Calpe - 38:25:74N 0:04:24E
Red Skies
David Alexander
Tue 29 Sep 2009 16:54
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After a brief retun visit to home, we returned to
Alicante and rain(!!) on Sunday 27th Sept, having left a bright and sunny UK
behind.Due to concern about black bits in the fuel system, both fuel tanks were
purged via their drain valves with a new pump brought out with us. The
primary and secondary fuel filters were also changed at the same time. We were
now ready for the off again.
Monday 28th September started reasonably and
although the forecast was for F3-4 from the East we reckoned that we could motor
sail or even sail North East to Calpe and so we set off at just after 10.00 am.
Having left Alicante we did raise the sails, but progressively reefed them over
the next hour to finally abandoning them altogether when the wind settled at F6
from the North East, with short very steep waves into which we plunged
limiting our speed considerably. Then came the thunder storms, which although
they missed us while sailing, raised wind speeds to over 30 knots and thoroughly
washed the salt of us and the boat.
At 5.00 pm we reached Calpe and were grateful to
follow some fishing boats in as the thunder clouds were gathering again and the
visibility was rapidly deteriorating.The swell was considerable and we were
getting concerned that there might not be sufficient shelter in the marina. It
was raining when we entered the marina and tied up to the first available
pontoon. It was raining quite hard when we moved the boat to the mooring
indicated by the marinero but it was a monsoon by the time David went to the
office to register. And so it continued for about 2 hours with a thunderstorm
passing directly overhead. Finally it eased, and being David's birthday, we went
to a local restaurant recommended by the marina's receptionist as being
very good for fish. The rain had had its impact, however, and the roads had
become rivers and dining clients had stayed at home and so we found ourselves
the only diners in a restaurant capable of seating 150 or so and the chefs and
waiters playing dominos (with considerable gusto) to occupy
themselves.
Tuesday 30th was forecast to be wet all day and so
we decided that we would stay put in Calpe. Whereas it did start to rain at 6 am
it had finished by 8.30 am and a pleasant unforecast sunny day was used to
explore.
Calpe is dominated by the Penon de
Ifach, a huge rocky outcrop 332 metres high, at the foot of which is the fishing
port and marina. It is joined to the mainland by a thin ismus completely
developed principally with tower blocks. Notwithstanding that, we found it had
considerable charm which more than compensated for our very soggy experiences
the previous night.
 The Penon de Ifach, which we climbed almost to the
very top
 View from the lower part of the Penon de Ifach,
showing the marina
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