Leaving the Med

Rather than rush off from Ibiza we thought we might have a day relaxing at Formentera for one final swim whilst waiting for the ideal weather.  As we sailed from Ibiza to Formentera the volume of boats started to increase and when we reached the anchorage at Espalmador we were shocked about how many boats were anchored so decided to head for the other side of the island which we knew was not quite so idyllic.  We noticed as soon as we arrived that the majority of boats were on mooring buoys which had not been there when we passed through in April or the previous September but there were no spare so we anchored along with a few other boats.  Next morning we were approached by a rib and advised we were not able to anchor due to the Posidonia grass and we could book a buoy but they were fully booked until September, not much help to us since it was 15^th of August! So no rest for us, Mark quickly headed up the mast to change a bulb and did a few checks around the boat and we decided we might as well head off.

Mark up mast

There was a light south westerly breeze so we headed as hard as we could into the wind to make some progress south but knowing we needed it to swing more westerly to get on a course which would take us towards Spain and onto Gibraltar.  We followed the wind into the evening but knew we would need to tack soon and the wind as ever was not doing what was forecasted, so we tacked and to our frustration we were almost heading back to Ibiza  but we continued to make progress and knew we needed to use the wind whilst we had it rather than motor into it, but the inevitable happened and at 2am engine was on and the autopilot was set on a course south west.  The wind never really reappeared there were a few minutes here and there where the main sail helped with our speed but otherwise it was a long, hot and boring motor, the only excitement was crossing the shipping lane where we dodged a few tankers and cargo ship.  We also encountered the tuna nets off Cartegena, the lights of the fishing boats lit up the area for miles around.  With the thought of yet another day and night at sea with no wind we decided to anchor for the night at Aguilles but we didn’t even manage a trip ashore, looked like most of the other Spanish towns along the coast and was not a tourist destination but some people much have been on their holidays as there was a beach bar blasting out there music to around 4am.

Aguilles

Sharing a sheltered anchorage

Next day as we head towards Cabo Gata which is notorious for strong winds we were expecting a northerly to build and be around 25 knots by the time we reach Gata. Nope no sign of wind and motored round without a breath of wind.  The coast line along here is very baron that look inaccessible but we still saw a few umbrellas on the beaches.

Cabo Gata

After another day of motoring we had made the decision to stop at Almerimar as we were in need of fuel, it had been an expensive couple of days!  Around 7pm we had the only wind of the day and 19 knots direct on the nose and just when we sat down for dinner so we ignored it and by the time we had finished it had disappeared as quickly as it arrived!  We were glad to reach the marina at Almerimar at 11.30 that evening and the staff were as welcoming and efficient as ever to we were berthed and tucked up in bed by midnight.

It was nice to wake to the chatting of the parakeets but our stay was short and busy, it was fantastic (no I am not overacting) to wash Magnum down with some fresh water and fill our water tanks, we had not had any additional water since Menorca so we were strict rations! Before long we refuelled and on our way to Gib on a bit of a grey day.

The white you can see is the polythene green houses which stretch for miles under the grey skies over Almerimar

Although the wind was a very light south easterly meaning we were crawling along at 3knots we really did not want to motor.  Unfortunately by mid afternoon the engine was on again and this is how it stayed. The sea was flat calm and we saw a handful of boats over the next 24 hours. Dolphins would come and go but even they were bored with us motoring. We were desperate to see the Rock in the distance but as the fog came in there was no chance, it was very spooky when the anchored tankers would appear through the fog when you were only a few metres away!

Wow the tanker is close!

The Rock finally appears through the fog

It was quite exciting to be back in Gib, feels like part of our adventure is over but we have so much ahead of us!