After nearly a week sitting on peoples´ motorboats and not moving, I finally get out on the water. And the Costa Blanca looks even better from the sea.
Thanks to Wayne and Tony who I met yesterday, I got to go to sea today on their Sealine charter boat. Leaving Denia at about noon (Mad dogs and Englishmen…) the sun was blazing and the sea was the most perfect blue. But choppy – not the flat Med I had imagined at all.
From the sea, the stretch of the Costa Blanca from Denia down to Moraira is great, with big, green looming cliffs and plenty of hidden anchorages and a lovely sandy beach you can only reach by boat. There weren´t many motorboats out at all – lots of racing yachties – so we pretty much had some coves to ourselves when we popped in to have a look.
Moraira is a beautiful marina, with a great beach next to it and really helpful marina staff who ride their bikes round the pontoons like Kami-kaze pilots. Compared with the miserable lot at Denia, it was a refreshing change. Finding a visitor´s mooring in Moraira was no problem at 2, but when we came back at 4-ish the quay was chocka.
Learnt some important things mooring in the marina:
1. Spanish boaters are not the best boat handlers in the world.
2. Brits are obliged to fly their ensign at all times – so that the Spanish know which boats to hit.
3. Moraira is certainly number one for good-looking berthing assistants.
So hope that is useful to anyone wanting to visit.
Had a fantastic paella for lunch and watched the Guardia Civil (VERY scary – think policeman in Terminator 2) trying to sort out some dispute over a jetski. They seem to have quite a presence around here, which probably explains the relatively low crime rates. Was stopped at a roadblock and searched on the way to this cafe actually, which apparently happens quite alot.
The trip back to Denia was a little more eventful as the winds probably hit 6 or 7 and promptly blew the bimini loose, leaving us all to fry. Might get a tan yet.
Am meeting up with the family tomorrow who are on holiday out here, so might not get much done. But might pop to Altea, which I´ve heard is nice. Will let you know how I get on. Then off to Valencia on Saturday, which I´m really looking forward to. As always, if there´s anyone who can give me any tips…
