Rota

Well, we really are at the end of the mainland European part of this adventure. We arrived in Rota yesterday after a long and frustrating beat from Chipiona. The wind was effectively in the south west which meant a long beat which was exacerbated by having to buck against the flood tide running into the Rio Guadalquivir. We were nervous of using the engine too much as it seems to be showing a bit of a propensity to overheat at the moment. We are looking at ways of flushing it out at the moment. Still, we got here just as the sun was setting and are now setting to seriously prepare ourselves for our departure to Morocco.

It is only 155 miles from here to Rabat but that will be the longest sail we have done for a couple of years now and we need to be prepared for it as well as adapting to a very different culture in Morocco. We had a similar feeling when we got to the western end of Portugal and were planning on heading west to the Azores. Now however, we feel much more ready and it is likely that we will make the leap this time.

Rota is a nice town and the marina is quite comfortable as well. We will also take the ferry across to Cadiz in order to get some suitable clothes for wearing in Morocco. We took a wander around and found a square named after one of the crew members of Columbus who got the distinction of being pilot on the second voyage. Clearly a favoured son of Rota! If I can get some wifi other than this this dongle, I will put a photo up of it. We are set to have a meal ashore this evening and are resolved to try Manzanilla which is a type of sherry made near here at Sanlúcar de Barrameda. We may, if we get time take a bus there and visit one of their bodegas. I'll report on the experience of tasting it later though.

This is a picture of the lighthouse at Rota. I think that the Orange 3G dongle can take the beating of one photo.

Finally - The other member of our families undertaking a great waterborne adventure have been enjoying themselves as well it seems.
Read Nik and Tony's adventures here