A bah humbug day

Mira's Web Diary
Gordon and Catherine
Tue 5 Nov 2013 07:20

Monday - we’ve had to leave Queensway Quay as the berth is booked for the winter so we’ve arranged to move to Marina Bay, just a little further up but still in Gibraltar.  There’s a stiff breeze (what I call ‘windy’) and there are 2 marineiros waiting to take our lines.  The berth we’ve been allocated is opening and closing as the boats move in the wind so we’re re-directed to another berth intended for a much larger boat and Gordon brings Deep Blue back into the middle of the space perfectly.  However the wind catches the bow before we can get the lazy line on and we’re pushed sideways across the berth into the rather smart Fairline motor boat next door, and our anchor scrapes down her side before we can get a fender anywhere near.  The owners aren’t on board and the marina is dealing with all the paperwork but we’ve never caused damage to another boat before and we both feel quite disturbed.  It also makes for an expensive trip up the bay as boat policies have an excess just like car ones.  Added to that, this marina has fixed concrete pontoons and we can’t get close and risk damage to the self-steering gear as the boat bobs up and down in the wind.  So getting ashore is difficult and I refuse to go shopping so we hunker down and eat what’s on board.  A ‘bah humbug’ day is confirmed when Gordon decides we must set the alarm so he can get up during the night to check our lines.  Still, a crocheting needle, cotton and pattern can’t cost much ….