We set out early from Mazagón and ended up motoring while waiting for the wind to build in.  Just as we were setting our sails, we heard three large explosions onshore.  Earlier, we read in the pilot book that there is a missile testing range and restricted area not shown on the chart.  If you approach the restricted area, a patrol boat will contact you with instructions to steer clear.  Sure enough, the radio crackled to life and "Fast Patrol Boat" was hailing us on channel 16.  While David was below on the radio, Lisa watched as they in fact began to make a fast approach.  At first we thought they wanted to come alongside, but then they just gave us instructions for passing outside the restricted area.  Once we reached the designated waypoint 5 miles offshore, the wind had filled in and we had a pleasant sail the rest of the way.  The Doñana National Park stretches along this coast with its low dunes backed by marshes which we could not see from our vantage point on the water.

It turns out that our guidebook was right and that we correctly interpreted the clouds the other day.  After arriving at the dock, a front passed through bringing with it two days of strong winds and rain, the first bad weather we have had since leaving Lagos.  We waited it out in Chipiona, a pleasant town at the mouth of the Rio Guadalquivir.  The river is navigable for large ships all the way up to Sevilla, 50 miles upstream.  The bad weather ruled out the possibility of visiting the national park where Lisa hoped to learn more about migrating birds in this area.  This will have to wait for a future visit.  Since we had already visited Sevilla, Jerez and some of the surrounding areas last month, we decided against renting a car and just relaxed for a few days.

They had no space in the marina when we arrived, and so we were tied-up to a pontoon just past the welcome dock with a Guardia Civil boat which went out on regular patrols during the day and night.  Other than their comings and goings, it was a safe, quiet spot to wait out the weather.