Torrevieja to Calpe

With the alternator replaced and everything working normally again we were ready to leave Torrevieja on 4 July. Unfortunately the wind was once again against us, with strong north-easterly winds, which would not abate until Tuesday 5th July. We were now running seriously late as Jacquie’s daughter Sarah and her friend Claire would be arriving in Menorca on the evening of 6th. They were aware of our delays and had booked into a holiday flat for 2 days but we would still be pressed to make Menorca by 8th July.

We had considered a long run straight to Ibiza, but having had the alternator problem, we decided to follow the coast to Calpe to ensure that no other issues occurred. This would give us plenty of available boltholes and Steve Wayman had offered to make the hour and a half drive to Calpe to help us out if any further problems occurred. What a great guy!

With the strong winds having eased down to a maximum of force 3, but in a direction that might fill the headsail, we set off on the 60 mile trip to Calpe. With lots of engine and electrics checks on the way and some gentle motor sailing we followed the very arid coast. This was meant to be the Costa Blanca (The White Coast), but goodness knows where the name comes from as, from the sea, it seems a uniform shade of brown.

We tried to rise the mainsail, but somehow the mainsail halliard had managed to wrap itself around the radar reflector fitted to the front of the mast and nothing we did would persuade it to return to its traditional position on the back of the mast. That would be a problem that we would have to solve when we reached Calpe. For the first time we sailed with the bimini erected to give us some shade as the last leg we had completed to Torrevieja had left us both overheated. We had expected the cockpit cover to restrict our view of the sails, but it proved to be no problem.

After seven hours we saw Calpe ahead and, after refueling, made our way to our berth which was down one of the tightest pontoon alleys we had yet encountered. Having tied up we then had to solve the snagged halliard problem and Jac volunteered to go up the mast in the bosun’s chair. (Actually she didn’t! There wasn’t really a choice, as I had the strength to winch Jac up, but she would have struggled with my weight.) I winched Jac up the mast with a safety line around her chest as a back up. Once up the mast Jac quickly put the line back in its correct place, but then disaster struck. I had managed to get a line jammed around the winch and nothing I could do would free it. Encouraged by a plaintive cry of, “I’m frightened” from halfway up the mast, I finally managed to generate enough slack line to free the jam and lower Jac to the deck.

Jac being very brave.

Jac stuck up the mast

Calpe is a pretty little place, apart from the overburden of high rise apartments. The marina is dominated by a large lump of limestone looking reminiscent of a mini Gibraltar. With this backdrop we had a lovely and inexpensive meal at a fish restaurant while we checked the weather and planned for the following day.

With good weather and light winds forecast and the engine having proved to be reliable once again, we decided to make the 200 mile trip to Menorca the following day.