July 15 – 20 From Torreveija to Altea

Washday in Altea harbour

After a week's break from the intense sunshine to return to the Uk for Jane's lovely wedding, it took us a day or two to acclimatise to the heat once more.

While in the UK Anders had stocked up on some essential items such as more fans for the cabins, a gas dectector, anchor chain markers, a bilge blower and various screws and brackets that had been hard to find in Spain. We spent a day sweating profusely and fitting some of these new acquisitions. I find it hard just making sandwiches while Anders had the cabin sole of the boat up and grovelled around in the bilge fitting new cables.

As always he completed the tasks with wonderful dexterity just checking with me on the colour of the wires. Anders is colour blind but that does not stop him getting the connections right every time!

There was plenty of action on our last night in Torreveija. A long line of boats packed full of cheering passengers snaked round the harbour at dusk, followed by a very noisy fireworks display. The long breakwater was packed with Spanish families intermingled with a few surprised tourists who like us wondered what was going on. The Spanish celebrate a series of saint's days during the summer turning out in full force to celebrate and without a hint of having too much to drink. Everyone has a smile on their face and they are great family occasions.

Although Torreveija was not our favourite place in terms of the local town and surroundings the harbour was exceptionally good with great showers, plenty of space, pleasant walkways and a very reasonable charge of just 19E per night. If it wasn't so out of our way it would be a great place to overwinter especially as Anders had managed to do a deal with the Swedish commercial manager Robert who promised us 50% off the six monthly fee. Still at least we had his quotation in our back pocket.

We left Torreveija on July 17 in a lovely southwesterly that skimmed us along the coast in the direction of Villajoyosa. It was great to be out on the sea again. The beauty of the clear blueness was ecstatic. I was beginning to learn about and appreciate the vast appeal of the sea that had consumed Anders with a passion from childhood. He knew the meaning of every ripple, every breath of wind had a message and it was the art of interpreting this great union of wind and sea and its effect on our boat that was the everlasting fascination and challenge. I was coping rather clumsily with this concept but nevertheless learning a little more about the wind every day.

Villajoyosa was a small compact very Spanish holiday resort, almost devoid of tourists. In contrast to the modern harbour and yacht club which was shared with the fishing fleet the old part of the town was filled with haphazard, worn buildings that appeared to tower rather perilously above us as we walked through the cool alleyways created by their tight alignment. Families sat chatting, children spun round on bikes and an occasional thin looking cat loitered in doorways.

The narrow streets of Villajoysa

Our final stop before heading for Formentera was Altea recommended to us by a bubbly lady from Holland who had opened a bar in Villajoysa. "Go to the old town of Altea it is full of art and craft shops and you will love it," she said.

Benidorm - to be avoided!

Passing the brash high rise buildings of Benidorm it was great to tack out into the blue and finally head inland again to the towering mountain setting of Altea. Once again a very Spanish resort with an excellent harbour and a very picturesque town. The steep stone winding steps to the church on the hill seemed to go on for ever and one wondered how anyone managed to bring in provisions to such a seemingly hostile location. There was obviously an easier route than the one we took as the quiet alleyways suddenly filtered into a picturesque square around the church which was packed with people, bars and art and craft shops.

As Altea was our last port of call before the 14 hour passage to Formentera in the Baelerics we stocked up on food, drink and cooking gas. We were planning to anchor on as many occasions as possible since we had been told that the harbours were very expensive. This would mean our dingy would be our lifeline to the shore.

The alarm was set for 4.45am in readiness for a 5am start – the pleasures of sailing!