Torrevieja – Malaga

We are finally sailing, and we have today, monday, reached Malaga according to schedule, and in time for picking up Nanna and Veronika at the airport. We had a hard time finding the marina and moored next to a few sailboats in the commercial harbor. It was during siesta, so we wanted to wait for this to end before finding the office. However, the port authorities did not agree. After a difficult talk with a spanish-only-speaking officer, and help from an electrician who knew a few english words, we realized that we were not near the marine, and where it was actually located.

So now we are in the marina, and June has just left with a taxi to the airport. We are looking forward to having everyone here.

Below you can read from the logbook, added a few details.

Torrevieja – Cartagena, Thursday Juli 14th 2016

Distance
Weather
Wind
Waves

40 nautical miles
Sunshine
5 – 7 m/s
2 m, decreasing to 1,5 m

First day and the waves are big after the heavy wind yesterday. Appetite is suffering, and Freja and Laura has become seasick after having fun at the stern in the sugar scoop.

We were passing La Manga, where it all started a few months earlier. Good memories.

In Cartagena June and I go up to the town to provision. It is a lovely city, however it needs som renovation of the old beautiful buildings in the center of the town.

Cartagena – Garrucha, Friday Juli 15th 2016

Distance
Weather
Wind
Waves

48 nautical miles
Sunshine, no clouds
7 – 9 m/s,
2 m

Today we sailed 48 nautical miles in 9 hours. It was a bumpy ride but no seasickness today. June tried fishing, but unfortunately she lost the line due to a bad knot.

We love google translate to help skipper speaking “spanish”. This is necessary when calling the harbor office on the VHF to ask if they have a mooring available. If this happens during the siesta, no-one answers the call unless it is in spanish or rather reminds of spanish.

Garrucha – Roquetas de Mar, Saturday Juli 16th 2016

Distance
Weather
Wind
Waves

58 nautical miles
Sunshine, a few clouds
8 m/s, increasing to 18 m/s
1,5 m, increasing to 3 m during the day

 

We beat the speed record today with 10,8 knots, and it was only with the main sail (which is the small sail). We had up to 18 m/s and waves around 3 meters, so there have been plenty to do. We sailed downwind from Gurrache to Rouqetas del Mar in 9 hours.

Roquetas de Mar – Marina del Este, Sunday Juli 17th 2016

Distance
Weather
Wind
Waves

58 nautical miles
Sunshine, no clouds
3-7 ms, no wind from around noon
1 m

A long day on the Mediterranean Sea. We departed Roquetas at 7am in almost no wind from behind, using the spinnaker pole on the head sail. From around 12 the wind dies completely and the rest is by motor.

After 11 hours we get to beautiful Marina del Este, so far the most idyllic marina we have been in. We take a little swim to cool down after a hot day, which involves trying the dinghy for the first time.

Marina del Este – Malaga, Monday Juli 18th 2016

Distance
Weather
Wind
Waves

35 bautical miles
Sunshine, No clouds
3 ms
1 m

After half an hour sailing we experience what we have dreamed of: Dolphins show up and play around the bow of the boat. Too bad Nanna and Veronika is not here, we hope to experience it again. It was as fantastic as expected, and expectations were high. See for your self here:

 

We arrived early in Malaga, which was good as it took a while to find the marina.