Left: Sharing our approach with B.A and Right our previous boat "Brighteyes"
We left Benalmadena at 09.00, reaching across the bay and parallel to the beach, many local boats already anchored close in, the waters shallow and the depthmeter getting our constant attention. Gibraltar was about 50 miles away and with 6kts on the log fairly often we were looking forward to a good day. We were hoping to see dolphins and were not disappointed - we saw dozens of them. As we approached Gibraltar the seas got busier and busier and we kept well inshore as there was a continuous stream of ships - the Straits of Gibraltar is (are?) extremely narrow and certainly gets congested.
We entered Marina Bay at 19.30, just as a jet landed on the runway immediately alongside the marina, amused at the sign telling us that boat movements were not allowed when planes were landing or taking off - what were we supposed to do?
We were even more surprised to find ourselves berthed alongside our previous boat "Brighteyes" which we had sold in Poole, Dorset a couple of years previously - the new owners were not onboard so we were not able to check on the old girl.
We were of course in a sterling area and the berthing fees of a very modest £14 were the same as our previous visit - another surprise when we found it was exactly one year since we had left!
The next day saw us shopping at Morrison's Supermarket, a real bit of England, and it was nice to get some of our old favourites such as English Granary Breads and Stilton Cheese and Ty phoo tea and .... well we had to get a taxi back to the boat and we managed to squeeze in as well. The taxi driver, who - like lots of the local workers -was Spanish complained about the heat; his car's gauge showed 33degrees.
We had not seen The Great Siege Tunnels on our previous visit and Tuesday, 12th August saw us trudging up a very steep (and long) hill towards the top of the Rock to put this right. We chose a very hot day and looked on enviously at all the tour buses speeeding to the same destination filled with cool, air conditioned holidaymakers (wimps). But it was all worth it in the end. See separate post "Siege Tunnels". We then trudged downhill, enjoyed a quick lunch and cool beer in town and later, in the evening, went back in to town for a freeby concert in The Casements Square.
Wednesday and what a change. Cool and damp and a day for mooching and not much else. Thursday, much the same except fog later and reports of a ship aground in the entrance - refloated later.
Thursday, foggy and generally rubbish forecast so maintenance day. Very noisy night as Spanish festival and celebrations from nearby La Linea went on till 06.30am Friday!
Friday and fuelled and then left at 12.30 after fog had cleared. Had incorrectly copied down tide times from Easytides on internet and after rounding point at Tarifa realised mistake after encountering 6kts currrent in wrong direction so scuttled back to Tarifa and anchored in shelter of bay (skipper feeling very - well, a bit anyway - humble). A very quick reminder about tides after life in the Med and virtually tideless.
Spent a fairly disturbed night at anchor with frequent movements by Tarifa - Tangier ferries. Noticed stern gland leaking sea water quite badly and not cured by tightening and no new packing on board so decided to return to Gib to fix.
So, back again, trip to Sheppards for new packing. Fitted new packing also modified gearbox rear seal as repair at start of season had not totally stopped oil leak. Fine except weather wasn't so sat and moaned about fog for next 3 days - you can only go to Morrisons so many times!
22nd August and we left at 10.30 with promise that fog would soon lift. Visibility did improve quickly and by the time we cleared the bay was OKish. Enjoyed currents this time and 8kts+ as we past Tarifa was much better, thank you.
We entered Barbate at 17.30, an absolutely glorious evening.
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