Rota thro' Mazagon

Just a few of the many charms of Rota (see photos of the Church on the next post)

From Barbate to Rota was a long day's motorsail with little wind and a very hot sun. We had Cadiz and its tall buildings and enormous dockyard cranes visible for a long time, reminding of our previous visit to the bay when we had motored in with a broken forestay and rigging trailing in the water. Today's trip was a lot happier, and we crossed the bay against the flow of yachts returning to Cadiz and its neighbouring marinas from their day's sailing.

Rota has a large modern marina with a big Navy Base close by and we approached the narrow dogleg entrance at 19.00hrs, quickly overtaken by a fast ferry from Puerto Sherry, and we tied up near the ferry as it disgorged its many passengers. The very helpful officials soon had us sorted with a berth, 23 Euros a night. It all had a good feel - we liked it already.

A walk in to town and we found a busy, thriving place with a lot of charm. Also good shopping and a good Carrefour where we found lots of goodies and restocked our empty lockers. We found a staggeringly beautiful church but could not help be horrified at how much must have been spent on its interior at a time in history when we suspected the local population were poor. Back on board we found a local American radio station which appeared to be aimed at USA forces in the area but was very entertaining and update us on world affairs. Out after dinner we found the town very busy - even the beaches where locals had card schools grouped around on beach chairs - and we sat at a pavement cafe gorging ourselves on huge ice creams (piccies of the feast have been censored by the mate and are not available!)

The following morning Godfrey and Christine from"Gemini Dreamer" popped round and invited us for drinkies - always a popular move (they had arrived the previous evening but we had not realised it) We had a lovely swim in the afternoon and after dinner visited Gemini Dreamer where we had a very pleasant evening. A very good day but we were planning to move on tomorrow.

The day dawned but the skipper didn't. I felt very iffy (nothing to do with the previous evening) and spent most of the day asleep. The following day had strong winds and we stayed - not hard to do in Rota.

The 29th August, forecast OK but winds better for Mazagon than Vilamoura. Left at 10.45 and enjoyed a superb sail, strong, consistent wind from SW and 7+ kts on the log. A long approach to Mazagon, sharing the channel with tankers making for the refinery upriver from Puerto Deportiva, before a hairpin turn to starboard to enter the marina. The waiting quay was very busy but a German boat very generously hailed us to berth alongside - a kindness he might have regretted because it took an hour or so before we cleared the formalities and were able to make for our berth - during which time he was pinned inside us.

The marina was big but a bit souless and we found the town much the same the following day, well, the souless bit anyway. The loud music playing all night convinced us to move on tout de suite and we were away by 09.00 on the second morning, enjoying a strong ebb and departing at a satisfyingly quick rate, leaving to starboard by far the biggest breakwater we had ever seen