While Roy took his last walk to Morrison’s to get a few last minute provisions and clear us out of Gibraltar, Elaine started preparing for our departure from the marina. Since the gate, which closes off the entrance to the marina is only opened at 0830 every morning, we decided to anchor off in the Bay of Gibraltar today to allow for a sunrise departure tomorrow morning and by 0930 the plan was coming together.

With the day ahead of us, we could take our time in completing the final preparations for our penultimate leg of our circumnavigation. Activities included stowing all the fenders and docklines, rigging the last of the jacklines and lifelines, clearing the cockpit, stowing the transformer, undertaking a final check of the oil levels on both engines, as well as checking the saildrives, lifting the sunscreens on the saloon windows, washing the saloon louvre windows, lashing the dinghy, unzipping the stackpack, finalising the floatplan and sending it to our shore contacts, etc.

By 1700, after having a nap this afternoon, we were ready. All that remained was to catch up with family, which included a chat to Keenan, Elaine’s mom and her sister in South Africa.

Receiving photographs from Keenan of their completed backyard and the grandchildren enjoying it, including the twins now swimming unaided, ended the day on a special note.