Agadir, Morocco.

[capnsensible]

We set off around 1000 tomorrow from Lanzarote for the 48 hours ish passage to Agadir. Boat is a rather nice Jenneau 35. Bit of motoring to do looking at forecast. Looking good but perhaps a bit chilly at night. It will be nice to be offshore again.

The thing with going to Agadir, though is that it's impossible to get there without crew adapting the words from this rather poppy tune!

 

[capnsensible]

At least its not as bad as a three week passage to oh I'm going to Barbados. Or going up the river to Seville passing Bonanza.

 

[capnsensible]

Nice little crowd of friends came along to see us off this morning. Super impressed.

Wind as expected so motoring east now 2.5 hours in.

Boat name Hebe for any vesselfinder users.

 

[wonkywinch]

Boat name Hebe for any vesselfinder users.

Over a dozen sailboats called Hebe on a Vesselfinder search, found you ..

HEBE Current position (Sailing vessel, MMSI 235014335) - VesselFinder

 

[capnsensible]

Yay! That's us. Boat has got her own WiFi and I'm on it getting world Cup cricket scores!

Wind gone more to east so tacked to get some north in probably to sunset around 18 or 1900. Wind forecast to back ne around then.

 

[capnsensible]

So far so good with......window.

 

[wonkywinch]

View attachment 167902

So far so good with......window.

And a load of pencils. I hope they're genuine Shakepeares'.

 

[Fossil]

Good luck! Agadir is a great place! Be prepared to speak to officials in French, that's the language of officialdom in Morocco. Be cool, smile a lot, look happy, get a berth in front of the yacht club and enjoy!

 

[38mess]

Fair winds and smooth seas captain. I'm very envious, my boat is in dry dock waiting for a new prop shaft...week 5 and counting

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Am watching you on Vesselfinder . Seem to be making excellent progress.

Amazing to see so many yachts underway on the Vesselfinder map. Assume the Arc has started.

Addition

Just checked . They left yesterday in light SE winds.

No wonder it looked busy. There are 156 of them.

 

[capnsensible]

Thanks all. Easiest trip I ever made I think!

Officials impressed with the pages of Maric stamps in my passport!

Will post some piccies soon.

 

[Frogmogman]

Thanks all. Easiest trip I ever made I think!

Officials impressed with the pages of Maric stamps in my passport!

Will post some piccies soon.

What ? Didn’t the keel fall off, the rudder snap, and the windows fall out ? Can’t believe you’d undertake such a voyage in a 35ft AWB.

 

[capnsensible]

Well it was mostly a light wind crossing, benign seas. Crew are mostly experienced so no seasickness and prompt on watch. 2 on 6 off is a doddle anyway. Did get around 8 or 9 hours of a fab close reach Monday night up to around 15 knots true but it died off snd back on motor.

Agadir itself is trying to modernise but still somewhat sruffy at the port end. Not explored the huge beach along to where the hotels are. The North end is a bit run down seaside style.

Same with marina. Easy clear in, customs, immigration and police come to boat for rubber stamping evolution. Not quick but simple.

Pontoons looking their age. Lots of neglected yachts rotting away. Showers and heads still a bit ratty even though there is plenty of hot water. Some dockside apartments and commercial units sold but also some a bit neglected. Goes daft at night though, local monied come to marina to pose, dine and dance to loud music. Not really noticed below on yacht though. Overall mebbe 6 out of 10.

 

[capnsensible]

Top trip is to take the year old cable car ride up to the old fort that's now being renovated after the 1960 earthquake. Over 400 houses inside Fort collapsed, overall deaths in area 25000. In 15 seconds....

A big tourist theme park is being built around the lower cable car station. Lots of work still to do though. One day!

 

[capnsensible]

Marina entrance from beach

 

[capnsensible]

Going down!

 

[capnsensible]

You cant have a Fort without camels.

 

[capnsensible]

 

[capnsensible]

Scores of fishing vessels laid up until some season starts.