OK, here goes – putting it down in print will hopefully help me work it out too!  Firstly, there is a constant East flowing current of 1 – 1 ½ knots flowing into the Med.  Then there is the usual tidal stream to consider, and to pick up a favourable westward flow we need to be off Punta Carnero 3 ½ hours after high water So far so good but there’s always either a westerly or an easterly wind in the Straits.  On the face of it, an easterly would be good but the wind increases as you progress and ‘you will have to deal with a gale or near gale at Tarifa and rough conditions can be expected’ (quote from handbook).  In a westerly the wind will be on the nose and ‘at neaps, it’s almost impossible to get out under sail alone’.  Also,  you must stay in your stream close to the coast – this is important because towards the centre of the Straits the tide will be flowing in the opposite direction and ‘if you stray outside you will go backwards’ – a bundle of joy, this handbook!

It’s all become a little academic for a couple more days as we need to have some electrical work done.  The batteries are being charged on shore power but not under engine.  We thought it was the alternator but it seems more likely to be combination of that and the smart-charging doo-dah thingy (glad I know what I’m talking about!).  So that’s a job for Sheppards on Wednesday.