sySpringDawn

Vessel Name: Spring Dawn
Vessel Make/Model: Rival 41
Hailing Port: Hamble
Crew: Robbie Wilderspin & Jacqueline Cole
About: Robbie's a salty old sea dog. Jax is still learning.
20 June 2017 | Rio Judeu, Seixal
17 June 2017 | Praia Grande, Portimao
15 June 2017 | Alcaidesa Marina, La Linea
13 June 2017 | Benalmadena Marina
12 June 2017 | Almerimar Marina
08 June 2017 | Marina Alicante
07 June 2017 | Marina Alicante
06 June 2017 | Marina Alicante
03 June 2017 | Rada del Moraira
02 June 2017 | Islas Columbrete
05 October 2015 | Sant Carles de la Rapita, Spain
30 September 2015 | RCN Palma, Palma de Mallorca
26 September 2015 | Cala Gran, Mallorca
25 September 2015 | Cala Ratjada, Mallorca
24 September 2015 | Puerto de Pollenca, Mallorca
17 September 2015 | Villa Can Joan, Pollenca, Mallorca
13 September 2015 | Puerto Soller, Mallorca
11 September 2015 | Real Club Nautico de Palma, Mallorca
09 September 2015 | Isla de Cabrera, Balearics
08 September 2015 | Sa Rapita, Mallorca
Recent Blog Posts
20 June 2017 | Rio Judeu, Seixal

Lisbon and an intermission...

Having enjoyed a day to go ashore, do a bit of swimming and generally restore ourselves we left the anchorage on Monday morning. First stop was the waiting pontoon in Lagos so that I could go to Sopromar for impellers and gas, Tom went to Intermarche for other essentials. Sopromar came up trumps, though [...]

17 June 2017 | Praia Grande, Portimao

And so to Portugal...

Left La Linea bright and early for the journey onward from the Med and into the Atlantic. It was the first day of the tuna season so our exit was in company with a number of power boats equipped with fearsome looking rods and what appear to be dentist chairs into which the fisherman can be strapped should [...]

15 June 2017 | Alcaidesa Marina, La Linea

Leaving the Med (and more socialising)...

Left Benalmadena around 08.00 for a motor sail around Europa Point and into La Linea Alcaidesa marina, picking up fuel in Marina Bay, Gibraltar, on the way - 50p a litre ! Bit hazy all the way with the rock appearing out the mist at around 5 miles, and if you want to see traffic on AIS look no futher [...]

13 June 2017 | Benalmadena Marina

Sail repairs and socialising...

We left the marina at Almerimar about 3pm to anchor outside (and not incur a second nights charge). The plan was to have supper and set off for Benalmadena overnight, about 85 miles. Didnt really fancy much to eat as we'd had a largish lunch (black pudding sausage n chips for me) so a quick sarnie, up [...]

12 June 2017 | Almerimar Marina

A bit of a blur...

On leaving Alicante we had a short trip to an anchorage in the entrance to the Mar Menor. We passed Torrevieja on the way where I have been assured the cheapest full english on the Costas can be had for something like €2.99, never mind the quality eh! The anchorage is not pretty but it is secure, its [...]

08 June 2017 | Marina Alicante

The delights of Alicante...

The marina is part of the local scene as the paseo goes around the outside of the basin with a casino and many restaurants and bars. The city is a cool network of narrow streets and squares overlooked by a castle whose origins go back to the 9th century during the Muslim occupation of Iberia. The paseo [...]

Cap'n Robbie's Summit Attempt!

05 September 2013 | Porto Ponente, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands
Jax/Hot & Humid
Robbie bravely mounted an assault to the summit of the volcano early this morning. It takes about an hour to walk up the pumice path to the top, about 1,500 feet high. As you get nearer the rim of the crater, you walk through clouds of greeny-yellow sulphurous smoke as the volcano is constantly venting.

I stayed with the boat. As the boat had shifted a little during the night, our anchor had dug in a little better. However,having heard from some other cruising friends that their boat had dragged anchor whilst they were half way up the mountain and they had to run all the way down, I volunteered to stay on watch.

Robbie reckons it was an interesting thing to do and see and the views from the top, overlooking some of the other Aeolian Islands were beautiful.

It really is very pongy around here - in addition to the venting volcano, there are some sulphur pools in the little village where you can pay 2 euros to immerse yourself in the oh-so smelly mud. We gave it a miss this time (having done something similar in Espalmador last year for free) but apparently, the mud and the fumes are therapeutic for all sorts of conditions.
Comments
Spring Dawn's Photos - Main
Cefalu to Vulcano and Messina
30 Photos
Created 20 September 2013
Capo Vito to Termini Imerese including Palermo
29 Photos
Created 18 September 2013
Trapani & the Egadi Islands
13 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
Carbonara to Olbia & back
29 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
Maddalenas - Alghero - Cagliari
41 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
...Alghero to Bonifacio with Ocean Hobo
46 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
35 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
..but mostly Valencia
38 Photos
Created 22 January 2013
45 Photos
Created 22 January 2013
14 Photos
Created 22 January 2013
23 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
71 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
Costa del Sol, Costa de Almeria & Costa Blanca
19 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
44 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
Smir, Tetuan & Ceuta
27 Photos
Created 20 January 2013
16 Photos
Created 20 January 2013
The Guadiana to Tarifa
39 Photos
Created 1 March 2012
Lagos, Alvor, Portimao, Faro & Culhatra
13 Photos
Created 1 March 2012
Povoa da Varzim, Oporto, Peniche, Lisbon
18 Photos
Created 12 November 2011
Ria de Muros, Ris de Arousa, Ria de Pontevedra & Ria de Vigo
16 Photos
Created 12 November 2011
Ribadeo to Finisterre
15 Photos
Created 17 October 2011
12 Photos
Created 14 September 2011
19 Photos
Created 3 September 2011
23 Photos
Created 2 September 2011
19 Photos
Created 18 August 2011
41 Photos
Created 1 August 2011
9 Photos
Created 19 July 2011
28 Photos
Created 19 July 2011

About & Links