Almerimar
Scott-Free’s blog
Steve & Chris
Mon 11 Aug 2008 21:48
36:41.831N 02:47.465W
As usual the wind
was either right on the nose or absent altogether, and we motor-sailed all the
way to Almerimar, some 120 nm east from Duquesa. It was an uneventful
passage with very few other vessels around - although a high-speed cat passed a
little closer than preferred during the night. As you can see, it's hard
work sailing - though to be fair I was off watch! 
We were joined by
dolphins again - this time they seemed much more laid back and swam gently
alongside, dipping under the hull in a slow, leisurely fashion. It was the
usual scrabble for the cameras and lots of photos of the water. This one
just about caught them!
The water was calm
and still and amazingly clear, so we had an excellent view of the dolphins both
above and below the surface.
Almerimar is a large
purpose-built marina which is surrounded by apartment buildings - most of which
are unoccupied. It is certainly cheaper than we have found outside of
Gibraltar. The boats are moored up alongside the public pathway and
security is non-existent. The surrounding countryside seems to be largely
covered in plastic sheeting under which vegetables are grown. Apparently
most of Northern Europe's vegetables are grown in this area. The pilot
book advises sailors to look out for plastic sheeting, up to 100 metres long,
that has been blown off the fields into the sea. Not the usual kind of
navigational hazard!