36 24.8 N  05 09.4 W

10^th April 2012   Psyche blog   ESTEPONA

Nick arrived at Queensway about 2.30 on the 9th, while I spent the morning schlepping around – went to Morrisons, stocked up with water etc etc. Bank Holiday Monday so pretty dead. Gibraltar is really a tatty dump in my view. The shops are rubbish, prices appalling. I asked about a Bose Sound Link speaker and was quoted a price £50 higher than in the UK. The guy then said he “could do you the UK price”…..what a joke. Same with binoculars.

The only good bit (apart from the Rock and some nice houses) was the Cannon Bar, where we had a couple of pints, then a couple of gins on the boat, then a couple of bottles of wine with dinner etc etc

So on morning of 10^th neither of us at our best. We left for the fuel berth (alongside the runway) just after 10. the wind was fresh, (W/SW 4-6) the sea outside the breakwater very lumpy. Rounded Europa point around 11.30 and headed for Estepona. Nick not in good shape. Wind shadow on E side of rock, and a much calmer sea, helped. It was a fine afternoon, we made Estepona at 15.15. The marina was pretty good – staff very helpful – receptionist off duty til 4 opened up as soon as she saw me, at 3.40, checked us in – and gave me a bottle of wine!

We ate at Grill del Puerto – it was good, only opened 4 days previously. Plenty of choice for bars/restaurants. Then an early night given the previous day’s excesses. Did about 28 NM. It was a start – got us out of Gib anyway!