chandlery closed for the weekend at 13.00hrs, half an hour before we got there! Only in Spain would a chandlery close for the weekend on what one would expect to be their busiest days.
Monday morning provided some spares for a temporary repair which took perhaps an hour, but we had some business to attend to so in the event we did not leave till the Tuesday morning at 10.00hrs.
We had another very pleasant day, although our mainsheet track was now non adjustable because of our temporay repair, and anchored in Torrevieja outer harbour at 16.30hrs. There were a few local boats anchored with their crews fishing or swimming but within an hour or so we were alone, enjoying swimming in the late afternoon - and still hot - sun.
The anchorage was very sheltered and after a quiet night and early swim we dinghied ashore and found a little roadside cafe where we were almost overwhelmed by their menu del dia, 3 excellent courses for 10 Euros and no extra charge for an additional beer, nor for the coffee - fantastic!
Then another vey quiet night and an early(ish) start for Mar Menor, a large inland sea approached by a short canal via a lifting bridge, and which we had previously visited by car some years previously.
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