At 09.30  on 27th September we lifted our anchor after a calm overnight stay in Formentera.  The morning view of the empty beaches, crystal water and yachts at anchor was like a picture of the Caribbean.

We set sails ‘goose wing’ with the forward genoa sail on the opposite side of the boat to the main sail---- the wind blowing from directly behind us----Tioram running gloriously with the wind.

 

At mid day we put up the cruising chute, making good speed in light winds and a building rolly cross sea.  After a couple of hours we decided to get the cruising chute sail down to check the halyard (rope to the top of mast ) for any chaff as we have had some minor problems before.  We put Tioram onto auto pilot and Tony went to the bow to furl and retrieve the chute and I was readying the sheet (tensioned rope to the cockpit winch) when the halyard/rope at the top of the mast suddenly broke---- for a moment the sail seemed to hold in the air before falling to our starboard side in to the sea.   I got the sheet (rope) on board quickly to ensure it didn't go under the boat and foul the propeller or rudder.

Tony immediately started retrieving the sail from the bow and the two of us worked together very quickly to recover the heavy wet sail from the sea before it fouled anything.

Super strength and effort and we had it all on board and sat on top of it to stop the light sail re filling with wind and going back over the side.

 

Before long the wet sail was safely stowed and we set a poled out genoa (forward) sail and mainsail arrangement. Our speed reduced considerably in the light winds to 4/5 knots until around 18.30 when we decided we couldn't continue to make enough progress in the right direction and reluctantly put the engine on.

At 19.20 we were joined by 6 or 7 dolphins  jumping vertically out of the water near our beam and then playing on the bow.

We both stood on the bow watching them play below us, Tioram on auto pilot and the light reducing,  the reddening sky moving towards sunset and our position nearing the change of East /West longitude, Greenwich meridian ------- we felt as if the dolphins had come to guide us safely back to the West, to Spain and to the end of another adventure.

 

After an evening meal we went into a night watch system and by 22.30 we were making 6 knots in 17/19 knots of true wind, running just on the genoa in an uncomfortable cross sea---very rolly.

At 05.08 on 28th Sept our log entry was 99 N miles, 19 T knots wind and Tioram was once again in the Western Med.  By 09.30 we could see the Mar Minor and in 17/28 T Knots with genoa we were making good speed in the rolly sea.

By 12.25 we were nearing Cartagena, 144 N miles and in a reducing cross sea we were making 6/7 knots.

At 15.22 , with 17Tknots of wind, we passed an anchorage we have often enjoyed----La Azohia—and so entered the bay of Mazarron.

At 15.40 after 163 N miles we arrived in Mazarron with my parents waiting on the dock to meet us.

 

Photos of--------

Early morning leaving Formentera

Dolphins on the bow

Sunset at sea

Approaching the Spanish mainland

Bahia de Mazarron

 

Love to all

Tina and Tony x x