A Quiet Fishing Harbour

Malua
Harry Watson Smith
Mon 3 Sep 2012 19:49
Malua is now at 36:44.88N 04:03.96W at Puerto Caleta de Velez
The passage from Cartagena to here was longer than I expected being 174 nm.  I set off from Cartagena knowing that there were a number of places to stop.  The wind was aft of the beam and Malua was running fast before the wind however I knew I had to make the miles and I was on a lee shore until I turned the corner on the south east tip of Spain.  Here the light house shone brightly as I turned to starboard a fair distance from the red sector light indicating an isolated rock 3 meters under the surface and about 1 nm from the shore of the cape Cabo de Gata.
I turned as the last light of day faded and the big full moon appeared, headed towards the beach and 5 m of water and dropped the anchor.  A steak, some potatoes and mushrooms awaited the weary sailor.
The alarm went at 3:00am and I was up and away.  The moon still up and 91 nm to  cover before I could rest again.  The east wind blew about 10 knots so I settled down to a long leisurely cruise down the coast.  I had chosen a quiet fishing harbour for the night and it came into view at 6:30.  I had to tie up at the waiting dock and walk around to the office before I was allocated a berth in what turned out to be quite a busy fishing harbour of Puerto Caleta de Valez.
Tomorrow Peter arrives from New Zealand to join Malua to cross the Atlantic.