The following are an extract from the post on my new sat
phone blog found at www.blog.mailasail.com/harryws20
Start of the cruise.
Malua left
Port St Louis three days ago for a dream crossing of the gulf and we are now on
the coast of Spain on the
boarder with France.
The coast line is very much like that of the Balearics with rocky coves and
indents. As always in August there are a lot of day trippers who thankfully leave
in the evening and a few cruisers stay to enjoy the tranquillity of a great
anchorage.
First days in Spanish Cala
Malua is at
42:19.35N 03:18.55E on 10/8/2012
We left our
initial point of arrival and started into the cruising mode by moving to one of
the less popular Calas along the coast. There were as always the day trippers
and a few extra. My sunset the day trippers had left for the night spots and
restaurants of the flesh pot and a few cruiser settled down to a quiet drink in
the calm of a wonderful anchorage. The sun soon dropped behind the cliffs and
the night was upon us.
Tomorrow the
same but this time we will sail down/ south along the coast to another inlet
and they day will be repeated – hard life this cruising.
A magical
moment on Malua
Water Wheels
Malua is at
42:18.34N 03:17.43E at Playa Guillola on 12/8/2012
My water
wheels finally said enough. The Yamaha 8 HP outboard purchased in New Zealand
decided to stop never to go again, just when it was needed most. Malua is now
in the Costa Brava of Spain which is rocky with few places to stay but all
requiring a dingy to get to shore. A day or two ago I had to swim to get the us
back to the boat so yesterday we went to Cadaques, rented a mooring and took
the water taxi to shores to acquire a new outboard. The Information Centre’s
map indicated a marine chandler so off we walked to find it.
There right in
the front of the shop was a selection of small outboards. The lady assistant,
in her best Spanish tried to tell be the advantages of one over the other but
there is only one outboard for me – Yamaha. I had looked at purchasing a
similar one before in Greece
but the time was not right then but now there was no option. Hand over the
plastic, entre the PIN and I am the owner of a brand new 2.5 HP fourstroke
outboard. Up on my shoulder and back to the water taxi and we are mobile again
– with less chance someone would steal the outboard.
French Parcel Service
Malua is at
41:50.7N 03:07.6E on 15/8/2012
Today was the
first time I could connect to the Internet and to my dismay I typed in the
Tracking number of my AIS parcel and found it has been sitting in Marseilles'
Customs for a few days waiting for some documentation which would materialise
from somewhere without any contact. Amazing. My second experience with French
postal service not delivering.
Palmos
Malua is at
41:50.54N 03:07.59E on 21/8/2012
Stopped in
here to get out of the wind and rock and rolly sea. Spend one day in Euro 75
per night with very poor internet. Frustrated by French Customs and inability
to communicate with them.
Crew not
cooperating and off on her own thing. Finally resolved to dump her when she
refused to make phone call to French Customs. Dropped her on the dock. Not a
sight her fans would like to see.
An improving
moment on Malua
Barcelona
Malua is at
41:23.22N 02:12.04E Port Olympic Barcelona on 21/08/2012
Great marina
at a reasonable price and in a area to get fruit and food. Have dined out two
nights in a row. The Restaurant on Malua is still the best in town although the
tapas in some bars are great.
Plenty of room
with only self on board.
Watchmate
problem solved and now on its way to Sydney.
The issue is grounding the GPS antenna which is a known issue but not
communicated to me the installer burnt the component in the unit. The designer
has been very helpful with almost instant email. Now to see what the cost will
be.
Toured Barcelona on the bike but
it got too hot so took a tourist open top bus. Commentary is very good but very
slow.
A magical
moment on Malua
Rio Ebro
Malua is
currently at Puerto del Fangar 40:48.9N 00:44.3E
The day
started early with the tasks to leave a marina, fill the tanks with water,
collect bread and disconnect the electricity. Today I also had to return the
electrical plug and access key. The plug was a French special which is only
supplied by the marina for a euro 70 deposit so returning it is an essential
part of leaving.
I called in at
the fuel dock and with one word handed over the belongings of the former French
crew. Not a work of thanks spoken. Hopefully the end of that chapter in the
French story.
Off out the
marina past the huge dock of Barcelona
and south down the coast. The wind did not come up as expected and 13 long hour
later and 89 nautical miles I dropped anchor outside the delta of the Rio Ebro
as the clock struck four bells – mid-night.
Another long
day tomorrow towards Valencia
and then across to the Balearics.
Isolates
Columbretes
Malua is at
39:53.75N 00:41.18E on 23/8/2012
As the sun
started to sink into the west I noticed a black dot on the horizon and zoomed
in on the chart plotter. There right in front of me was an island. The cruising
guide indicated that it was a marine reserve and the remains of an extinct
volcano. The centre is deep, deep but the authorities have laid some mooring
buoys that one can pick up. So with the light fading Malua entered the circle
of rocks which is the extinct volcano of Isolates Columbretes. Much to my
surprise it is much larger that the chart indicated. There where a number of
mooring buoys to which a few yachts and fishing vessels where attached. I chose
one and make myself fast. I took a quick swim to inspect the condition of the
mooring and retired to cook myself a well earned steak and have a sip of some
good French wine. Off to sleep to the gentle rock and roll of the swell. Much
better than a long night at the helm.
Tomorrow it is
the cruising grounds of Ibiza
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