We thought you would be pleased to see the Howth Yacht Club ensign being proudly displayed on 'La Lumière of Howth' as we cruise around the Med. We have just returned to our base in Torrevieja after a 10 day cruise southwest along the Costa Cálida which stretches from Cartagena to Garrucha. It is a very unspoilt stretch of coastline with hardly a high-rise building in sight and mostly ignored by many passing yachts as they hurtle north towards the more exotic destinations of the Balearics and the Costas Brava and del Sol !

First, we sailed the 40 miles  down to Cartagena which is a wonderful place to spend a few days with it's great port and magnificent Roman Amphitheatre. Then we called into the small yacht club in Mazzarón where we were made very welcome for an overnight. 

This was followed by a 2 night stay in the top class marina and resort of the Puerto Deportivo  of Águilas which is a short bus ride away from the port of Águilas itself, a colourful and lively old harbour.

Our final destination was Garrucha, famed for it's red prawns and gypsum mines! The price we paid for the delicious seafood was having the boat covered in a fine grey dust! The   huge mountain of gypsum awaiting loading for transportation around the world was a mere 300 meters  from the marina-a place to be avoided in strong winds ! 

After two great fun nights in Garrucha with bonfires and fireworks to celebrate the 'Night of St John' on Saturday, June 23rd, we headed back up the coast, overnighting this time in the Puerto Deportivo of Mazarrón and Cartagena before arriving back to our berth in Torrevieja yesterday evening.

It was a short cruise of just 200nm but a most enjoyable one with weather, boat and even crew behaving impeccably !!

Carmel & Ken