In my view the bible on this one is the Straights Sailing Handbook. If you can get hold of a copy.
Otherwise, just remember that the Straights are a funnel. F3 at the W end will probably be F6 at the E end and vis a versa. Tariffa is the windiest place in
Europe. Hence all the kite surfers. Gib Bay itself can be interesting. One moment no wind and the next getting knocked sideways by katabatic. The good news is that on the Gib side the only outlying rocks are the Seven Sisters. By Rosia.
Approaching Gibraltar for the first time is OK in daylight but massively confusing at night. Forget all that stuff about paper
charts. There are simply too many lights to differentiate. You need an up to date chip in your MFD and even then, with all the land reclamation, it will probably be out of date.
Anyway, the
marinas have booms that go across quite early. Your options then are (1) anchor in Getares by the old whaling station (2) go to Alcaidesa Marina - which is La Linea, but they do not want to use the name as the town is pretty down at heel (3) sail on to Sotogrande - which is flash but not
cheap (4) Go across to Ceuta on the other side - which is worth a tourist trip. As well as having a super Aqua Park to laze and splash about in.
If you do go to Alcaidesa never even think about having any
work done by MH Yacht Preserve. You have been warned.