Logbook – Fuengirola – La Herradura – 26 Jul 24
A earlyish start today to cross the NW corner of the Alboran Sea to our next anchorage. Our friend Helen has suggested La Herradura as a good anchorage. So with sails up and the Southerly wind we set off.
Great to be under canvas but that died after 90 minutes. So back on ‘Barry the Beta’ to drive us North East.
It is amazing that with such a large sea and relatively little traffic, you never really need to alter course. Except today. A huge tanker, the Mesner Express, came up from behind and we had to alter course. The Officer on watch was gracious and advised us our radar signature was good. Handy to know, although despite that he didn’t was to alter course. So much for the rules of the sea. 😉
La Herradura (add link to destination) proved to be a great little stop over. The anchorage, typical of every beach so far, was busy during the day but very quiet after dark. We anchored in the lee of the South of the town in good sand and we could see the set of the anchor perfectly.
Watching the weather becomes almost paranoia when you’re living on the anchor. And a concerning storm from North Africa meant we might have some strong winds. What we didn’t know was that after a few days of others anchoring close by, our own anchor had been disturbed.
When a series of string gusts hit us from random directions, we did start to drag the anchor. Which we hadn’t seem for some time. No matter, we could just lift and reset.
So with Andy driving the boat to keep us pointed at the anchor, we raised it, only to find there was a loop of our own chain around the anchor. Not good. So the next hour was sent gently motoring around the anchorage, manoeuvring other boats and the gusts, until I could bring the anchor on board and untangle the chain. All done we re-anchored with more chain just in case the continued storm through us any more gusts.
During one of the subsequent nights, a french yacht joined us but strong (30Kt) gusts in the night caused him to drag. Despite callin him on the radio, shouting and flashing him with the dragon light, it wasn’t until he hit the shallow water near the beach that he realised the problem.
Fortunately he recovered but moved to a different location around the cape. We stayed and although it was gusty, we stayed put. Nothing like lightening storms when you’re on anchor watch to focus your attention.
Strong westerly winds had been forecast and so we considered moving. The bay to the East of us seemed protected but after 3 days of strong easterlies the swell was too great.
Unable to find safe harbour either in the bay or the local marina, we returned to Herradura and anchored well up the beach to hide behind the westerly hills. Despite gusts and a failed setting of a stern anchor, we had a bearable night and set off early next morning for Adra.
The anchorages used:
La Herradura, Paella and a Pint
