10/19/22 Barbate, Spain
The weather man said that the winds and waves in the
Gibraltar strait would be 15 knots and 2 feet respectively, but not until
midday. We departed at 0900 and motored south staying shallow as we were still
on Orca watch. The wind built to 20, as predicted, as we made our way south to
the straight. The swell was not noticeable, but the wind wave was building to
an uncomfortable 3 or 4 feet. The wind peeked at 25 on our nose. We tucked in
as best we could, but it was a crashing roller coaster ride. We took a couple
of waves over the bow that found their way into the companion way.
We made our way to the entrance at Queensway Marina. You would not guess that there was an entrance where the chart said, but there it was. The Marina directed us to D10, a med moor. As we approached it did not look like there was enough room between an Oyster 53 and a Moody 53 sail boat. The Marina guy said “no problem, mate, plenty of room”. We nailed it, a perfect landing as we tossed our stern lines to the hand on the pontoon. Next the dirty job of sand lines to retrieve the bow lines and tie off forward. The Marina hand stood by as we squared the boat and gathered our papers to check in.
Repossessed Russian Yacht
The pontoon was full of some pretty spectacular boats as we
walked to the shore to check in. Check in was quick and easy, this was an
important stop as it was our proof of leaving the EU. We chatted with our new
neighbors, in English! Some cruisers passing through, some living aboard and
some living on shore with their boats docked for recreational use. We squared
away the boat and began our process of getting ready for the winter, but first
lunch…almost dinner.
We needed to get the dinghy off the stern so we had clear
access to the pontoon. It needed to be cleaned and dried so we could fold and
store it. We walked it across the pontoon and rowed to the bow so we could
hoist it up and clean it thoroughly. It has begun.
Had dinner at the Lagoon, a restaurant on the quay. A
delicious vegy platter and the best Negroni I have ever tasted. The restaurants
all have WIFI so we spent some time catching up on emails and other stuff.
Suzette was like a new woman with the relief of no more Orcas, her first
restful night in a while.
10/20/22 Gibraltar
Up before the sun, it does not rise until about 0830. We
stopped at two chandleries and a boat maintenance company to start lining up
work on the boat. We want stainless work done and to have the bimini and dodger
modified. At the chandlery we picked up some cleaning products and shock
absorbers for the stern lines. Our walk took us down main street where Suzette
found a great dress to go with her new shoes. I guess I will need to take her
somewhere nice so she can ware her new clothes.
With appointments made for pricing our boat projects and
lining up a boat cleaner we felt like we made good progress. Time for more
cleaning and putting away on this somewhat gray day. The dinghy was first on
the list for a good cleaning and drying. Along with that the dinghy motor. I
will need to make a cover for the dinghy for next season.
The dock is full of cruisers and live aboards, there is always someone that wants to strike up a conversation about boats. At the end of the fairway are a pair of catamarans, one is about 45’ the other is about 90’. It looks like the little one was something the big one shat out! There some 70-80’ Oysters at the head of the pontoon, one has a paint job on the mast and boom in that paint that changes color depending on the light and angle of view. That’s life on a dock.
10/21/22 Gibraltar
I do not know where the day goes,
but they go fast. My big task today was to install the paserelle. Yes, this
required drilling another big hole in the boat. Here as well as in the med most
boats need a passerelle to get to the dock. In Gib the pontoon is low so our
swim step works fine.
Fixed and improved a few other
nits and nats. Properly stowed the dinghy, which required a complete rearrangement
of the work room. The day was warmer and dryer so Suzette could get the laundry
to dry in a reasonable amount of time. And so it goes.
A good-sized power boat pulled in
across the dock. As they backed in the lovely young lady of the boat stood
dutifully on the stern. The Marina hand asked her if she had dock lines to toss
him. She smiled and then the captain realized what was not happening. He leaves
the helm, boat in gear, and tosses her a jumble of line and goes back to the
helm. Let’s just say that no fiberglass was harmed. They wanted to plug the
boat in so she handed the plug to the Marina hand to plug in. As he headed to
the pedestal to plug in, I could see she had the other end of the cord in her
hand, no cord cap, just 3 bare wires! Fortunately, the plug was the wrong plug
for the pedestal and no harm was done. Having finished my cocktail and the show
being over it was time for dinner.
10/22/22 Gibraltar
Mission today was to track down a
source for Sodium Metabisulphite to pickle the water maker membrane. Lots of
leads, but it was Saturday, so no outcome. Had a great breakfast at Monique’s
Bistro and Café, bangers and mash. Reminds me of a time, years ago, when I was
in London. We made use of the WIFI and lingered for a while. Made reservation
for a hotel at the end of the week so we could get off the boat and properly
put it away. It is hard to live in the boat and put it away at the same time.
