Salam Alakum !

 

                                                      Departure this morning.

Well after a couple of aborted attempts here I am in Tangier. The sail (motor sail) was brilliant as I had the tides perfect and little headwind,but not sufficient to slow me down that much .Left at 6am in the dark and my drunken Finish friend helped but was sober fortunately. Sailed through Gib bay and into the current. Whisked along at at up to 11 kts and passed Tarifa 3 hrs after departure. Somewhat different to 10 hrs the other day and not making Tarifa. No problem tankers to contend with. Sailed into Tangier bay in under 7 hrs.

Then the problems started. I would have been more welcome as a refugee at a British boarder and felt like Mary at the inn. Too busy, no room, leave, don't block the welcome pontoon. Nobs. The true reason is that if you book they can sort the paperwork out before hand as opposed to doing it under scrutiny when you arrive unannounced! Should you be foolish enough to book you'll be told there's no room as I was then miss out. Any way told them I needed to do a repair , which I do sort of and bleated about sending a solo mariner out in a broken boat after 7 hrs at sea already, on a 36 hour voyage to the next marina which is tidal. Something worked as they gave me 3 days on the welcome pontoon. I am suspicious that one of the managers has pulled his digit from rectum in order to find my electrical part and thence get shot of me. Don't fear readers, I can feel a bout of the most chronic diaoreah coming on in a couple of days. 

Already been offered some hash just say no , and did! Had a bowl of lentils and chicken skewers which may well give me CD but good to strengthen the old guts. Apart from that, mforgot to mention that second departure from Las linea was blighted by non starting engine at 4 am so spent yesterday successfully diagnosing and fixing two relays and that is about it.

Had customs and immigration on board to sniff around ,they were pretty friendly so tourist day tomorrow whether the guy turns up with part or not .Not many pics maybe more tomorrow.

                              One of 9 tidal flow charts consulted on passage that change hourly.

Any one for 1/2 suckling pig. Sorry vegoes its on sale Spanish supermarket! 

 Offending item.

Tangier seafront.

Tangier here I come....not

 Well that was a challenging day. Left la linea 7.45 good departure with crazy Fin in attendance. 

Queen Mary. She overtook me on the Stait !( actually just zoomed in and I think it's Victoria ).

Decided to head to middle of Strait for best current but wind was picking up to about 22 kts decided to head back to Spanish side for protection but lesser tide benefit . Gear box was perfect then wind started to pick up more. Didn't have sails up . was crashing through waves. Deck was awash then wind was at 34 knots, I was about 6 miles from Tariffa where I had by now doing less than a kt at full power decided to pull in then realised my speed was backwards and had been for about an hr! Game over. Thought about Ceuta but was pretty knackered so headed for home, la linea ! Had the fore sail furled and was getting 12 kits over the ground. (GPS). The Gib dolphins came to meet me and before then I saw a sword fish or marlin jump out of the water by the boat several times amazing . So here I am and the weather is supposed to be atrocious till Wednesday. I might amend my plan to Mediterranean  Morocco. I'll have to see.

This was my embarrassing track!

Open for business again!

 

Well almost! 

It has been suggested that I might lose my readership if I don't post anything. Well loyal blogees I was being considerate  because nothing much has been happening! The end is insight though. My gear box is supposed to be arriving on Tuesday so I'll leave that for another day. 

One of the fine wines on offer in town. I'm looking for a case of the middle one!! 

I'm still liking La linea and the weather has been great so walking the streets still feels different and Mediterranean here are a few pictures of the scruffy little city which apparently is the poorest in Spain.I think that probably depends on parameters but there is definitly some poverty .Quite a few drunks and beggars but of the later not as many as in Chichester. My neighbour is a Fin' drinking from 8 in the morning and staggering before midday but he's good fun at a boats distance and the occasional  Sunday dinner outing.

I haven't been completely lethargic. I've learnt to splice loops in rope, replaced halyards, installed a sea water foot pump in the galley ,re caulked patches of the deck ,fibre glassed some minor dings, painted and varnished some internals while still having time to register with Tinder. That was a waste of good time as most of the targets are based in Marbella and have shopping as hobbies . A lot seem to go to the gym but that might be because I put down sushi and hot yoga as interests-- well its not lying!

So I did dog sit for three nights which was fun very cute dog, paid in Moroccan nougat and Jameson's whisky -good deal and that is why there have been no posts. Have met some good people ,some couples. Most are heading off to the Canaries pre Atlantic.I can only imagine that the anchorages and marinas there are carnage not even referring to the yahoo Brits although have to say some of the Jerries and Frenchies can get a bit lairy.

Fun to wake up 200 meters from the runway only BA and Sleazyjet fly in with the occasional biz jet and military transport, kerosene first thing in the morning is quite pleasant. Gibraltar still doesn't appeal and I think all nationalities are pissed at the crossing procedures.It does give an indication of what would happen with a hard boarder between Britain and Ireland though.

That's all for now hopefully be  on the move or moved by the next post.