Almerimar to Altea, Spain

Marina Office in Almerimar

It was a mixed passage to Altea - 270 NM up the coast. From Almerimar we decided to head off coast to pick up the wind was based on the grib weather files. This turned out to be the wrong decision as we ended up motoring 4 hours to get back to the coast and the wind! However with a trip closer to the coast, about 2 NM off, we had a 'scenic tour' which was good see the coastal tourist developments. 
 

Anchored off the beach at Villajoyosa

During the passage up the coast John had promised fresh fish for dinner to test his new fishing gear. Despite his best efforts the line remained empty for the entire trip. Though we did enjoy seeing the dolphins and turtles who seemed to be sunning themselves.  After sailing in light winds and enjoying being dressed in shorts and teeshirts we decided to anchor for a night in the hope the wind would increase. After 192 NM we arrived in the middle of the night and anchored just off the port at Torrevieja.  After a rolly night (=uncomfortable) at anchorage we were keen to leave and sailed another 63NM, in light airs again, to anchor at Villajoyosa. This was a picturesque anchorage with bright coloured apartments along the expansive waterfront. 
 

Benidorm coast

With very light winds forecasted we headed out to motor for three hours to round the next cape passing Benidorm which reminded of the Gold Coast in Australia.  We then anchored at Mascarat Cove adjacent to Greenwich Marina saving E70 per night. The plan was to use the RIB and go into a cafe for wifi/fresh bread. After getting the RIB off the boat and starting the trip to the marina we noticed there was very little raw water from the cooling port. This provides confidence that cooling water is circulating through the engine. After 500mtrs the water flow was deteriorating - not a good sign - so John conducted a cautionary shut down procedure. Out came the oars and the best mate was rowed back to the boat. 

Altea Marina

After another night at anchorage and a leisurely start plan B was executed and we headed across the bay to Altea Marina to have the outboard investigated. We needed the outboard working as the RIB is effectively our car and allows us to anchor off and go ashore as required. On arrival we were met by a friendly (Swiss) line handler, Carlos, who advised us the office was closed and would open again at 1600hrs - of course we had arrived during the lunch/siesta time. Thankfully Carlos cycled around the marina and found us a berth to move into and introduced us to a local Spaniard for the outboard repair. Arrangements were made for a visit to the boat at 0930hrs the next day. Great we thought we would be departing pmhrs that day again as the wind was perfect for sailing. At 1030hrs with no sign of him we called his cell and were advised he would come soon. By 1200hrs we were getting impatient and called his phone again this time with no response. Very frustrating so it was back to the marina for another outboard contact. 

On the positive side we had half a day to explore Altea and visit the Parish Church that has a beautiful blue cupola known as “the dome of the Mediterranean”. The church is magnificently situated at the top of the town with the blue and white glazed ceramic tiles visible for miles. Altea was picturesque with the Sierra Bernia Mountain as a back drop and the traditional whitewashed houses of the village. 

Pondering the next step...

The next day the outboard expert, Klaus a German, arrived  one hour ahead of the planned time! After initally running and stripping the gear leg on the dock it was identified that problem was more serious than initially thought. Klaus and John then went back to his workshop to strip the motor and, where necessary, used acidic cleaning solution and compressed air and water jets to clean the salt crystals from the coolant loops. After three hours the job was done, the boat ready and we departed in the late afternoon with the destination of Palma, in the Balearic Islands.  

Below are a couple of photos from Altea.

 

     


   

A week in Almerimar, Spain

Nuclear Sub in Gib

After 89 days (no - not counting but reading the marina invoice) in Gibraltar we finally slipped the mooring lines and departed. While we will miss seeing the Rock from the salon windows we were ready to start sailing again.  Unfortunately during the pre-departure system checks we found a leak in the hot water cylinder - very frustrating.   However, this did not delay our departure as we decided to  work out how to fix at our next location in Almerimar, Spain.
 