We stopped at the chandlery for a
couple items, a couple stops along main street and finally the grocery store
for some fresh fruits and vegies. After all that walking, pulling my wagon and
the heat it was a beer lunch and a nap in the sun. A few more chores and the
day was done.
10/23/22 Gibraltar
Another warm sunny day in Gib.
Cleaned the jib and readied it to be stowed after drying it out. Washed all the
cockpit cushions and set them out to dry. Another load of laundry. Another day
of progress.
Paella for dinner!
10/24/22 Gibraltar
Suzette worked on vacuuming and
wiping out all of the bilge. The access is good in most areas, we want to keep
it clean. Lots of storage in the bilge, but we are not using any of it.
Brought down the main to analyze
the roller furling system. It wants to hang up at the start of the furling
process, not a very safe situation. Most of the time we have been leaving it
slightly reefed, but the sail shape is bad enough when it is unfurled, slightly
furled is worse. It appears that the shackle at the tack may be backwards so I
flipped it and it appears to give the luff a better lead onto the furler.
Washed the main sail as it went up. Played with the boom position to see if
that helps the shape, the leach seems awful tight. A test sail will tell.
With the jib dry we brought it
down and rolled it up. We discovered two issues; 1. there is a 2” section of
bolt rope exposed on the luff of the sail, 2. The foil on the furler is loping.
More projects.
Promptly at 1600 James from
Pritchard’s Marine arrived to talk about some boat mods. We were not able to
have a custom bimini and dodger made in Les Sables so we settled or the factory
package. We talked through modifications with James, but I could tell that this
was more than they were capable of, they are more about repairs. So, we moved
on to fabrication of a stainless-steel plate to protect the bow from the
anchor. Someone, who shall remain nameless, managed to ding the bow. This was
his cup of tea. The next thing was to review our warranty to list from Jeanneau
with him so he had some idea what and where. The last item was to find the
Sodium Metabisulphite to pickle the water maker membrane. He said he would make
some calls.
We have been enjoying the marina
showers, long, hot and roomy. So, it was off to the showers to wash off another
hot day.
10/25/22 Gibraltar
Started the day with a stop at
Pritchard’s to let them know not to waste their time pricing the canvas work, I
will do the work myself. Made the rounds to a couple stores looking for the
elusive pickling solution and a few other necessities. Finally relented and
ordered it on line from a UK source. Soonest it would arrive, 6 days. I will
need to hire Pritchard’s to do the pickling.
I took on the dirty job of
cleaning the grill, but it went pretty well and is now stored for the winter.
Next task was to fabricate a cover for the companion way. I bought a tarp and
snaps for this job. At home I will make one out of Sunbrella and another out of
screen as permanent alternatives.
Plugged into shore power and
removed the solar panels. Cleaned and stowed them. The boat cleaning company
rep showed up on time and we reviewed the care and feeding of Raffaellesco over
the winter. They seem like a very professional outfit. Check that box.
10/26/22 Gibraltar
While the wind was light, we put
out the Code zero and rinsed it, it was pretty salty. Furled the code zero and
headed out of the birth for some time on the water. We headed toward Marocco,
but 5 miles off is as close as the Admiral will allow this vessel to go. We
turned east and officially made our way into the Med. Light wind for a main and
Code zero sail back to Gibraltar.
We headed north in the bay past
the GIB runway, which technically puts us back in Spain. Dropped the anchor north
of the runway in a great little cove with 10 or so other boats from various
countries. We hoped to blend in and not attract the attention of the Spanish
Customs.
Properly stowed the Code zero and
put away the blocks and rigging. That will be our last sail for the year. It
seems everyday there is a last this or that, kind of like a Rolling Stones
Tour. Delicious soup, bread, cheese and wine as we chip away at the food
stores. A unique spot where you look east and west and see Spain, look south
east and see the city of Gibraltar and look south and see Moracco. A beautiful
sunset over Spain.
10/27/22 La Linea, Spain
Up early as we were being buzzed
by mosquitos! So starts the day.
Sunrise in the Anchorage
Motored back to the Marina where
we met with the Raymarine rep. He programmed our AIS and updated all of the
Raymarine software. He also did some programming and set up. Hoping that this
is going to address our Raymarine glitches and we will be fully functional.
This took the better part of the morning and we were starving when he left at
about 1300. Lunch!
Tight birth, looks small from my perspective
We rationalized that it was 5 o’clock somewhere and headed the The Lounge for a G&T and some WIFI to conduct a bit of business. From here we walked to the Chandlery at the north end of town. Looking for additive for the diesel, but no luck. Returned via Main St, which is always expensive. Stopped at the liquor store, liquor is cheap here in GIB! Suzette found a pretty serving tray in another shop that she just had to have. Stopped for a gelato dinner, we had a big lunch.
Back to the boat for sundowners
and a couple rounds of backgammon.
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