Then the wind picked up… and up… and changed direction, and increased, so we were beam on to the swell... side to side and up and down motions all at the same time: not a prospect to fill us with delight for a peaceful night. So for the second time in a week, we phoned the delightful Mrs Roberto at Motril marina hoping for a sympathetic hearing and requested we come back in again. Success, thirty minutes later we were back in the same berth we had vacated six hours earlier! It was lumpy enough for Catherine and I to put on our life jackets whilst up on the bow sorting ropes and fenders. Roberto ‘junior' assisted our berthing with extra ropes and we were all glad to be back in the shelter of the marina.

It was then a unanimous decision to stay put for the next six nights while we have our Granada outing! We have done a few routine tasks, servicing winches and anchor capstans but mostly it has been very relaxing. 

Yesterday we saw a number of fire-fighting flying boats fly over the marina, drop down to scoop up sea water into their tanks and then fly off again to drop it over the wildfires that are burning not so very far away. A very impressive sight and we hope it works.

Today (Thursday) is a Spanish fiesta day, part of the festivity was a 1.5km swimming race with at least 100 participants,  the course for which took them past the front of Cassini, around the harbour and back to the marina. Not something I’d like to attempt but at least it was completed prior to the wind strengening again…. Annoyingly it is now 15-18kt again and vibrating something on an adjacent boat that sounds like an angle grinder!! Additional entertainment was provided when two tugs were deployed to assist the large ferry off its terminus, (up until today the ferry has done this under its own power).

We used the commercial washer for two loads today, bedding and towels included, triple pegged it, managed not to lose any over the side, got it all put away and then back to leisure pursuits. 

The hire car arrives tomorrow and we will take a view on our sightseeing destination, dependent on the wildfire direction and the roads. Luckily I think the route to Granada for us on Saturday will be ok.

Everyone is looking forward to a change of scenery. 

Sally

The fire-fighting flying boats coming into land inside the harbour wall, collecting a hull full of water before taking off again.

100s of swimmers in the bank holiday race around the harbour basin...