200 years later
31 July 2010 | Tarifa
Thursday 29th July
Up at the crack of sparrows to sail back to Rota. Beach for a swim then a v pleasant lunch courtesy of Louis (Thanks Lou! Yummy!) Then tearful farewells as they left for the airport.
Friday 30th July
Set off early from Rota. Got flashed and beeped by a US Nuclear Sub. Fun listening to them use Channel 16 and say the name of the sub!! (tee hee hank will be in trouble!!) Good sail for half the day. Saw a couple big dolphins, caught mackerel and re-enacted the Battle of Trafalgar off Cape Trafalgar. Coastal scenery got pretty again and then we could see the mountains of Africa which seemed unnervingly close. We were heading for Barbate but carried on to Tarifa. Rounding the corner into the Straits of Gibraltar... The med here we come. I didn't realise Africa would seem so close and mountainous...
Anchored in Tarifa bay and within an hour the fog had closed in.
Saturday 31st July
Had an interesting night. Blew up to an Easterly 30 knots so we moved inside the Harbour wall and tied up to the wall which took about 7 attempts. Right behind the Tangiers Sea Cat. In the morning watched the lifeboat bring in a boat load of people that they had rescued. Waited for the wind to die and the tide to turn before we set off for Gib and BF Janey.