10th May

The forecast was not great but better than any we'd had so far so we decided to go for it. It was blowing 20 knts in the harbour which meant a double reef in the mainsail before we cautiously crept out expecting the worst. Within 20 minutes the wind had almost disappeared and we were motoring. The first half of the journey was pleasant, then the wind got up. Inevitably it was blowing hard from where we were headed. Just when we were getting close to rounding a headland a patrol boat ordered us three miles off shore to avoid a NATO firing range. By this time Lucinda was lying prostrate on the floor. We had a long detour and the wind and waves increased. We arrived, eventually, and safely moored to the jetty. The marinero then arrived and wanted us to go to the other side. And that was when a line got wrapped round the propeller. A cup of tea, a biscuit and a shower made things feel better. The marina is in the middle of nowhere. Later we took a taxi six kilometres to the town for a very mediocre meal.