Tuesday 17^th June – Dénia - Isla Espalmador

38:46.701N 1:25.641E

Today we said a reluctant goodbye to Dénia, fuelled up, and set off for the Balearics. 

As soon as we were out of the harbour we pulled out the sails and were able to sail with a NW wind just aft of the beam and enjoy a favourable current for a change.  The wind then increased to a definite F5 giving us a fast reach and causing us to re-tie the dinghy across the stern as it was dipping in the water when we were heeled over.  The wind then dropped back to a F3 but we managed to keep sailing for the first three hours of the 12 hour trip.

The wind then disappeared and we motored for an hour before it kicked in again having gone around to the NE and it enabled us to sail almost all the way across close hauled at between five and six knots, sometimes more – we had a great day. 

The wind died down around 6.30pm as we came into the lee of Ibiza and we motored the last couple of hours against a foul current but we had had a good outing.

This evening, having finally arrived at the Balearics, we are in a small anchorage called Puerto del Espalmador, on Isla Espalmador, just north of Formentera; it is a pretty spot but unfortunately the anchorage is packed so our initial impression is poor – we have got used to having space around us as we have been travelling out of season.  However, this is something we are going to have to get used to now that we are nearing the main holiday season.

The sunset and moonrise (full moon) were both excellent, with clear skies.