S1.9 - Navigating Challenges: From Anchor Bliss, to Squalls, to Rudder Woes
June 17 - A Tranquil Anchorage and a Battle Against the Common Cold
Setting sail from Gibraltar, we aimed for Aguadulce in a more leisurely manner, choosing to anchor in the serene waters of Playa de Calaíza after about a 12-14 hour day. While the crew reveled in a swim, I unfortunately fought a head cold, so I chose to stay dry especially since I had quarantined for most of the day within the cozy confines of our bedroom and was just starting to feel better. A short dingy ride, quiet night on the hook and onboard dinner awaited, promising additional rest and rejuvenation.
Crew swim in Playa de Calaíza - Water Temp: 20-25 C
June 18 - Flyaway Cushions and Triumphs
Starting the day with a late morning due to a passing squall last night. We discovered that the sea had played a small prank, whisking away 3 of our starboard side seat cushions. We went ashore to search the beach and all it’s crevasses to no avail. In the spirit of maritime camaraderie, we bid adieu to our missing cushions, hoping they found a new purpose in the deep blue, perhaps hosting a nautical soirée beneath the waves. Undeterred, we sailed forth into the adventures that awaited, embracing the whimsical ways of the salty sea.
Anchored just outside of Almuñécar in Playa de Calaíza
Departing Playa de Calaíza by Almuñécar
Attempts to deploy the sails (Code D and Gennaker) only added an extra knot to our speed, however, Ryan mastered the art of setting up the Code D solo turning it into an unexpected but satisfying workout. Amidst the sails and the sea, the crew found time for a refreshing dip in the deep blue, with Ryan showcasing his swimming prowess amidst the strong current, I finished listening to “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey for the 2nd time. Love that audio book!
Both Ryan and I Enjoyed This Audio Book - Highly Recommend!
Finally anchoring in Aguadulce at about 9:00 pm, we tidied up at the dock until they could find a slip tomorrow. We drew the blinds and enjoyed a late-night viewing (or at least the first half) of the movie "Cpt. Ron."
Entering Puerto Deportivo Marina - Aguadulce
Welcome to Aguadulce Marina
June 19-21: Dockside Mooring and Maintenance Magic
We were given a slip to reposition to for maintenance proximity and so we could hookup to shore power and water. This was our very First Med-Mooring and we aced it!
Unfortunately, we hit a snag when the maintenance team, also Yanmar certified, uncovered a hydraulic leak during their diligent inspection. The next few days were filled with other scheduled maintenance, shopping, food prep, cleaning, and accompanied by the bureaucratic challenge of getting paddleboards through customs.
June 22 - Anchors Away! …. Until Rudder Revelation
The maintenance guys finished up (except for the apparent hydraulic leak – which we decided to just monitor as it looked a lot like residual dripping of a previous leak). It was HOT outside so we decided to escape the marina's embrace and anchor out in the bay for some privacy and ocean dips in hopes that our paddle boards would finally arrive tomorrow and we could get going to Ibiza.
Happily out of the busy marina and finally anchored, our plans took an unexpected turn when Ryan and Byron discovered major rudder issues while cleaning the hull prompting immediate action. Did we hit a rock, a tree? Was it an orca attack or a delamination since that is an issue with these rudders? We will never know for sure. Will this take 2-3 weeks on the hard to fix?? Oh Dear.
Rudder Delamination or Orca Attack?
Nothing we can do about it tonight, so, Ryan and Byron finished cleaning the hull, did their First Dive down to the anchor. We quite enjoyed our evening away from the marina despite the rudder issue. Coordination with Privilege and Sportnautica Almeria (S.A.) led to a solution involving coming back into the marina tomorrow. Luis (Owner of S.A.) actually had a set of recalled rudders (for delamination issues) on hand from another Privilege boat which we can use to get us to Ibiza where they will ship new ones over. A testament to quick thinking in the face of challenges.
June 23 - Maintenance Marvels by Sportnautica Almeria
We completed another med mooring (it was pretty smooth) and the maintenance team were on our boat at 10:00am. By 2:00pm, they had replaced both rudders. Wow! Luis and his team at Sportnautica Almeria are simply amazing!
The persistent hydraulic leak became a Friday concern. Not wanting to delay our departure any longer prompted a decision to monitor the leak and proceed. Luis offered to ship our delayed paddle boards to us in Ibiza, so we decided to set off and try to at least get about 4-6 hours into our next passage.
Unfortunately, we had a 28 KTS headwind, opposing current, and 1.8 M swells leaving us with a very bumpy ride and sometimes going as slow as 2 knots, so we decide to pull into the marina in Almaria. Not our day… the marina was full and to make matters worse, we were losing hydraulic fluid quicker than we had hoped, so we turned our ship around and headed back to Aguadulce where the Sportnautica Almeria team were waiting. Exemplifying 5-star service (once again), they assisted us in a now more challenging med-mooring, providing a haven amidst the high winds and hydraulic fluid challenges.
Aguadulce to Aguadulce
June 24-27 - Waiting, Beach Days, and Paddleboard Revelry
The discovery of a pinhole in the hydraulic line prolonged our stay another 4 days, but we made the best of it going for long walks and spending time on the beach.
This also gave the much needed time for our paddle boards arrive, so with them in finally in tow, …
Paddle boards Secured
…the hydraulic line fixed, meal plan set, …
5 Day Menu
…we're ready to set sail once again.
The seas may throw challenges, but with each setback, our resilience grows, turning each chapter into a testament of sailing spirit.