August 2016 Valencia to Nice

Chris, Dave, Pat and Darren assembled in Valencia 10th Aug to sail Cara Mara to Barcelona then on to Nice to meet Wendy on the 27th.
The weather has been hot and pretty windless, but despite lots of motoring we have had a very good time.

Pat, Darren and Dave admitted that they had dreams of sailing through this bridge into the marina in the center of Barcelona. We timed our arrival perfectly for the half hourly opening.    

 

Several years ago Wendy and Dave spent a long weekend in Barcelona at the Cathedral Hotel, just round the corner.

Chris and Dave took the cable car ride from the port to the "Olympic" area. A view of Barcelona's 2 Cathedrals.

Chris outside the fortress on the summit of the hill overlooking Barcelona.

After a 190 mile 36 hour crossing from Spain, we arrived at Marseilles as dawn was breaking. The old port is very large and busy with leisure boats, ferry's and fishing boats Very confusing for a tired crew armed with duff information on how to get a berth; we got tied up by late morning. It was worth it, this area of Marseilles is really worth a visit. 

The mirror canopy at the end of the old port designed by Richard Rogers attracts big crowds and provides and interesting reflection on life. 

Chris and Dave in the mirror

The approach to Marseilles harbor   

We had planned to leave Marseilles on Sunday morning, after Darren had flown home, but 45 MPH winds convinced us to stay another day. A long hot walk from the harbor took us up to this rather magnificent church

We had 3 lovely nights in anchorages between Marseilles and Nice. As we got closer to the Riviera we saw more and more of these monster super yachts. They seem to move in herds, sometimes we could see a dozen or more on the water around us. Amazingly almost every one flew the Red Duster; apart from Cara Mara almost the only UK flagged vessels we have seen on the French coast. The locals must wonder where the Brit's get they're money?

23rd to 29th June Alicante to Valencia

After a few days in Alicante we set off on day sails to Villajoyosa, Calpe, Denia, Gandia to Valencia, where Cara Mara will spend 6 weeks until Dave, Chris, Pat and Darren return 14th Aug. Valencia seems like a good safe place to leave her; for sporting fans the marina was developed for the 2007 America's Cup and in at the centre of the Valencia F1 circuit.

Elizabeth, Mary and Emma all proved to be good at helming the boat, but as a first timer, Elizabeth was the most excited.

We were in Villajoyosa on the night of their annual celebration, where they stay on the beach until mid-night then jump over the first 7 waves of the new day.

Mary, sailing with the cruising shute

Denia Marina turned out to be a party place, the disco went on until dawn, not great for a good nights sleep.

Last night at Valencia

21st 22nd June Alicante

We chose Alicante because it was a convenient place for our friends to fly and join us. A little more research would have told us that this is the week of one of the biggest and noisiest festivals in Spain. There was a significant clue when at 2 in the afternoon, when we were still 5 miles from the harbour entrance, we could hear what sounded like a small war  (fireworks in the afternoon?). Effigies are erected all over the City, and following a week long party they are burned on the 24^th of June (thank goodness we won’t be here). The last 2 nights the parties have gone on until 4.30am and though we are a little distance away we can still tell that they are having a very good time.  

This is replica of a huge 4 deck ship, the largest in the Spanish navy. The original was captured by the British at Trafalgar, but was so badly damaged it sank on the way to Gibraltar.

One of the many effigies due to be burnt on the 24th June. Glad we won't be there it looks as if it's made from polystyrene!

Thousands of people march through the city in traditional dress

All the family dress up for the occasion.

The marina is busy, one of the few where you need to book to be shure of a berth. Yet another Moorish castle on the hill.

13th to 20th June Aguilas to Alicante

Leaving Aguilas we spent a night at anchor in a quiet bay before visiting Cartagena, where Biddy joined us for a week. Several people we had met loved Cartagena, which had been an important harbour since being captured and settled by the Carthaginian’s in 223 BC. The Romans and Moor’s made use of the natural harbour, mined lead and other minerals and created elaborate defences and some wonderful buildings. The town remains an important naval and commercial harbour.

Magnificent Roman amphitheatre at Cartagena

The natural harbour has been in use for over 2000 years

The museum of underwater archaeology tells the story of maritime trade in the Mediterranean through discoveries like this Phoenician ship, loaded with lead ingots

Biddy’s arrival signalled a change in the weather, temperatures dropped from the low 30’s to mid 20,s and at last we got some wind and turned off the engine. Our next stop was Mar Menor, an “inland sea”, 6 miles long, and only 6 metres deep, separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow strip of land a few hundred meters metres wide. Heavily developed, this strip does look like Miami but once you are inside Mar Menor is almost deserted and we spent a lovely night at anchor off of a small island. A night at Torrevieja Marina to pick up supplies and then one last night at anchor with Biddy, before we sailed into Alicante marina to say goodbye and meet Mary, Elizabeth and Emma.

Biddy relaxing on deck

Wonderful sunset, anchored off the beach and salt lagoon

We took the tender to the beach for another sighting of flamingos

We just love sailing with our big colourful cruising shute