Torrevieja - 37:58:37N 0:41:26W
Red Skies
David Alexander
Sun 20 Sep 2009 14:33
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On Thursday 17th Sept, strong SSW winds suddenly ,
which had not been forecast, blew up at about 2.30 pm pinning us to the concrete
hammerhead where we had been berthed. Unfortunately, there was no shelter from
this wind as we were directly exposed to the entrance and this was open to the
SSW. The wind was too strong to attempt to move the boat and all we could do was
to pack as many fenders between the boat and the quay. Our fender board had
already been deployed to protect the fenders, but continual action was required
on running repairs to its attachments and even so both ends of the board broke
off. The wind continued to increase and 40 knots was recorded in the marina
office and across our deck with a swell that seemed determined to pick the boat
up and set it down on the concrete. Alison and I spent an exhausting period
trying to hold the boat off and we were joined by some very kind people for some
hours before they had to leave for a pre-arranged dinner date.
The marina staff borrowed fenders from other boats
(that were being blown off) and came up with some really oily ones of their own
and eventually we had 20 fendersand our fender board in position between
the boat and the concrete. All we could do then was to wait for the wind to
abate.
At 10.30 pm the marineros returned, judging the
wind to have lessened sufficiently to attempt to move the boat to a position
where it would be blown off the pontoon, which we did although it was a somewhat
hairy experience.
The next morning, whilst returning the borrowed
fenders and making arrangements to depart, I learnt that this was a most unusual
event, with several boats damaged within Torrevieja Marina and also in
neighbouring ports, and that the entire marina staff had been called in to help
with coping with the deteriorating situation.
 Just some of the 20 fenders that stood between us
and potentially serious damage
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