I have always had a healthy respect for Cadiz, learned over several years of bringing a ship of this size (and larger), into the confined harbour.

The approach is through a buoyed channel, more often than not, with a strong current.  One has to ignore the green buoys, they are in shallow water and instead, only use the red, which mark the north side of the channel.  One is then faced with a 90° turn to starboard as one enters the breakwaters and usually, this is complicated with strong wind, (until inside the harbour).  It’s a matter of using ones eyes, better to judge the turn than rely on electronic predictions, the human brain can assimilate far faster and more accurately, mark 1 eyeball is much better.  One’s heart rate always rises imperceptibly going through.

Overview.  The green triangles are vessels AIS, most are anchored just outside Spain’s 12-mile limit

Into the buoyed channel and the harbour approach

Here comes the turn……variable depending on the current

and towards the berth.

The harbour from seaward, as we were leaving

The breakwaters and background, a new bridge being built

Docked

 Once again, no chance to go ashore, however Karen does, again.  Seville is not far away and many guests take tours there.  Karen goes wandering and a trip on the hop-on-hop-off bus.

The Cathedral, photo taken from the bridge

Karen couldn’t resist the dog, acting as lookout…

This church took 150 years to build and as a consequence has different styles for each architect.

 I complete this post docked in Ponta Delgado, in the Azores.  The first 2 days of the crossing were reasonably pleasant, however, (there’s always a “however”)  a deep depression has been wending its way towards us and, as luck would have it, we met it during the evening before our arrival.  Winds increased from the south and swell rose, the result being an uncomfortable night and a ‘taxing’ arrival.  We are staying here an extra day, having cancelled our proposed call at Horta, Azores.  This is an anchorage port and we would have tendered guests ashore, not a chance in these conditions, hence us staying here another 24-hours and then sailing direct to Fort Lauderdale.  As I look out of the windows, being tied up here is a good place to be; waves pounding the breakwater and sending spume and spray high into the air.  I will write about this later.