Life on the Hard - the Almerimar Story - Chapter 3

After considering our repair options in Gibraltar where facilities and expertise are no longer widely available, we opted to return to Almerimar where we knew the work could be done and done well.

 

 

So we have been on the hard now for two weeks as work progresses on repairs to the bow.

 

 

It could be worse; the fridge works and the holding tank sees us through the night.  It has however been very hot and humid.

 

 

And we are not far from our favourite bars and restaurants.

 

 

Not too untidy.

 

 

Our trusty old bikes come in handy.

 

 

And as work progresses we have been able to do lots of chores and make preparations for the Atlantic crossing which we had otherwise planned to do along the way.

 

 

Like making one good pump from two dead ones.

 

 

And turning the old winter cover into new bits like the cover for the dinghy when stowed

 

 

and splash shields for the lifelines [guardrails].  The First Mate has RSI of the sewing fingers!

 

We should be back in the water soon and on our way west - again - hopefully to see some of the Atlantic coasts of Spain and Portugal before making ground south towards the Canaries.

 

 

 

North Africa, Kismet & a Moroccan Fishing Boat

                        We checked out the new storm sail and after waiting some weeks for the arrival of                                   new batteries, were finally able to set sail from Almerimar.

                      Across the strait to Africa and the Spanish enclave  of Melilla [pron Meliya].  An
                      attractive small town with a beautifully preserved and restored old walled "city".                         It has a large muslim population and it was ramadan.
   

                                          And from here Franco launched the Civil War.

                                                                       Town scene.

                                        A band set up on the battlerments for a private party.

Eclectic architecture

Interesting sculptures

Beatiful parks and gardens

The First Mate showed the locals how it was done.

Then overnight to marina Smir in Morocco just 25 nm south of Gibraltar.

The next morning, in thick fog, we were run down by a large steel Moroccan fishing boat travelling at full speed in 30 mtrs visibility.  Despite our best efforts to avoid him, we collided and suffered  damage to the bow and the genoa and furler.  He continued and disappeared into the fog.  We managed to carry on to Smir where the authorities were entirely disinterested.  It was ramadan.

Assessing the damage.

Captainerie at marina Smir.

So we carried on to Gibraltar where we are trying to organise repairs. But things do not happen swiftly here and it seems it may be a few weeks before we can resume our travels.

Almerimar and new equipment

          We have been labouring away in Almerimar for the last ,month fitting this freight

while the locals celebrated mid-summer on the beach

                                                       and this

and this, all on a DIY basis

                                                     and turning it into this

and this wind generator

asleep? no running electric wiring

festival of the VIrgin Carmen

while occasionally entertaining other Aussies and Kiwis

new watermaker

windvane  steering

To Sea and to Gibraltar

We had to return to the rigging yard for an adjustment to the forestay.

The rigger had recently broken his leg, so supervision was appropriate.

Back to our berth with our new oyster coloured bimini.  The old one finally died.

And away to sea bound for Gibraltar, with no wind so we anchored overnight.

A stitch in time etc - a new cover for the cockpit display as we don`t trust the one supplied.

The display can be swivelled around for ease of use whilst in the cockpit.

Supervising the watch.
                                     

As the fog closed in - eventually down to about 30m vis.

The Rock finally hove into view.

With the wind on the nose.

We anchored across the border at La Linea in Spanish territory while we waited for the arrival of some of our equipment which the makers "forgot" to despatch.

Walked across the border to find Gib living up to its reputation of being more British than the British.

To the top of the rock looking north to Spain,

and south across the Strait to Africa.

View from the top with JT at anchor behind the breakwater in the distance in Spain.