PART One –The Great Adventure Begins

	DATE 1998		DEPART	ARRIVE			DIST. SEA MILES	DAILY LOG
	9 May Sat.		LIVERPOOL 0900 HRS	HOLYHEAD 0300 HRS			60	ROUGH-HEAD SEAS –ENGINE COOLING PUMP BREAKDOWN! 4 HOURS TO DEMOUNT AND FIX NEW IMPELLER. SEASICK. SUNDAY - REST DAY.
	11 May Mon.		HOLYHEAD 20.00 HRS	WICKLOW 11.00 HRS			60	OVERNIGHT - CALM THEN ROUGH - FOG / RAIN
	12/13 May		13.5.98	WICKLOW			-	FOG (2 DAYS) TIED UP
	14 May Thurs.		WICKLOW 10.00 HRS	DUNMORE East 23.30 HRS			84	FINE- MOTOR SAILING FAN BELT REPLACED.
	16 May Sat.		DUNMORE East. 08.00 HRS	CORK 19.30 HRS			70	FINE – SAIL / MOTOR
	19 May Tues.		CORK DEP. 11.30 HRS	DUE SOUTH S. IRISH SEA			-	FINE - CALM SAILING DAYTIME MOTORING AT NIGHT.
	20 May Wed.		DUE SOUTH	ENG.CHANNEL APPROACHES			AV.100	FINE-CALM SAILING DAYTIME MOTORING AT NIGHT.
	21 May		DUE SOUTH	UPPER BISCAY			AV.100	(BLUE SKY- NO CLOUD OR RAIN
	22 May Friday		DUE SOUTH	MID BISCAY			AV.100	(WIND N/NE INCR.-> 4/5 -> 6/7 (GUSTS ->8 HIGH FOLLOWING SEAS.
	23 May		DUE SOUTH	MID BISCAY			AV.100	(SPRAY-GREEN WATER AFT.
	24 May		DUE SOUTH	LOWER BISCAY			AV.100	(ONLY MAINSAIL 2 REEFS!
	25 May Mon.		ANCHORED! MID-MORNING	CAP FINISTERRE NORTH SPAIN			AV.100	S.OF HEADLAND - SHELTERED. REST / DRYING PERIOD. OKAY!
	26 May Tues.		FINISTERRE	BAYONNA 19.00 HRS			50	MOORING AT YACHT CLUB. £8 per day. All amenities. Bus trip to Vigo. Fine but cold N E wind.
	30 May Sat.		BAYONNA	BAYONNA			24	2 HRS SAIL-BAD GYBE. STEERING CABLE PULLEY BENT. JURY RIG. RETURNED TO PORT UNDER MOTOR.
	31 May Sun. 1 Jun Mon.		BAYONNA 09.30 HRS	POVOA DE VARZIM (small fishing port) 11.00 HRS			40	S.WIND ON BOWS.TACK OUT TO SEA.HEAVY GOING. 25 HRS THROUGH THE NIGHT. HARBOUR SHELTER UNDER POWER.GENOA SEAM RIP Friendly aid from Portuguese boatowner
	2/3 June							Celebrities! Rare yacht visit. ~Steering cable replace-Genoa repair-Food/water.
	4 June Thurs.		POVOA DE VARZIM	DUE SOUTH			-	SEA MODERATE, LIGHT WINDS, VISIBILITY GOOD.RAIN EARLIER.
	5 June Friday		39^O16’W 9^O27’N	DUE SOUTH			105	PASSED Ilha Balenga. DRY, SUNNY, LITTLE WIND, MOTOR SAILING.
	7/8 June							MARINA BERTH. PORTUGUESE FLAG. FLEAS! MORE FUEL/FOOD.
DATE 1998		DEPART			ARRIVE	DIST. SEA MILES			DAILY LOG
9 June Tues.		SINES 10.00 HRS			37^O 17’ N 9^O 03’ W 19.00 HRS	36			SEA MOD. GOOD VISIBILITY, WIND NW>3, 5-6 KNOTS. SOUTH TO CAPE ST VINCENT (20 MILES) THEN EAST TO GIBRALTAR.
10 June Wed.									CROSSING GULF OF CADIZ. WIND NW 4-5, SEA MODERATE, MAKING 6-7 KNOTS. GOOD VISIBILITY.
11 June Thurs.					GIBRALTAR 15.00 HRS MARINA BAY.	240			ENTERED STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR AT 10.00 HRS. FAST MOVING. WIND ON AFT PORT QUARTER, SEA LUMPY BUT NO PROBLEM. SUNSHINE & CLEAR SKIES ABOVE. NEED HOT SHOWERS. VISIT THE APES!
