Looking back at Gibraltar, as we depart. Our original goal was to go direct, for two days to Formentera, an island in the Balearics. We wanted to go to Puerto Banus which we had heard about, only 50 miles east of Gibraltar, but couldn't get in. Roberta and I drove to Banus and begged, and were able to obtain a slip.

Our short trip to Puerto Banus (Marbella) from Gibraltar was loaded with surprises. First, we ran into an approaching US Navy submarine. Our boat was circled by a raft loaded with heavily armed soldiers. They wanted to super-triple-check they we didn't look dangerous. We must have passed the test, as after circling us a few times they drove away without saying anything. We then ran into fishing boat after fishing boat, all pulling nets. We had no idea how far back the nets went, so we decided just to go around them -- 15 miles out to sea - just to safely avoid the nets.

I was worried about entering a strange port -- and, if I would be able to park Sans Souci. They must have already heard about my skill in parking, because they left me LOTS of space. As you can see, I squeezed in successfully.

Sans Souci was the LITTLEST boat around. The boats around us thought we might be someone's dinghy.

Puerto Banus -- anyone in this part of the med (Marbella Spain) MUST stop here. Great restaurants, clean, and FUN!

Here you get a better sense of how big the boats around us were. You can't see Sans Souci, as it hidden behind the other boats.

I received an email asking for more information about flopper stoppers -- so, here is a picture of Sans Souci with its flopper stoppers out. At the bottom of the line you see here is a large rectangular plate. On of these giant poles extends from each side of the boat. As the boat rolls at anchor, the plate moves up and down in the water. The plate is constructed such that water passes easily one way but not the other. To be specific, it sinks easy, but pulls up hard. With the flopper stoppers in place, you can sleep when anchored in swell. When they are not, you can not.

OK ... I confess. There are a LOT of great things about boating in Europe.

Roberta and Shelby, at anchor on the beach in Ibiza. In the distance behind them you can see Sans Souci.