40:37.13N 00:36.14E

24 August 2011

Again to break up the trip south we stopped half way at Sant Carles marina.  Not much along the coastline on the way down to see.  Again no wind so motoring.  What is different is the huge amount of sand and shallow waters.  We have been so used to deep water that being in 15 meters several miles offshore is unsettling at first.  This are of the coast is affected by the large river delta that deposited sand and silt over the millennium and created barrier islands that are rare in the Med.  There is one major spit that creates the Alfacs bay that is reportedly the largest bay in the Med and it looks it.  It is miles long but very shallow, not the greatest overnight anchorage if the wind kicks in since it is too shallow to get close to shore.  Shoreline is sandy beaches with marshes beyond.  They still run salt drying operations here and have large flocks of aquatic birds including flamingoes.

We stayed in the new marina that is now owned by a British company.  It is in the middle of being created but is operational.  Shallow entrance and the marina folks guided us through.  Once inside it is dredge 3-4 meters.  At night there are some large fish feeding on the schools of smaller one.  Not sure what they were but they made large splashes as they broke the water.

Only about 2/3 occupied with mainly permanent boats.  They do have a nice pool operational and a café.  Otherwise not much else.  Town is nothing to look at, just a working class town that is based on the large fishery business.  Still nice place to stop with 24 hour marina service.