[p]pjr4728
[s]
pos: 36 09.445N 005 21.355w
sp: 0.0
h: 0m
w: 0kn W, CC 0, SS 0
d: 28/10/19 18:21 GMT+0100
Arrived here at Gibraltar after a relatively uneventful 450nm (4 day, 3
night) passage from Majorca. After a brisk start, sailing along at 7kn for
the first 12 hours, we hit the expected calms - and started the engine,
with breath held! Thankfully, it chugged away flawlessly until we got here!

The passage certainly wasn't boring despite the motor-sailing...We passed
countless dolphins and even traversed through a couple of pods of sleeping
whales (holding our breath that we didn't hit one!). The last day saw us
upping the revs a bit so we could get close enough to the Spanish mainland
to pick up phone reception so I could listen to the Rugby. Whilst I thought
the fact that we picked it up one minute into the match was surely a lucky
sign, sadly Wales went on to lose to SA in the semi-finals:-(.

The approach to Gibraltar rock was both spectacular (it being one of the
two Pillars of Hercules, with the other being Cueta a short distance across
the Strait to the S) and was a bit a race against heading wind, fading
light, as well as contrary currents and both mixed with increasing ship
traffic (many of whom were 'drifting' in the changeable currents rather
than anchoring or actually travelling in the usual predictable fashion).
Fortunately we made it here to La Linea marina (just over the border from
Gibraltar-proper) just as darkness fell.

Sadly it's unlikely we'll to spend much if any time exploring...the tides
here can be strong and are such that it can be difficult to head west...but
are just perfect for a dawn departure in the next couple of days - which
happily coincides with a decent High offering good winds for our passage
onward to the Canaries. If we leave it more than a day or two, a big low
which is about to head onto the UK will start to make its presence felt by
increased W winds through the Strait (making exit difficult) and a very
uncomfortable passage S..And thus we may not make it in time for me to
catch the flight booked to visit my folks and attend the wedding of
friends. So, given the task list to prepare for our first foray into the
Atlantic, my hope to have a run up the rock and see the Barbary apes may
have to go unfulfilled, for now!

[END]