Cartagena to Gibraltar

Flinns
Terry/ Nicola Flinn
Mon 9 Oct 2006 08:05
On our arrival at Cartegena, we discovered that it was a festival weekend.
The highlight centred around an enactment of the battle when the Romans
captured the city from the local barbarians. Hundreds were dressed as Roman
legionnaires in full regalia with banners, swords and shields marching
towards the battlefield; others, dressed as locals from Carthage wore fur
head-dresses and cloaks. There was cavalry from both sides, little children
were dressed up and regal ladies watched proceedings from a bridge in an
archway in the city walls.
By now, Steve Palastanga had rejoined us for the passages through Almeria,
Motril and Fuengirola to Gibraltar. Although we had to motor most of the way
because the wind was non-existent or right on the nose, it certainly an
interesting and at times a very demanding week.
We had our first real success with fishing and dined on dorado and bonito or
skipjack tuna; cooked immediately, they were really delicious. Enroute to
Motril, in strengthening winds, we had the first major failure of the trip
so far, when a fitting inside the boom which controls the size of the
mainsail fractured. We ended up ploughing into Force 7 near-gale wind
without sails for the rest of the way to Motril, and we spent the next 2
days working on the problem while waiting for the wind to become more
favourable. We managed to construct a " jury rig " which gave us a mainsail
half its usual size. Meanwhile, back at home, our friend Bob Hodgson
supported us wonderfully and managed to track-down and collect the spares
parts, which he passed on to Martin Shaw who was planning to replace Steve
at Gibraltar. We felt elated to arrive safely in Gib, only to become
dejected when we found that both marinas were full and were forced to spend
the night at anchor in Spanish waters at La Linea. Fortunately, next
morning, space became available and we moved into Queensway Marina right in
the middle of Gibraltar harbour.
The boat is now fully functional and reprovisioned for the 6 day passage on
to Madeira and we have taken full advantage of the tax free shopping.

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