Passing Europa Point

It was a picture perfect day leaving Gib with clear blue skies. Motoring out of the marina we passed a Brit nuclear sub at the military docks. Once we rounded Europa Point, at the southern point of Gib, the wind started to fill in and become a strong breeze which meant we had reefs in both the main and genoa for the entire trip.  About this time a pod of dolphins visited and played in the bow waves lifting our spirits even higher watching their fast torpedo like approach on the bow which seemed a fitting farewell from Gib.  We had a good, fast passage with an average of 25-30kts wind behind us making the 130NM trip an easy sail and good way to ease back into it. As expected there was lots of commercial shipping to avoid with these massive ships (800-1,000ft) steaming past us in both directions at 20 kts.
 

Foggy approach into Almerimar

Just before sunset we reefed even further to slow the boat down to enable us to arrive in daylight hours, and for a more comfortable motion, with Sabbaticus  still doing 7 kts with small amounts of sail out. The engine went on at 0600hrs, the sails dropped and we motored the last hour as the fog rolled in reducing visibility to less than 100mtrs. Even though we had radar up motoring through fog is not relaxing especially approaching an unknown port – thankfully we did not see any local fishing boats. Although we arrived at the marina reception dock at 0730hrs the office did not open until 0900hrs!  Si, we were back in Spain with siesta and late opening hours. 
 

Almerimar is a large marina with 1,100 berths and 850 boats currently in situ with a large liveaboard community. The marina is built around four main piers surrounded by apartment blocks which are popular in summer but empty in winter. The marina is well supported with three chandlers, a boat yard and a huge supermarket, bars and cafes but not much else. The liveaboard community is active with daily radio schedules and a range of social activities from coffee groups, quizz nights, thai chai in the park, charity nights and sunday walks. This was the one disappointment about wintering in Gib there was no liveaboard community in either marina.  Most people winter in Spain as it is cheaper while this would have been our preference it was not feasible as our NZ visa constraints limits our time spent in EU countries.

The daily challenge & exercise

We enjoyed our week in Almerimar and the opportunity to meet some cruising folks and hear about their travel experiences - it keeps us inspired. During this stopover we had our stainless work on the bow completed allowing us to secure the anchor and also fix the passarelle to the bow (in the interim this required a very large step to get off/on the boat being bow in), new cupboards installed in the galley and numerous emails/calls again with Sam from the Oyster Customer Support Team who is now organising for a replacement water heater and spares to be sent to the Oyster office at Palma in the Balearic Islands.   


About the only main area of interest in the local area is the massive greenhouses that are evident for approx 50kms along the coast. The horticulture industry is huge and supplies vegetables to Northern Europe in winter with (apparently) 600 trucks leaving each day.  

Sabbaticus with UK and Swiss neighbours

We are now heading up the coast of Spain for the Balearic Islands.
 

Departing Gibraltar

Restowing the Lazaret (aka garage)

Finally the winter maintenance tasks are completed the spare parts have arrived, all gear is stowed and we are now ready for departure. Our first stop is only a short passage of 130NM up the coast to Almerimar in Spain.  This will (hopefully) be a short stop over to have some minor stainless steel (anchor pin) and fibreglass repair jobs (no we haven't hit anything - yet!) completed.  All going well we will then be off on our first passage in the Med to Palma in the Baleares Islands.  After three months in the marina we are very keen to get underway sailing again.   
 

 

Puente Nuevo

Filling our 6 kg propane gas cylinder was not possible in Gibraltar and required a 45min trip up the coast to Estepona in Spain. While possible to catch a local bus, we decided to hire a car stopping at Estepona and then visiting Rhonda, about a 2hr drive from Gibraltar. Established in the 9th century Rhonda is one of the most ancient cities in Spain and is high in the mountains. Rhonda is spectacular location with a rich history, dating back to Islamic times with  the Moorish city walls and mosques still evident along with a Roman theatre carved out of rock.
 



The Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) is the "newest" bridge & largest of three bridges that span the 120mtr chasm of the Guadalevin River.The bridge was started in 1751 and took 42 years to build. The chamber above the central arch was used for a variety of purposes, including a prison.  Allegedly some prisoners were killed by being thrown from the windows during the Spanish Civil War.

   


We visited the bullring in Rhonda which is recognised as the first purpose built space for fighting bulls. At 66 meter diameter it is the largest, and most dangerous bullring with seating for 5,000.  After six years of building, the first bull fight occurred in 1758. The bull fighting museum provided an excellent history of bullfighting, the matadors and customs. We learned about the infamous Pedro Romero who retired from the art of bullfighting after killing 5,000 bulls without suffering any personal injury. 

Over the last few weeks we have been studying the weather forecasts in anticipation of departing. Over the next two months we need to get to Greece - basically heading east for roughly 2,000 NM. Below is last week's forecast, we are hoping we don't see too many like this in the next few months - gale force winds from the east for most of the Med.

Below are some photo's from Rhonda.

 

 

A missed calling possibly?

 

Winter Lay Over

Oven Repairs = no cooking for 6 days

After almost three months in Gibraltar our winter task list is almost complete with Sabbaticus showing the results of the constant attention and many hours of labour.  How naive we were to think we could have managed paid employment during our winter stop over - surprisingly the boat tasks have been all consuming. 

Attaching tell tales to the main

Our maintenance lists now shows 65 tasks completed, while satisfying there is always more to do which ensures there is never a dull day without activity.  The range of tasks have included; three coats of polish on the fibreglass, diving the boat to inspect and clean the hull, repairing the oven, sewing covers for the NAV plotter and outboard motor,installing a new winch control unit, oil changes, fitting the fishing rod holder, getting the sails re-cut and new shorter battens installed, servicing all (7) winch's and the windless (for the anchor), replacing the bow, gas and lazaret locker seals, cleaning the teak decks, restocking the boat, refueling the diesel, reading and planning the passage to Greece   .... the list just goes on so we will stop there!
 

Servicing the winch's

While none of these tasks are difficult it is surprising how much time is spent researching to find the right part number, sourcing the spares, talking with manufacturers on the repair process and then waiting for the spares to arrive.  We have sourced parts now from the UK, Canada and Sweden, ironically the UK parts always take the longest (up to 3 weeks) to arrive through the postal and subsequent customs process.  A simple task of collecting spares from the courier required four different office calls at the airport before the spares were released by customs.  Logistics can be so frustrating at times and is not assisted when the incorrect part is shipped and then everything shuts down for Christmas holidays resulting in another delay!  Thankfully the UK Oyster Customer Support provided by Sam has been invaluable at collating our spares order and sending one consignment avoiding more costs with customs clearance for each shipment. Lessons learned have showed us the advantage of being in one location for an extended period to access wifi, receive parts and re-stock spares used.

Anti-Chafe destroyed

Katabatic winds in the marina

Our winter has been very mild with only about 2 weeks total of wet weather which has made it easier to complete our 'outside jobs'.  We have experienced some katabatic winds, resulting in gusts up to 50kts in the marina, the wind indicator misaligned and corresponding surges for a few days. At time like this it would have been good to be living on land and not have the disturbed sleep hearing the constant noise, groans and movement of Sabbaticus as she strains on her mooring lines. Although we had spent considerable time researching and then procuring anti-chafe webbing from the UK - after three days of surge the anti-chafe was worn through which was disappointing.  

Refueling at Gibraltar was a pleasure with tax free diesel at .39p the tanks (total capacity of 770 litres) are now filled for our passage across the Med. We are now waiting for our last two spares to arrive so that we can start heading east to ensure we are in Greece by May to meet Maree and Colin (John's sister and brother-in-law) who are joining us for six weeks cruising the Greek Islands. 

Refueling in anticipation of leaving

 Time to start passage planning for our trip across the Med ........