A day of firsts. We left Garrucha having done a gelcoat repair and we're happy to leave. The weather was sunny and windless so motored all day. In the morning we saw Dolphins, the first this year. In the afternoon we saw a whale, the first from Javelin. We turned around and followed it for a while trying to identify the type. We will need further research before we can confirm the type. Finally Dave and I went for a first swim of the season at beach in Mazarron. ...

After the previous day's rain, the sun came out and we had a southerly wind pushing us the 35 miles to Garrucha. The sea settled further giving a smooth and fast ride. Garrucha was disappointing, the marina was government owned and had fired all the marineros on 1st April so only the office staff were around. The marina suffered from swell and we bounced around until we moved damaging the gelcoat in the process!

The wind died down overnight as promised but not without a fight as it rattled Javelin and her crew into the middle of the night. We planned to go to Garrucha a 57 mile passage but as we cast off it started raining and 12 hours later is still raining with the occasional flashes of lightning and claps of thunder. We had a good sail reaching 8 knots over the ground at times but decided to get out of the rain in Puerto de San Jose. Strangely we were in San Jose in C...

Finished the decks at last. They look like a new boat thanks to the hard work of Dave and Sue. The wind has been blowing up to Gale force for the last three days and at night the boat is even heeled over by the wind just like being on the Fastnet without leaving port. It is forecast to die down tomorrow so we are planning to set off in the morning with a long trip to Gurucha.

Woke up at 3am with the wind howling and Javelin bashing around on the mooring. Checked and tightened the lines before the rain started. In the morning discovered the sugar scoop had bashed against the wall damaging the gel coat, otherwise no damage. Today we have been on boat maintenance with final rubbing of the decks. Rewarded ourselves with lunch at our favourite restaurant Called La Cabana.