Voyaging the Western Mediterranean
Costa Azahar - Valencia - Costa Blanca - Torrevieja
Wed 14th- Thurs 15th July
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25nm, 4hrs 25min. The wind pattern seems to be clear: light northerlies in the morning, veering on-shore south-east during the afternoon and building to about 15-18 kts. Some good late afternoon sailing and we get to Vilanova i la Geltru. Slightly by chance, but a really good decision. Good marina (but a bit pricey), terrific town and super beaches with very fine sand. In the evening we join in the general 'paseo', strolling up the long avenida. Also by chance, this is International Music week in the town square and we are treated to a (free) late evening concert by a top Colombian rhumba band, complete with ageing gentleman singer in white suit and straw hat. Sort of like George Melly and his Red Hot Latin American Feetwarmers. Real foot stamping, arriba arriba, stuff. And also by fortunate chance, we are berthed next to Nina and Dick in their traditional yacht. They've been afloat for 20 years and over supper we get a few kind words of advice from two masters. | ||||
Fri 16th - Sat 17th July
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28nm, 5hrs. Thanks to Nina and Dick we are encouraged to anchor in 4m depth, off the beach but in the lee of a breakwater, at Punta del Reco south of Tarragona. It's a really good spot, even if the beachfront resort is . . well, not where we would choose to fly to. We spend two days lazing and swimming off the boat. | ||||
Sun 18th July
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47nm, 8hrs 40min. A long leg, sailing and motoring and rounding Cabo Tortosa the delta mouth of the mighty river Ebro. Behind the headland is a large sea-lake, with Sant Carles de la Rapita at its entrance, where we anchor for the night, and where there are lots of mozzies. We go into the club nautico to fill with water. Bad idea - we get charged 6€, only after having filled up. Daylight robbery. | ||||
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Mon 19th July 18nm, 3hrs 50min. We're really getting into this anchoring lark, this time just outside the harbour, but inside the bay, at Peñiscola (that's "Pe-nyiscola", not the decidedly unappetising "Penis Cola"). Ha ha. |
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| Tues 20th July 28nm, 5hrs 45min. We're going great guns, heading past Castellon towards Burriana when the engine note changes and we lose 1 kt. Not willing to risk a complete stop during the last hour of the journey, we 'take a right' into this large commercial harbour. As it turns out, Castellon is another lucky accident. The club nautico is excellent, so is the town, we are berthed next to a friendly (but quiet) racing yacht bound for Majorca, and the engine trouble turns out to be a plastic sack wrapped around the propellor, dealt with by Jim donning mask and snorkel, wielding a sharp saw, and diving underneath. |
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| Wed 21st-Fri 23rd July 35nm, 7hrs. And so to Valencia. The large marina (making preparations for the next Americas Cup) is some way out of the city, but it is sheltered, friendly and has a brilliant swimming pool. We get taxis into town, see the sights (excellent Tourist Office), and get ourselves sorted out with a Spanish mobile phone sim-card. |
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Sat 24th July |
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Sun 25th July |
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| Mon 26th-Wed 28th July 7nm, 1hr 30mins. A delightful and sheltered anchorage, in 8m of clear water in a rocky inlet just south of Javea called Cala Sardinera. During the day there's us and a few other boats. During the morning we are visited by droves of purple fringed jellyfish but they're gone by lunchtime (where? why?). During the night there's just us and our anchor light, and it's very peaceful. |
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Thurs 29th July 43nm, 8hrs 30min. Alicante. Big very expensive marina with some bloomin' big white motor boats in. Lovely city, overlooked by a castle on the hill. We would have loved to have stayed longer. But we did have some excellent sailing getting there - fair winds and following seas nearly all day. Lovely. |
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Fri 30th July - Sat 7th August |
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Sun 8th August On Saturday 7th we're all set to move on but we encounter a short steep swell, beam on to the boat. The resulting extreme pitching and yawing is just too uncomfortable, so we turn round and head back to harbour. The following day is much better, we get to Tomas Maestre at the entrance to the Mar Menor (inland sea-lake), wait for the bridge to open and then head down to the southern edge, anchoring at Puerto de los Nietos. 21nm, 5hrs 30mins. |
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| Mon 9th August 12nm, 2hrs. With 20+kts of wind behind us, we cross the Mar Menor and anchor for the night in the breakwater protected outer haven back at Tomas Maestre. After the wind, we have a lovely calm, quiet evening. |
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