14 June Sun.									STILL IN GIBRALTAR. WAITING FOR DECENT SAILING WEATHER. REPLACED GAS TANKS WITH CAMPING gAZ.
16 June Tues.									DOUG LEFT THIS MORNING. SAID SORRY IT DIDN’T WORK OUT.

PART TWO - CARRY ON UP THE MED

18 June Thurs.		GILBRALTAR			ESTAPONA			30			LUMPY SAIL, WIND NE ON STB BOW, F5-6.
19 June Fri.		ESTAPONA			BENALMADENA			35			CARRIED ON UP THE COAST! MARINA FULL OF TOURISTS! £13/NIGHT. SHOWERS LOCKED, 1000 PTAs DEPOSIT - BORROWED KEY.
20 June Sat.		BENALMA- DENA			PORTO DE MOTRIL			60			SMALL VILLAGE OTHER SIDE OF BAY. FLAT CALM. £8/NIGHT.
21 June Sunday		PORTO DE MOTRIL			ALMERIMAR			40			11.00 am. ROUNDING CAPO DE CALA HONDO. MOTOR SAILING, FLAT CALM, LITTLE WIND. BERTHED IN MARINA - EVENING.
22 June Mon.		ALMERIMAR			SAN JOSE / PEURTO GENOVES			30			MARINA TOO EXPENSIVE - ANCHORED UP IN COVE WITH TWO OTHER BOATS. BOARDED BY CUSTOMS - CLEARED, WITH COVERING DOCUMENT!
23 June Tues.		SAN JOSE			AGUILAS			50			STILL MOTOR SAILING. AV 5 KNOTS. PASSED 3 OTHER SAILBOATS. THUNDER / LIGHTNING+ SHOWERS.TIED UP ON COMMERCIAL QUAY. CLEARED BY GUARDA. BREAD & FRESH FOOD TOMORROW.
24 June		AGUILAS			PALOS			40			ANCHORED IN COVE O / N IGHT. M/SAILED, WIND F1-3.
25 June		PALOS			ALICANTE			50			MARINA TOO EXPENSIVE @ £24 PER NIGHT. ANCHORED OFF O / NIGHT.
25 June		ALICANTE			CALPE			34			M / SAILED, WIND F1-3. CALPE MARINA £13 PER NIGHT. EXPLORED OLD TOWN. MEAL AND DRINKS ASHORE.
28 June		CALPE			FORMENTERA			73			GOOD SAILING ARRIVED @ 01.30 HRS. ANCHORED IN 10 METRES, DRAGGED TO 30 METRES. DRAGGED TWICE MORE BEFORE HELD FAST. IN THE MORNING WE FOUND WE WERE CLOSE TO NUDIST BEACHES!
1 July		FORMENTERA			IBIZA			24			HELL OF A JOB GETTING ANCHOR UP – JAMMED IN ROCK. STRONG WINDS- SAILING 6-7 KNOTS. TIED UP IN IBIZA TOWN MARINA AT £24 PER NIGHT. AWAITING ARRIVAL OF ALMA BY AIR.
	3 July		Ibiza Town	Cala Yondel		18			M / sailed, exhaust dropped off manifold, re-secured steering cable that broke as we were about to anchor. Anchored under sail.
	4 July		Cala Yondel	Cala Tarrida		13			Independence Day! Put up Stars & Stripes for Jim. Left Cala Yondel under sail. 2 miles off shore about to tack to stb, steering cable broke and had to use emergency tiller. Hard going for Alma with all sails up and 5-6 blowing. Fixed in 30 minutes and back on course. Anchored in Cala Tarrida. Water like gin! Could see anchor in 27ft. Went ashore for birthday and anniversary dinner Got a soaking trying to relaunch dinghy from beach afterwards.
	5 July		Cala Tarrida	San Antonio		9			Anchored in bay, as marina too expensive. Anchored in 5m in sand. Trip ashore in dinghy for shopping and parts.
	6 July		San Antonio	San Miguel		13			Motored all the way, dropped anchor near beach bar. Ashore for walk, shopping and meal. Stayed 2 nights.
