In June 2021 we decided to sail Petite Lune from Scheveningen, Netherlands to Portimão in Portugal, as we want to spend the summer in the Mediterranean Sea. We also wanted to obtain our full membership for the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), therefor we had to sail non-stop for at least 1000Nm.

We left Scheveningen on June 10th and arrived at Baleeira (20Nm from Portimão) on June 18th after a sometimes challenging crossing - from no wind to 40 kts. Leaving The Netherlands we experienced a lot of sea fog. Near Eastbourne we were asked by the Coast Guard if we would co-operate in an exercise, and we happily did - see our videos.

After crossing the Bay of Biscay we had gusts of wind of 36 kts near A Coruña. We saw a lot of dolphins and one whale sailing in Portugese waters. We decided to end our non-stop journey in Baleeira, in a beautiful bay, and sail the last bit (20Nm) to Portimão the next day.

We left Portimão in the beginning of July, moving slowly towards Spain, visiting beautiful caves and anchoring near the Ilha da Culatra with clear water and sandy beaches. We also anchored in the Rio Guadiana that formes the border between Portugal and Spain. There is quite some current in that river. On we went to Chipiona in Spain, visiting Sanlucar de Barrameda where we went to the best tapas restaurant in the square. After Sanlucar we sailed to Rota where there is an American navy base. Rota was nice but it did not feel that Spanish because of the American influence.

Next was Puerto Sherry, near El Puerto de Santa María, we anchored in the bay very close to the marina and spent a few days there. We did some windsurfing and a lot of swimming. It is a small crossing over the Bay of Cádiz to Cádiz itself. Cádiz is one of the oldest seaports in Europe, where Columbus left for America. After Cádiz it was Gibraltar that we sailed to. Luckily we had no encounter with the orcas although we heard a panpan on the radio from someone who did. We visited the tunnels in the rock, what a fascinating place Gibraltar is. After Gibraltar the journey went on to Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in Morocco, very interesting to see and friendly people.

After Ceuta the journey went to Benalmádena, not a place we would recommend we had a very unfriendly reception. We left after one night for Málaga where we anchored again as they do not have a proper marina. Because of the swell and more wind coming in we decided to shelter in Benalmádena but the marina does not offer very good shelter. Next on the agenda was Puerto Banús. We were surprised there was space in the marina, probably because of Covid-19, as usually it is very busy with super yachts. We cycled to Marbella, where the marina is not deep enough for us. In Estepona we found a nice  restaurant which didn't take bookings but you had to queue outside.

Soto Grande is famous for its golf courses, it is a high market town with a lot of English tourists, again we were shocked by the cost of the marina as again there was no shelter to anchor. The marina of La Línea de la Concepción is very reasonably priced, with very friendly staff. Unfortunately we were not charmed by the town itself. So on to Barbate, the tuna town. Again we stayed in the marina, friendly staff. We were very glad that we had folding electrical bicycles as the town is a bit away from the marina. We discovered a lovely tuna restaurant and had churros at a little bar next to the beach. Next was back to Puerto Sherry where Petite Lune is now moored for winter.