| Local time 0102. April 10th.
We are a bit East then Cabo Negrete, and I can see clearly the Cabo De Palos flashing light. Long day, some progress on my route to Mallorca.
For a change — there have been couple of good news during the day. — the generator started, and worked as planned. — the water marker started and produced the water. I think it back in business, pressures normal. It will need some tuning later - filter replacement… But for now — I’m getting the output of 16 G/H of water.
— The last but not least, it seems that one the way to get a weather forecast for the area has been found. Thank you, Jean! Thank you Yolène! Indeed, for the first time I’ve been sailing in the Med, knowing the weather ahead of me for an hour, and holding my breath to check if it will be confirmed by reality! And it did!
So, we are en-route to our destination. I’m not pushing the boat, but rather checking all systems — motor, reefing , generator, water marker… And of course — my favourite, keep cleaning ! ;-) I also checking myself, if I remember how to move on the boat, how to drop / to raise anchor and keep all the fingers still attached, how to move and respect the boom… I’m still on board, and I’m still typing… I guess, I’m doing ok.
The weather was pretty good — Sun, blue skies. The sea were comfortable, and wind — as I mentioned — appeared by predicted schedule and places. It is the first night we are sailing… Forgotten feeling… That what I’ve been missing so much in Montreal! Endless sky, and blinking stars! Though there are some clouds, they could not disturb the picture…
In the morning, my friends left the harbour a bit earlier. Our immediate routes are separating - ’ See you on Mallorca! We are going to be there one day! ' And I know we will meet again, with a lot of good stories, as if we saw each other the day before. The Med is small. The Earth is small! We will meet, we know. Until then — fair winds! ( And we know how to get predictions on them now! ).
I hope I’m navigating right! Despite the natural beauty around, I’m a bit concern that it is getting colder — I’m sitting in 2 sweaters, Gill jacket, skiing hat.. . The water around — 55F…. It was 57 in the morning… The dolphins came the boat… I have seen dolphins before, playing in the bow waves… But today, I hame seen them jumping out of the water often…. Never seen that before… May be they were looking for the ride ON the boat, in cosy environment ? Got the message from another boat… They were living on boat in Mallorca, advocating to be there… The message came from Gibraltar, where they got against 35-40 knots of Westerly winds on the nose… If all above —some signs, then WHERE am I going ?! ;-) But as I quoted before captain Barbosa — ‘ you have to get completely lost, before to find something! …’ We will see…
Mean time — we are going around the Cabo De Palos… then passing Islas Hormigas, and then — correction the course to destination. I’m passing the place third time…. And somehow — every time at night, or early, early morning… Have to be awake since the place before was full of fishing boats… and then — to my sleeping pattern again… Have to check how this is going to work during this trip…
Than is all for now, Everything is good. Talk soon, М.
UTC 080
We have reached this small bay on the East part of Capo del Gata yesterday, about five o’clock local time.
No, we were not looking for the tea. But rather after the ’test sail’ from Almerimar, we needed rest — yes, I said rest ! ;-) — and to check some things, and to make some adjustment. The sailing was good… But the weather a bit on a rough side — constant winds, I would guess, in 25-30 knots range, relative big sea — which was building up, and going down all the time… It is nice ride, when the seas are behind… But when you need to change the course — towards the wind …. A different story… Knowing this phenomena — decided to take a second look and the boat before going into the ‘first night sailing in the season… ‘
Lovely bay protected from the waves completely… But not from the wind… Which was blowing up to 30 knots till early morning…
We are leaving now, targeting Mallorca.
That is all for now. Everything is good.
Talk soon, M.
No, it is not the joke… The coordinates are exactly the same as on the previous posting. Exactly the same — from the sailing point of view, the same on the surface of the Earth. Then what are the difference ? Simple — time.
As I’m typing this message, today is April 7th, 2030 UTC, 2239 local time. Yes, we are still at the same place in Almerimar, Spain. Exactly in front of the same bar — Esencia Rock… ( There were gossips that we have left the harbour. They were published by Marinetraffic.com, claiming that SV Eleonora has left Puerto Departivo Almerimar… Not the first time they are doing that — reporting SV Eleonora travelling somewhere… I have no idea what programmers in that company are smoking… But definitely something bad for their health and common sense ).
The reasons we — my lovely boat and myself — are still at the same place are quite simple. They are — logistic of parts delivery and her Majesty Weather of the Mediterranean …
Yes, somehow the boats are designed to move. No matter how securily you put her for the winter storage — you are coming back, and the boat is asking — in a way of polite demand — some gift or present in order to run further… And this time — no exception… So, the new set of batteries has been installed… Though everyone was doing their best — it took 10 calendar days to bring those from Holland… Unfortunately, it has been by 3 days longer then expected, and… we missed our weather window for going East…
No complains! The wrong weather gave the opportunity to meet the old friends, who arrived from Morocco, escaped the similar wrong weather in the Gibraltar, and finally managed to sail into Almerimar harbour… Dinners, stories, plans for the future… What can be better ? Meantime, the weather has been trying to prove who is the actual master of that world … 35+ constant winds within the harbour were blowing for a few days… The cold and sunny days were replacing the cold and rainy days… With the same wind… The people around start to wear first — sweaters, then late fall / early spring jackets… Rain, wind, sun, wind, wind, rain… Have we actually missed the summer of 2019 ?
Then the weather played another trick… The East wind described above — changed for the nice breeze from the West… Meaning that it is perfect to go to our destination… But the batteries were delayed… as soon as the batteries arrived and has been installed… we got 35-40 knots winds in the harbour… from the West… The perfect direction… But a tiny bit too much of wind…
If everything going as ‘predicted’, then tomorrow we will leave the paradise, and start the passage to the Mallorca… But… to say more about it — I would like to see it first… Again, tomorrow should be The Day! ( The weather permits ).
In a few minutes, the clock will start the new date. What are ahead ? I hope more adventures, more stories, more meetings with friends! And what may be better then that ?
Things are going well on the boat. Talk to you soon. M.
P.S. The attached picture — Almerimar harbour, on April 4th. From the top of the boat mast… It is calm, nice… In a few hours, the wind would start to blow from the West, making the sea outside the harbour looks like boiling milk, and even inside the harbour — there would be a lot of ‘white horses’ everywhere…
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