36:06.5N 006:15.0W

My log for that day starts - another nice day.

Well, Mrs Ward’s class, I don’t know if you know yet about Nelson and his navy fighting the Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar in 18?? I’ll leave you to find out when that was.  Anyway we had our own Battle of Trafalgar yesterday.  It started after we had got south of Cadiz and, as usual, the wind gets up a bit in the afternoon and the waves were going south west.  So far so good.  However, we were also coming under the influence of another wind blowing eastwards out of the Straits of Gibraltar called the Levant, causing waves which seemed to be going in a westerly direction.  Then the wind from the east became really strong just before Cape Trafalgar.  There is another entry in the log around 2pm which mentions Bill wondering whether to go through the gap between the Trafalgar Bank (several shallower bits of water which change the behaviour of the waves) and the Cape.  I am so glad he didn’t !  We headed south to clear the Banks and then the winds really whipped up to over 30 knots constant and gusting 38 knots.   By then we were facing the Straits of Gibraltar and it was funnelling  through there straight at us. We were going to have to turn into the wind and the waves.  Engine went on and we battled.  It was getting dark. Bill had to take over the helming from the autopilot for a while because the waves were too confused.  Anyway by this time everything was on the floor – books, anything we had left on the table or not stowed away (hence the phrase ship shape and a lesson we should have learned).   Considering this was the worst weather experience Bill had had in a yacht, the boat performed well (apart from the leaks).  The best performance is when pointing the boat at 30⁰ to the waves. It just ploughs through the very short wave lengths and we weren’t tossed about that much.  Bill says, as he had to stay in the cockpit and helm he was glad that the water was warm as it came over the deck. 

Then the bilge alarm went off (it really is loud).  We know it is over sensitive but I had to go and check how much water had got in.  I had a go at mopping the little that I could see.  I got really seasick doing that and had to come back up.  The alarm wouldn’t shut up so I went and switched it off.  Later Bill had a look and found two areas I hadn’t checked with measurable amounts in them, but still not major.  He reckons there is still a leak from where the mast comes through the boat.

Around 11 pm we could see the approach to Barbate (pronounced Bar-batty) and had to keep a look out for tunny nets which come out a very long way – this is how the Spanish catch tuna fish.

It was wonderful to get in. We had hardly had anything to eat or drink so that was one of the first jobs after clearing up the worst of the wetness.  All we have done today, the 20^th is clear up and do lots of washing.  The weather still doesn’t look hopeful for tomorrow (don’t get me wrong, on land the wind is really a welcome from the heat and the sun) when we really wanted to make for Gibraltar.  It may have to wait until very early 22^nd. 

Strange to begin hearing exchanges in Arabic over the VHF radio.  We are so close to Morrocco. The Arabic influence in Andalucia is quite strong in the place names and the singing style.  Notice to mariners.  Local councils here allow fairgrounds and other parties till after 3 am!  Don’t know how people get up for work next day.