Second time lucky!! Valencia to Puerto Oropeas de Mar 24-25 Sept.
Nimue
Thu 25 Sep 2008 16:55
|
As suggested in the previous blog, the weather
forecast was not particularly brilliant for the week Nigel and Sally were
with us. However, following our day around Valencia, there was
an eagerness to move on and although the forecast was not
particularly brilliant for going up the coast i.e.farily strong winds coming
from that direction, we decided to depart the somewhat lifeless Valencia
marina. We headed out into a very lumpy sea with 2 reefs in the
main and half the headsail and were making slow, but gradual progress,
when the headsail suddenly unfurled itself. This occurred due to the
outersheath on the furling gear parting company at
the deck clutch and as a consequence the line came free
and released the full headsail. The problem was quickly resolved and
the headsail furled back to halfway. Half and hour or so later, we
heard another bang and this time the cringle had parted company from the
headsail!! Therefore, with no sheets attached to headsail and no
control or driving power, we decided to furl the whole thing in and head
back to Valencia to get it repaired. With the wind behind us, we had
a fairly rapid sail back into the marina, where I had called up to ensure we
could moor near the entrance and nearby to North Sails. The marina
staff were very accommodating and within a matter of minutes of arriving,
the headsail was taken off and North Sails agreed to have it
repaired by the next morning.
This was a good time for Sally and I to go for
a 'girlie' shop and we spent a couple of hours window shopping in a
shopping mall just outside the centre of Valencia, whilst Michael and Nigel
prepared dinner.
The following morning the repaired sailed arrived
on time and this time we left in fairly benign weather and a pleasant sea
state. We motor sailed up most the coast and as we were passing
between the entrance of Puerto de Castellon de la Plana and the terminal
offshore, we were met by the Aduanas "Spanish Customs", who gesticulated to us
that they wanted to come on board Nimue. Anyway, we slowed down and seemed
to wait for an awful long time for the 2 customs guys to launch their
dinghy and eventually board us. We gave them a helping hand on board and
although they both seemed 'abit concerned' that we couldn't speak Spanish,
they seemed okay and friendly!! Anyway, they were keen to get
below and complete the necessary paperwork, so Sally did the typical
British thing and put the kettle on to make a cup of tea and I assisted the
'aduanas' in presenting them with the requested documentation. It
seemed to us that although this was a routine check, they were also on
a learning exercise, as they took ages in completing the
rather uncomplicated form. Anyway, after about half an hour or so, Michael
was asked to sign the aforementioned form and they left. We
then headed up to Puerto Oropesa de Mar, our destination for the
night. After negotiating the tricky entrance, where we had no more
than 0.5 metres below the keel (the pilot book suggested more
like 2/3 metres!!), we moored stern to against the concrete pontoon and
went ashore for a beer, where we all got abit more than we bargained for - the
mosquitos decided to taking a liking to us, especially
Nigel.
 One of the many fish farms en route -
no wonder the Med is overfished!!
  The Aduanas arriving and
leaving!!
 |