Boat wreck.

"I think I am going to move my van back a bit. That looks highly unstable to me." Said John.

"Me too." Says I as we watch the start of this unconventional unloading of a badly damaged diving school boat.

The whole thing was hanging dangerously far out the back of a big lorry that had drawn up in front of our motorhomes. It did'nt take a lot to figure out what was being proposed. The big Palfinger crane  behind the lorry cab was going to lift this boat up, swing it over, or as it turned out, through the top of, a palm tree and lower it down onto a cradle on the beach front. We were parked not 2 metres the other side. The slightest slip and one rather large and heavy diving school boat could quite easily end up sitting atop 2 or 3 motorhomes, Sadie included.

Several motorhomes discreetly reversed out of harms way but we all helped out by using our headlights to illuminate the area as this dangerous manouvre was by now happening in the dark.

We had arrived at La Azohia earlier as the stiff N Easterly gale was whipping the sea into large waves which were crashing onto the beach and more spectactuarly onto the rocks out at the point. Unfortunately as Tanya and I started to walk toward the cliff path we witnessed a crowd of people desparately trying to lash this diving school boat onto the rocks where the waves had thrown it. Turned out it broke away from its moorings just as the owner reached it to secure it with more rope. There was nothing he could do but watch the wind and waves carry it quickly to the rocks where it ripped off its propellor and steering mechanism and for good measure put a few holes in the hull.

The lorry turned up later and was able, using its crane, to drag the boat up to where it could lift it onto its bed. We were now watching the final instalment. Unloading of the damaged boat.

Thankfully with quite a lot of shouting, shoving and pulling one damaged boat was safely plonked onto it's awaiting cradle, lorry was all packed away and reversed out. Us, the interested and somewhat concerned crowd of motorhomers were finally able to re-position our vans and relax.

Either side of me were English vans and a little later we all spent a very pleasant hour or so in Paul and Ann's van over non alcoholic drinks discussing the days drama and viewing John's i-pad where he had actually video'd the unfortunate shipwreck as it happened. The case was emphatically made that boats, big waves and sharp rocks do not enjoy the best of relationships. Unfortunately I did not get one photo of the whole affair.

I think I'll find somewhere a little quieter tomorrow!