Mar Menor Bridge

One of the most asked questions when sailing in this area is what times does the Puente del Estacio bridge open, the opening of the bridge allows access to and from the Mar Menor and Mediterranean seas for yachts or vessels with over an air draft greater than 7m.

At present the opening times are everyday:
10.00 - 12.00 - 14.00 - 16.00 - 18.00 with the last lift at 20.00 hours

Happy sailing

Ibiza mile-builder

This week we planned to put a few miles under the keel for the guys as qualifying miles towards their Yachtmaster. The decision was taken to head out to Ibiza and following a cracking sail up the Costa Blanca with a rather iffy forecast in hand it appeared that the predicted weather was not coming so with clear skies and perfect force 4 we peeled away from the land and crossed. Around 25 miles from Ibiza the wind freshened and gusted at 40 knots, with 3 reefs in the main and a handkerchief of headsail we pressed on experiencing some exhilarating sailing.
Returning to the mainland we were not so lucky with the wind and required the use of the iron spinnaker to reach Altea, stopping the night the crew were all early to bed as the previous nights watch system had left us somewhat jaded and we had a 0600 hours slip time for our trip back to La Manga. With clear heads and fresh pot of coffee we encountered strong head winds and El Rubicon struggled to make serious progress into the building swell so we made for our port of refuge which happened to be Torrevieja leaving us a short sail back the following day. The normally reliable winds abandoned us and rather than just motor back we ran a series of pilotage exercises and practiced following contour lines.
With 2 x 60 miles passages accomplished, some great navigation exercises, experience of strong winds and calms we had a true mix of what sailing can be like and an example of just how changeable the weather can be. Overall we achieved 380 miles, had a ball and the guys are rapidly gaining confidence in their sailing ability, for more information of joining our adventure sailing and mile-building trips please contact us on 00 34 695 326 184 or cheap call from the UK 0872 426 0837. The next trip is planned from Gibraltar to Cartagena at the end of June and we will be sailing from La Manga down to Ayamonte our new tidal base at the end of September, so if you need qualifying sea miles or just fancy being part of a great sailing adventure get in touch. 

Fine weather

Easter weekend has transformed La Manga, the supermarkets and bars are bustling whilst the Mar Menor presents a beautiful image with sails glistening in the sun as the yachts dance across the safe but shallow water.

The weather could not be better with around 15-18 knots of breeze and temperatures warm enough to be sailing in shorts and t-shirts. There is still time to get yourself on one of our great value sailing courses, so don't get left in the cold, come sailing in Spain and get qualified in time for summer with our RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses.

New sails on test

This year we treated El Rubicon to a new set of sails from Jeckells the sailmakers, with most of the wind strengths last week in the region of 25 knots plus we have had zero opportunity to try out the cruising chute but reefing practice has been plentiful. With the new sails and fresh antifoul we are easily achieving boat speeds in the region of 8 knots plus.

So far we have been very satisfied with the sails and I have to say that sailing fast has never been so easy. We chose Jeckells because they listened to our needs and offered a great value for money product. Sure we could have gone upmarket and spend another 50% for a set of beautifully crafted sails but as we are not a race boat, we are more interested in functionality and durability than aesthetics.

So if your thinking about a new sail, give Jeckells a call or visit their website and fill in the online contact form. As an added bonus the sails are made in the UK so you are supporting the British Marine Industry.

Tidal Sailing courses

Learn to sail with our Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses starting in Ayamonte on the Spanish Portuguese border. Explore the Algarve and Day Skippers can test their navigation skills as we sail along the coast and spend a night at anchor in the lagoon area around Faro, providing a quality pilotage experience as we look for a spot to drop the hook. We chose this area for its ability to provide navigational and tidal challenges - so far we have not been dissapointed, perfect for giving you all the necessary skills to become a competent sailor. Courses start every Saturday evening at 18.00 hours, fly into Faro and join us for a great week sailing in the Sun!

Coastal Skipper - Yachtmaster theory

This week we are in the classroom which is rather cruel considering the perfect wind conditions we are experiencing at the moment.

Reflecting on the week so far you forget just how lucky sailors in the Med really are, very little variation around Spain in particular, no tides and certainly no secondary ports - the Med provides the perfect playground allowing you to focus on having fun and sailing the boat in a relaxed manner just like the way sailing is meant to be.

That said we do enjoy the navigational challenges of sailing in tidal waters, hence we make for tidal waters whenever we can, it also highlights the importance of keeping up theoretical knowledge and proves that with solid basic training - it is possible to sail in other destinations.

Find out more on our shorebased navigation courses or milebuilding experiences and put the theory into practice.

Spring is in the air

This week the weather in the UK has been awful, cold, wet, floods and even snow in some parts of the Country. So far this week we have had some fantastic winds and although we did not sail today, it has been a shorts day. Sailing is planned for tomorrow and the forecast is some cloud and 25 knots of wind, spring is clearly in the air and we are enjoying every moment of it.
Get away from the cold and join us for some great sailing and if your really lucky you may even get to wear your shorts!