As I’m typing this message, we are coming closer and closer to Cabo De Gata,  preparing to make a ‘turn left’ once more, and to start ‘to climb’ further North,   along Costa del Blanca… 

There is definitely the difference between moving along the Med and sailing in the Ocean…  

Today is a calm day. The wind went down — not as predicted, but… well expected… ;-) — and nearly immediately the sea went flat.   I do not remember seeing the Ocean so flat — even when you can see the reflection of the sky and clouds within the Ocean surface… there is always some looong swell… Which gives the impression that the Ocean is breathing…  Here, in the Med — I do not see it.  The flat surface — means flat surface,  may be with some ripples of  the lightest wind possible…. That is it.   ( I’m not so naive to assume that there no big storms, big waves in the Med… Sure, there are!    But, as I said — the pattern is very different… ).

That difference in wave pattern is probably easy to explain, compare the distances of the open waters, etc…. But one thing — to explain, to understand…. Another one — to feel and to experience…

The second noticeable difference — the influence of the current(s)…  Well, you can  feel currents in the Caribbean Islands ( as example… ) too… But here —they are starting, disappearing, or changing directions more rapidly…

Together, those too features make sailing in  the Med… like sailing in the old good Lake St. Luis… Ah, I hear all readers from the Med… and how disagreed they are!!! 

But, seriously — that is just the first impression I got,  spending quite a long period being on the Ocean recently, and now — moving across the Med… 

Probably, being biased by the ‘lake feeling’,  I noticed that a lot of boats around are motoring… Some keeping the sails up… others — just put the throttle on…  And they do motoring! The speed of 6.5 — 7 kts  is what they are doing!   Where are they rushing ?   I have no idea…  Saying that…

I should admit that my intention today was to sail no matter what…. I’m not in a rush, right?  But as the speed dropped below 1.8 kts, and I lost all steerage, and I started to move ‘backward’ over the ground….  Well… I told myself — ‘ I have no choice’, and  started the motor…  Right now, I’m a bit anxious to see what would be on another side of Cabo de Gata…. 

The ’substitution’ for the autopilot head in the cockpit is doing the job. So, at least that issue has been rectified, and I’m still able to control the boat from the Nav station and the cockpit… 

The night is falling down… We are preparing to continue in the direction of Cartagena. Will I make a stop there?  Do not know yet.  More I’m reading about the area — yes, it is interesting.  But should I stay there now? Or should I continue North, and be in Cartagena for winter time ?  Not clear yet,  I have a night — at least — to make my mind…. 

That is all for now.  We are progressing in accordance with the plan. 

Talk to you soon, 

M.

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