No time to recover from the events of the night before because we had a 10 hour passage to dValencia the next day. We slipped out of Puerto de Benicarlo before sun up and just as we got to the sails hoisted, the sun put on a spectacular light show as it heralded a new day. With cameras busy, we all delighted in the shifting colours. By the time we were sailing past the castle at Peñiscola, the sun was high enough to give us a transition of colour across the ancient lofty knoll that had been such a sought after location through time.
With Trilogy making good speed we enjoyed a brisk sail, covering the 70 NM comfortably by 17:30. We had gone into two hour watches throughout the passage and this provided equal measure of work and leisure for the crew. There was plenty to keep us amused along the way as usual, in particular themany tankers at anchor outside the busy commercial port Castellón de la Plana. One tanker had gone aground quite close to shore and it would seem the ship had missed the channel markers for the port entry. The tanker had anchors out but there were two tugs with lines attached to the stern pulling with all their might. No doubt the captain was not smiling! There is a small tidal pattern at this point in the Med, so maybe that would assist over the next few hours.
Valencia is the port where Colin and Amelia from London were to meet us. With the help of modern technology we kept in good communication as we headed to Valencia from opposite directions. Bingo! Colin and Amelia were on a high vantage point watching us drop Trilogy's sails and prepare to come into port. What a delight to see them waving madly as we arrived. The Marina Real Juan Carlos 1 was very professionally run, perhaps because the 32nd Americas Cup was held in Valencia, so instead of berthing and then going to the Capitanere, we were directed to go along side near the marina entrance to tie off while the paperwork was completed. Meanwhile Colin and Amelia were welcomed on board and when the skipper returned, Trilogy moved to the designated berth.
It was really special for us to have Colin and Amelia on board! Colin is the son of my father's best wartime friend and in November 2014 Colin made a special trip to Canberra to meet my father after whom he had been named, but had never met. In the course of the four day visit, a firm friendship was forged between us. Colin shares Garth's passion for sailing but in the dinghy world and is an adventurous soul. Amelia is equally keen on sailing and so it didn't take much to work out that they might like to join us.
Many welcoming GNTs later and a magnificent sunset over the marina, we wandered out of the marina to a bank of restaurants that lined the adjacent wide golden sand beach. There was a couple of impressive large sand sculptures to behold and Amelia took the honours for checking out the best restaurant for dining.....no TV images flashing, must have white tablecloths, nice looking menu, a table reasonably close to the beach, with no loud music that would dominate our conversation! We all enjoyed our tasty meals but we were all ready for bed, after our long day.
After a leisurely breakfast in the cockpit bathing in the morning sunshine, we got a few jobs done before setting off to discover what we could of the very lovely city of Valencia. Let me make it clear, Valencia is not the original home of the orange that carries its name, but the American who developed the sweet green tinged fruit paid homage to Valencia in choosing the name. In the main plaza, there was a row of fruiting Valencia trees. The Romanesque-Gothic-baroque-Renaissance cathedral was highly recommended and the Capilla del Santo Cáliz is reputed to be the home of the Holy Grail! This is the chalice that Christ supposedly used in the last supper.....it looked too up-market to my eyes! We later climbed the 207 stairs of the bell tower and enjoyed a 360 degree view of the city rooftops, the many blue tiled domes being a special feature. Valencia is a very pleasant city to visit, with the old city set a few kilometres inland from the waterfront, which is unusual for a seaside city. The reason, I suspect, is that a ribbon of parkland which runs through a large section of the modern city up to the old city has been built on a dry river bed, which would have once as a flowing river, served the city. We ate lunch fairly late at a tapas cafe, wandered the old city streets and travelled by train and tram to a supermarket that was close enough to the marina that we could carry home the supplies. More GNTs and a light evening meal at another nearby restaurant finished a relaxed and happy day.