	8 July		San Miguel	San Vincent		12			Up anchor @ 0500hrs due to heavy swell coming into bay. Alma on wheel for 3hrs. Moved round east of island to San Vincent bay for shelter. Had meal ashore. Spent 2 days lazing and walking.
	10 July		San Vincent	Cala Boix		16			Sailed around Tacamago island. Fan belt broke. Anchored in Cala Boix in 4m of sand for lunch and decided to stay the night. Fireworks show over headland at midnight.
	11 July		Cala Boix	Santa Eurlalia		6			Dropped anchor in Es Canar for lunch. Too rough for o / night stay so moved onto Santa Eurlalia marina @ £32 per night. Luxury!
	13 July		Santa Eulalia	Tacamanca Bay		6			Cala Llonga bay looked full so carried on to Talamanaca bay. Stayed overnight in slow swell.
	14 July		Talamanaca Bay		Ibiza Town		3			Before we left, customs boarded us @ 0800hrs. Forecast was F5-6, storm brewing, so we moved to Ibiza Town. Moored at Ibiza Town Marina.
	15 July		Ibiza Town	-		-			Bus trip to Cala Vedella, on west side. Beautiful small sandy cove. Ideal for swimming. Very hot. Meal in Ibiza Old Town - watching strange people! Alma left for home using big silver bird at 04.00 hours 16/7. Straight back to work.
	16 July								Tried to leave, but got anchor rope caught in prop. Jim cut some away; marina staff cut rest away. Saved main anchor rope, so marina gave us a free night.
	17 July		Ibiza Town	Portinax		22			Left without mishap. Saw dolphins off Tagamago island.
	18/19 July		Portinax	-					Exploring – swimming off beach, drinks & meals out.
	20 July		Portinax	Mallorca		50			Weather started fine, m/sailed, wind NE3 –increased to NE5, but still ok, until weld broke on forestay bottlescrew. Whole forestay incl. genoa flying about, smashed GPS head and float chamber on outboard motor. Jim got it under control while I steered to windward. Luckily neither of us injured. Continued to Andraitx under motor only. Arrived in dark, marina/harbour full. Anchored in bay. Slept the “sleep of the just”.
	21 July		Andraitx			-			Spent all day stripping furling gear from forestay. Forestay ok – reused, but 95% of furling gear badly damaged, to be replaced.
	22 July		Andraitx	Puerto de Soller		25			Uneventful motoring- no wind, very humid. Anchored in bay in 5m in front of hotel in middle of promenade. Trips ashore to explore and meals, with a trip to Palma on train to purchase spares. Eventually decided to return to Almerimar as spares difficult and expensive to obtain on island
	26 July		Soller	Portinax		71			Up anchor. Sea like glass- motored all the way. Anchored in 14m in sand.
	27 July		Portinax	San Antonio		16			Clear blue skies, very hot, tied up to fuel berth for £40 of diesel. Anchored in 3.3m in sand. Ashore for food supplies and meal.
	28 July		San Antonio	Calpe		55			Motor sailed with main - mizzen hanked onto forestay. Sails filled, but not as effective as genoa.
	29 July		Calpe	Torrevieja		57			Passed 6^th fleet in bay – Jim ran up the stars and stripes and got a rousing cheer. Uneventful passage Anchored within harbour. Next day took on fuel and then went ashore to check out prices for long stays, dearer than Almerimar.
	30 July		Torrevieja	Palos		21			Nice passage dropped anchor in 4m in sand. Went ashore for groceries and meal plus drinks. Very nice little town.
	31 July		Palos	Aguilas		47			Nice sail tied up again to free commercial quay, ashore for drinks.
	1 Aug		Aguilas	Carboneras		32			Very hot, motoring to start- then motor sailing. Wind S4, lumpy sea, took refuge in bay close to power station. Meal and drinks on board. Followed small Spanish yacht in.
	2 Aug		Carboneras	Almerimar		56			Up anchor and away. Sea slight, motor sailed, around Cabo de Gata close to with no problems. Tied up on berth and hooked up to water and power.
	7 Aug		Almerimar						Jim left today for home. Made arrangements for long stay on hard. Spares for furling gear organised from France, long wait to receive them. Arrived end of August.
	Sept								Colin and Christine came out for a week, and then Alma, Michael and his friend Mick came out for a week. Managed a two-day sail to Motril and back. Winds very variable, very strong at times. Weather hot and dry. After they had left, the boat was lifted out of the water on the 23-9-98. Managed to get work in the boatyard, enough to pay my airfare, keep me in food and drink, with a little left over.