01 – 06 June 2011Summer has officially arrived, but it seems someone has forgotten to tell the weather gods. The temperature has cooled a little and there has been thunder and lightening around, oh well, not much we can do about it.
The days are passing but nothing much seems to be changing. We have moved along the coast, first of all to Fuengirola and then onto Estepona where we currently are. Both trips were around 30 miles, pretty uneventful with light easterlies that teased us into taking the time to set the sails, only to have the wind drop out after a couple of hours. Our trip here to Estepona was somewhat rolly, and we had stayed in Fuengirola an extra day to give the swell time to settle.
We caught the bus from Fuengirola to Marbella, Spain’s waterfront “Golden Mile” destination of choice for the rich and famous. There is a lovely old town area, compact but cute, full of some upmarket shops and plenty of restaurants. We didn’t take the bus the additional 6 kilometres out to Puerto Banus, we hear it is Spains most expensive marina and full of some very big “gin palaces”, with some rather glitzy waterfront cafes. But we have certainly seen enough marinas in the last month so instead explored all the small alleyways and plazas in the old town which didn’t take long, so there was nothing for it but to find a spot for some early afternoon tapas before our bus back again.
Fuengirola’s waterfront is lined with high-rise apartment blocks and hotels, it is the busiest spot we have seen so far but we still thought it was pretty quiet, considering it is the beginning of June the tourists are few and far between.
So now we are in Estepona, we can see the “Rock of Gibraltar” just down the road, and this morning it was clear enough to see Morocco too. Tomorrow we have a nor’wester of 15-20 knots forecast so we shall head down the coast, our final part of the Mediterranean coastline. If the Straits look a little too lively we might stop in Gib, if we are up to a sporty sail across the straits then it will be onto Morocco – we are ready for a change of scenery and culture.
Cruising info for Fuengirola and Estepona – June 2011
Fuengirola Marina – 36 32.50N 04 36.97W Entrance straightforward but totally exposed to the east and quite a swell rolling in with easterly winds, not too much movement within the marina. Depth at entrance around 4m, 3.5 at berth. Visitors/waiting dock on right after the fuel dock, reasonable room to manoeuvre. Not much room in fairways between docks though. Plenty of bars and restaurants around marina area, (with English, Dutch and German menus!). Closet ATM opposite Club Nautica restaurant in Marina complex. Clean showers and toilets, self service laundry. Free WIFI, average signal. Good Mercadona Supermarket, head east along waterfront just a few minutes, it is one block back and you will see the sign and the carpark signs from waterfront road. Bus to Marbella from bus station (about 3 blocks inland and slightly to the west of the marina) leaves 1/2 hourly on the hour abut €3 pp one way. Marina €35 per night all incl.
Estepona Marina – 36 24.91N 05 09 .45W Entrance all ok we did briefly see 3m at end of wall but maybe cut the corner a little closely. Entrance exposed to southwest. Visitors/waiting dock on right with little white office on it. Good area in manoeuvre and plenty of room in fairways for a change. Clean showers and toilets. Laundry (not self service) on alley behind marina. Free WIFI, good signal. ATM by Marina office (max €300). OpenCor Supermarket just across the road, reasonable selection but most expensive we have seen in Spain. Estepona town quite a walk along the front to the North, not much there (found a Vodafone shop) Marina €40 per night, think power and water will be extra, too expensive for what is here really.
