Into The Atlantic
04 June 2016 | Cadiz
David and Andrea
Proper Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance. With the mantra of the Armed Forces in mind, we intensely studied the surface flow charts to time our run through the Strait of Gibraltar. Calculations indicated that we would have a few hours of adverse current as we approached Tarifa and then be home free for the run up the coast to Barbate. Wrong. Adverse current the entire way with lengthy spells of boat speed over ground of 3.4 knots. With the engine going strongly. Tarifa itself was in relatively benign mood fortunately, for this cape that experiences 300 days per year of wind more than 30 knots! Dodging large tunny (tuna) nets that extend for miles was the next new experience for Diomedea as she approached the Spanish capital of tuna fishing but we berthed uneventfully for an early start the next morning to proceed to Cadiz (pron. “Cardeeth”) around the formidable Cape Trafalgar. A big network of shoals called the Aceitera banks extends seaward. The name meant nothing to me but the receptionist at the Barbate marina cheefully told me that it translates to the appearance of a boiling cauldron of oil. Oh, I get it now. Overfalls, whirlpools and generally unpleasant conditions. Which is, in due course, what we experienced. We thrashed through miles of “washing machine” seaway, luckily in favourable current and arrived in Cadiz as the NW seabreeze was building. A nice berth in Puerto America very close to the old town of this famous city.