Having drained our bank account in Puerto Banus we had to leave for Alicante!

Puerto Banus had been pretty well fog bound for several days. It had now cleared and the winds forecasted were pretty scrappy after another 2 days so we decided to make an overnight sail towards Alicante (about 250 miles NE) rather than motor later in light winds or risk building an even bigger bank overdraft in Banus! 

We left at 10.30am and made a good start but by 1300 we had to put the preventer on the mainsail (to stop the clanging) as the wind became light and sporadic.  We were soon using just the Genoa sail (the big sail at the front on the pointy bit for non sailors).
Wow! Does this boat like just the Genoa up!
Through the afternoon and evening we made good speed.

At daybreak we had arrived at the anchorage we had previously chosen at the southern end of the Costa Blanca. But, as we were both feeling refreshed and we had been making such good progress we decided instead to go past it and sail another 24 hours to push straight on to Alicante whilst the winds were working for us!

By 6pm we had another wind shift. This made us heading into the wind (an impossibility!) so we had to put the engine on just off Cartagena. It was only a short distance though and there was also a ‘shipping channel’ for the commercial ships on one side and land on the other side. All making for difficult tacking in the dark!

..and then there were  very pretty illuminated night watches. There was sheet lightening on the horizon!

We were back sailing again by early morning and a lovely sunrise arrival into Alicante harbour.  We were greeted by a couple of very pleasant port crew in a dingy and directed to starboard and the correct marina in this large port. In practice we were about to mow down a few rowing crew that were busily racing down the main straight of the harbor!

“I see now ships Les!”  hahaha!
In all - a 262 mile sail.

We had a good mooring spot ‘bows to’ at the front of the marina with nosey views and the staff were very helpful. We are actually getting quite good at this now but for all that - this sort of mooring is nowhere near as good as the typical US, UK, French mooring. As far as I can see it’s only benefit is that the marina owners can pack more boats into the same area at a lower cost to them!

This marina was actually a pleasant surprise (if one listens to other yacht crews). But we found it very well protected, great staff with good security and nowhere near cruise liners or fishing boats leaving all hours of the morning like many ports!

The rowers!
Over the weekend was a well organized rowing event for both girls and boys. It was fun to watch and the competition was heated between the rival teams as they dodged unsuspecting sailboats coming into moor!