I visited a crafts center in Rabat and came across this rather surreal scene
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It was a sizable craft village with numerous potters, furniture makers and basket makers
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Hassan Tower is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat. Begun in 1195 AD, the tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world with mosque. In 1199, The architect Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died and construction on the mosque stopped.
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For those who are interested in how I navigate this is my navigation setup. The chartplotter enables me to set a course to my intended destination and plots my progress on a moving digital chart. The computer does the same thing but on a larger screen. The GPS (Global Positioning System) does essentially the same but without the chart, it gives me a heading and tells me if I am on course and if I have to make some changes, it also provides other information such as speed, distances & ETA. To save electrical power when doing long passages I only have this on and then when nearing land switch on one of the plotters. The VHF radio enables me to talk and listen to the emergency services, other yachts/ships coastguard, marinas etc. The SSB receiver enables me to listen to the BBC world service (very important) weather forecasts, listen to yachts using this system and other world services. Just out of the picture to the right is a NAVTEX receiver that provides weather forecasts, navigational information and warnings of things like buoys that have been moved and any dangerous objects may have gone adrift.
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A very Merry Christmas to one and all
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Well here we are it's Christmas day and tucked into Bouregreg Marina located at the mouth of the river Bouregreg which lies between Rabat and Salé strictly speaking the marina is in Salé
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Life raft returned so ready to go but one major problem - no bleeding wind - it's been like that for weeks! Waited till December 21 watching the forecast and there seemed to be a possible window from the 22nd so decided to have a go as I was bored with Portimao & Faragudo. Left at 9 am and had to motor-sail hoping to catch some wind off shore which arrived at 12ish. It is a 200 mile passage which should have taken me just over 2 days - it took 3 long days and 3 nights at sea. The winds were so fluky, up and down - down and up. The first night I slept in the cockpit to keep watch as it's the main traffic zone to and from the straight of Gibraltar.
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I Decided to liven things up so had a BBQ - Cajun chicken ( BBQ just behind me)
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I sighted a number of ships but none too close, it was cold sleeping out but better that than any unwanted situations. Next day, light winds but I can could live with that even if only making 2 knots (walking speed)Later that afternoon the wind came round till I was running before, the problem with this is the boat rolls like a pig and develops a pendulum action - you have to hold on or wedge yourself into corners to stop getting thrown about. The other problem is that with very light winds running before the sails get thrown about too so I had to put a preventer on the end of the boom (rope leading to a forward cleat) to stop it being flung from side to side and then a pole to hold the headsail out. Got all that sorted was settling down for the night wedged into the navigation table seat with my feet in a sleeping bag when the wind decided to blow from east so, had to crawl back on deck and remove the prevented and spinnaker pole, not the easiest of activities with the boat wallowing around and dark. On the last day, after a short good sail the wind just disappeared 50 miles from my destination - bugger and blast. I was beginning to run low on fuel so had to watch the amount of motoring a did. Then suddenly totally unexpectedly the wind came up and I was belting along at a good 4 to 5 knots - yippee thank you tank you. Any way, eventually got close to my destination wind dropped so motored. It's a tricky entrance so called the marina for a pilot who came out and took me in - tied up to the reception pontoon noon on Christmas day. It took nearly 3 hours to clear immigration, sniffer dog for drugs, police and some other official who stared at my passport for ages, looked out of the window, looked and some previous entry form to see how you complete them, asked me some questions which I had to write down so he could transpose the answers to a new form, he then had a conversation (not about me) with some visiting officials and finally photocopied everything stapled them together smiled and gave my paperwork back to me and we shook hands - everybody does that here, I mean everybody both when you meet and when you leave - respect. I then motored round into the marina had a bit to eat and collapsed into bed absolutely knackered.
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Looking down the river from Portimao road bridge - Warrior in the middle. My life raft was collected this afternoon for servicing so should get it back next week
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Looking up the river from Ferragudo towards Portimao - Warrior far left
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Here I am its December and I'm having a beer on the beach at Ferragudo - not bad and not exactly ramming either
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This is the view from where I am sitting looking at the entrance to the Rio Arade river.
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And this is the view on my right - the Fort of São João de Arade
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I left Tavira on Saturday and had a pleasant sail in warm sunshine down the coast to the entrance to Faro and just anchoring inside for the night. On Sunday it was a 33-mile leg to my destination Portimao. Left in a flat calm at about 10ish and motor sailed on and off for the first 3 hours, the wind then built up until it was a good 21 knots. I was close hauled (as close to the wind direction as Warrior will go) all the way and at anchor at about 6 pm opposite Ferragudo near Portimao. Fantastic Monday really hot went shopping and then just lazed in the warmth. At about 4ish the sun starts to go down and so does the temperature. No heating at the moment as the hot air system has broken - so old not able to get parts any more - still its not that bad for a rufty tuffty!!
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On the way and a completely different landscape
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Antonio the manager of the Clube Nautico Tavira invited us to their party night, food, good wine, karaoke and dancing - what a night everyone young and old really enjoyed themselves including me
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Karaoke time - I did not participate - I wonder why ....!
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And we all had a dance - that did include me
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My port lazy jack parted a few weeks back so I took advantage of having Nigel around and he winched me up in the flat calm - some view as well.
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On leaving the Rio Guadiana I headed east for a little place called Tavira. Its just 10 miles down the coast and I have anchored there before but just overnight on route. I took a walk into the town and what a surprise its lovely. The following day it rained for a full day and a half and I got 20 litres of water from the dinghy but I am please to say it improved. There is a great sailing club with a very friendly manager who just can't help you enough. There is only one other occupied yacht here Aqua Regia owned by Nigel & Yvonne who invited me on-board for a meal. She is a 42ft Southerly with a lifting keel which as you will see makes her very handy for shoal waters.
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The weather did improve and Nigel let her dry out to do some maintenance. It's a little strange to see a monohull upright on a beach like this but very handy. It was back to 72 degrees again and we were back in our shorts
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Looking down on Tavira
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Looks as though I am going to be here until the 2nd December - no wind until then but no hurry it's a great place to be.
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A view through an old building window with the Guadiana river Warrior and Vila Real de Santo Antonio in the background
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I had a great fish soup with John on his trimaran on the night before leaving the Guadiana.
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I am heading off for pastures new - more about this soon. I arranged with friends Tony & Jan to have my 'farewell to the Guadiana' BBQ at their place on the bank of the Guadiana.
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The dinghy park was getting rather full
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Martin - he isn't an alcoholic honestly
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Gabriella baby sitting - well after a few red wines she didn't notice that the baby had been transplanted!
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