Gibraltar to Palma, Mallorca – now resting up in Palma Mallorca at the Real Club Nautica de Palma – The King of Spain’s yacht club so as you would expect it is wonderful. Lovely bar, restaurants, great showers and toilets, lovely swimming pool, even a great gym – wish we could stay for a month or two! Need a bit of a rest as it’s been a long trip from Lagos where we set off from on 21st August after our return from our summer break in the Alps. In the 19 days since then we’ve sailed nearly 800 miles – firstly with Michelle along the SW Spanish coast to Gibraltar where Helen and Michelle flew back to the UK and Roy, Douglas and Edward joined and we sailed from Gib on Sunday 29th August along the E coast to Aguadulce and Cartagena then across to Ibiza. We refuelled in Gib where thankfully the fuel is a bit cheaper – but to get to the fuel dock we had to sail alongside the airport runway – just before an Easyjet flight landed! If there is a flight due before you pass the end of the runway you have to wait (lights flash!) until the flight has passed! Also passengers walk across the runway on their way to/from terminal! Gib is a strange place we thought – worth seeing but a day or two is sufficient. We sailed out of the bay around noon on the Sunday and had a glorious view of the Rock as we sailed towards Spain.

We hadn’t intended to stop at Aguadulce (about 180M from Gib) but on Monday night the weather was deteriorating as we approached Cabo de Gata on SE tip of Spain and around the cape the seas were quite rough so we decided it would be better to turn for port rather than struggle through a rough unpleasant night – I think everyone on board was quite pleased to head for port and we got in around 11pm for a well earned rest. Aguadulce doesn’t have much to recommend it but we enjoyed a relaxing day, a great lunch and a good night’s sleep! Next stop at Cartagena (125M from Aguadulce) was much more interesting. We arrived just before first light and we moored up and asleep by 7am! After a couple of hours sleep we explored the lovely town centre and visited the wonderful Roman theatre and museum and then after some shopping set off again at 1.30pm Thurs for Ibiza.

Sailing with Michelle

HI,

we arrived back in Lagos, getting up at 0230 for the taxi to Geneva Airport, on Thursday 19th August. After getting back into boat life, we sailed to Vilamoura on Saturday and awaited Michelle's arrival on Sunday.

With an extra pair of hands, the next few days went very well. We sailed on Monday to Ayamonte, and then the next day to Mazagon.
On Wednesday, we set off for Rota which was to be 'home' for 2 nights. On the way we saw a swordfish and a dolphin. We went to Jerez to see the world famous Spanish Riding School display (excellent) and the Tio Pepe Bodegas. Of course we had to sample the sherry and have some more tapas!

Friday we sailed to Barbate and this time saw of pod of dolphins. By now the temperatures were so hot, we delayed our arrival in the marina for a swim, snooze ....

And yesterday, we sailed into Gibraltar - accompanied by several pods of dolphins - to meet up with Roy, Douglas and Edward who with Iain are taking the boat to Ibiza while Helen meets Jackie in Malta for a few days R and R before joining the boat in Ibiza and Michelle returns to London.

we had a lovely dinner out last night, Iain celebrating his birthday a month early. He now has an ipad so that technology will keep him busy for a while. And then there are all those downloaded books to read.

Today, Michelle and I had breakfast in the Rock Hotel, watching Alma motoring out of the harbour without us.

Photos to be posted next week

love Helen.

ALMA’s crew have been on holiday in France – a week near Sancerre (we travelled from Briare – famous for the canal bridge over the Loire – to Nevers) with our friends Peta and Steve on their fabulous barge (28 metres!!) cruising along the Canal Lateral de la Loire (and of course enjoying great food and wines esp Sancerre, Menetou Salon and Pouilly) and 3 weeks in the Alps walking, cycling, relaxing and catching up with friends Tim and Chris (from Reigate), Roy and Jackie (friends from our Singapore days) and Aubin and Jackie (who run a wonderful chalet in Les Carroz).

Now getting ready to return to the boat. We’re delighted that Michelle (elder daughter) is joining us on ALMA for the trip from S Portugal to Gibraltar. We’ve booked a visit to the Spanish Riding School in Jerez en route which we’ve heard is worth visiting. Might also have time to sample some sherry! Also would like to see Cadiz. Hope we get favourable winds (not easterlies!) in the Straits of Gibraltar so we’re not delayed – Helen and Michelle are scheduled to fly back from Gibraltar to UK (and then on to Malta for Helen) on 29th August. Douglas, Edward and Roy are joining in Gibraltar for the next leg to Ibiza – plan to arrive there around 2nd/3rd Sept and then have a couple of weeks pottering around the Balearics. Looking forward to seeing Ibiza and Menorca which we’ve never visited previously but we hear great reports about these islands (away from the clubs, bars and major developments) – esp great beaches and anchorages – and also keen to re-visit Mallorca. Then we plan to make the long trip across to Malta in late September. Will be great to complete the journey and sail into Grand Harbour Malta!!

Hope your summer is going well.
All the best
Helen and Iain