From Cartagena to Gibralta

Back in Cartagena

 16^th July We have spent the last four days in Yacht Port Cartagena marina, a place that holds fond memories for us as it’s where we spent our first winter on Sandpiper in 2012. We had only planned on staying for one night here, but strong winds from the wrong direction have prevented us from leaving.

Cliff changing the nationality of the gas bottle

Cliff has made the most of our enforced stay by catching up with some boat jobs. One job was to paint the gas bottles. Each time our gas runs out we have to take the empty bottle to a supplier and swap it for a full one. But we have found that different countries have different coloured canisters: in Greece they are green and in Spain they are blue. When we came to exchange our green Greek bottle the local Spanish supplier refused to accept it. So, out came the blue paint, and now we have a bottle the right (Spanish) colour!



The beach at Garrucha

17^th July Our departure from Cartagena this morning presented some challenges when the gearbox decided we could only move one way - in reverse! After doing some impressive reverse tactics to avoid other yachts and a very large cruise liner, we decided to return to the marina. Turning the engine on and off seemed to clear the problem, but we would be happier if we knew the cause. Our second departure was uneventful and we had a good sail down to Garrucha on the Costa Almeria.



View of the Rock from our boat

21st July We are now moored in the marina at La Linea, the Spanish town right next to Gibraltar. We have been given a prime spot tucked well inside the marina and we have a splendid view of the rock from our cockpit. Gibralta is only 8 miles from the African mainland and the narrow straits between the two countries have a predictable weather pattern. For the next five days the Poniente wind is due to blow from the west, making the passage through the narrow Straits difficult and possibly dangerous. Then the winds will change and the Levanter will blow from the East, offering us a fast, if slightly wild sail down the Strait. So we have five days to relax and enjoy Gibraltar.

Our DJ neighbour

23rd July Today we had a few drinks with our neighbour Paul Breen-Turner, an interesting character who lives on his boat in Spain and divides his time between working as a TV sports presenter and recording daily shows for English Speaking radio stations in Spain.  He actually records the programmes below deck, then emails them to his producer in London. Sounds like a good life to us!