Almadraba Tuna Fishing Barbate

As the Almadraba fishing fleet diminishes so this anchor grave yard grows near the Marina in Barbate! There are at least two hundred anchors - each about five feet high - each a rusting testament. Greg and I have been frequenting a Tapas bar called El Atun Rojo ( the Red Tuna). A couple of days ago they had quite a rowdy local crowd of OAP's in at lunchtime. After lunch they all trooped into the bar area and plonked themselves down on stools. The bar man then set up a DVD which was a film featuring the Barbate fishermen and the history and fate of the Almadraba fishing - even though it was in Spanish it was not difficult to understand. The old folk around us the witnesses to what has happened in their community over the last thirty years. They were keen for us to watch the film and kept talking to us about their old lives.
It was odd because early that morning we attempted to leave Barbate for Gibraltar, on the way out we saw a few Almadraba boats being towed in ( they don't have engines), then that very afternoon we found ourselves sitting with these old fishermen and their wives watching a fantastic DVD about it all.

http://jennykean.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/the-ancient-art-of-tuna-fishing/
 Have a read of Jenny Kean's blog re this ancient Phoenician fishing method, it is fascinating.
 

Flying our Code Zero

This is us flying the Code Zero on Lerryn Lady recently. Me at the helm. In light winds we can usually pick up an extra knot or two with this sail. Been lousy Internet access lately so busy sorting photographs to get back on track with the blog...bought a Dongle today hoping this will improve comms onboard. Currently in Barbate Marina after two attempts to sail to Gibraltar this week. On both occasions good forecasts! Beaten back both times by nose on 25knot winds, hoping third time lucky this Sunday when light westerlies forecast...fingers crossed everybody.

Here we are in Rota, Bay of Cadiz

We are now in Rota on the north of the Bay of Cadiz. The marina is much nicer than the one in Cadiz which is highly industrialized. There apears to be a problem spotting us on Marine Traffic . This may be in part due to the fact that we are bang next door to the Mediterranean base of the American Naval Fleet - security et al. So don't despair, perhaps once we head off to Barbate ( in a few days) we'll be back on the map! Yesterday was a peaceful sail from Chipiona to Rota. We had fifteen knots of apparent wind right up our chuff - so goosewinged the main and Genoa most of the way which took just three and a bit hours. Rota old town is charming. My camera battery gave up after three shots last night. Photo above is from the square of Castillo de Luna.

Shadows before sunset.

Inside the Castillo de Luna last night.

 

Chipiona quick stopover

Tallest lighthouse in Spain - they need this one as the shoals run out for nearly two miles.

Typico exterior in old town...

 

Sorry to report the Internet access is total b******cks today so will try and upload more later.

Selection of decorative tiles around Huelva today

These are copper plated...

Pretty, I think so...

More copper plating - these decorate whole buildings.

Not up to speed this morning

So I bought a box of beautiful brown eggs from the shop to go with the smoked bacon for breakfast...

Completely ignoring the word 'cocidos' on the box ( means cooked). Went to crack them into the sizzling pan and ... we had cold hard boiled eggs with the bacon LOL. Coffee was fantastic though :O)

Flying from Ayamonte to Mazegon yesterday

 

Cannot get whole sails in but you can see we flew the Code Zero outside and the spinnaker staysail inside yesterday in light winds and got an average of 6 knots !

 

And so I lay on the deck to get this shot which includes the main, spinnaker staysail, Code Zero, Cornish and Spanish flag :O) When we arrived we had 23 knots and a 2m sea so fairly 'flew' into Mazegon with just the Missen up!