38:51.191N 001:24.262

1327 UTC

En-route to Almerimar, Spain. 

Probably, any route from Palma, Mallorca to Almerimar is going close to Ibiza and Formentera islands. Though we are under some pressure of time, it looked logical to made a stop on Ibiza — to swim in the Med, most probably making a long pause in Sea swimming before the next season,  to eat, to have some rest. 

That is why we have stopped in the small Cala,  in 25 feet of nice and crystal water.  Saturday afternoon…  October, but a very warm and nice day…  Windy outside the Cala… but we are cozy protected inside from all directions… 

Everybody resting, after the first ‘day’ — it is still then 24 hours — of the passage… 

Before leaving, I took Squid - computer program — advice on the route. The suggestion was:

— cross Palma to Ibiza;

— go between Ibiza & Formentera;

— go SSW direction, or ’down’ as I call it,  towards the latitude of Cartagena;

— go SWW towards Cartagena;

— go SSW  towards Capo de Gato;

— ’turn around the corner’; 

— reach Almerimar… 

Squid was even ‘kind enough’ to provide the wind and wind speed, based on the model and speed over the ground, which we should maintain… 

( The challenge — the wind into our face, or closed hull… in a range of 15-17 knots… ).

Yes,  I know the saying — ’The gentlemen are not sailing against the wind’.   I’m in process of appreciating the saying  more and more, preferring to wait more before departure — waiting for the favourable following winds… ( At the end, even Space Shuttle launches are delayed  and coincided with a favourable weather, and those know how to fly… ) As I said, though I’m in the process of appreciating… Probably I have the reached the point that the saying above has become the ‘rule in the stone’ ).  Consequently, we are  en-route to Almerimar — knowing ahead that there is wind on the noise ahead of us…

In my defence,  I can only say that the weather forecast is also saying that there is no preferable winds till October 22nd, at least. At the same time, on Tuesday,  October 22, the strong storm forecasted, which should cover the whole Baleares Islands.  With up to 60+ knots of wind forecasted.  Mallorca is going to be not the best place  to be… And I have to leave anyway… 

As crossing between Palma to Ibiza,  I got impression that the Squid weather models collection is about right, the wind is about to be as predicted. We were doing pretty well. Yes, It would be nice to be able to make a pure sailing — and we have a few hours of it, then motor sailing… But we have to maintain a proper speed in order to follow the schedule… 

So, we are on Ibiza at the moment. For couple of hours.  To eat, to swim, to rest.  And then — next steps on of the route. 

The boat is dressed now in ‘close hull’  costume — a cutter rig is installed, and a small front sail is added.  Before leaving, we would reef the main… just in case. It is already blowing on the border when it is better to have it… 

One thing is worries me a bit. It looks to me that the boat has started to show some concerns about our plan. Suddenly, all the fresh water has disappeared… ( not a big deal, the water marker will fix it, and the reason was obvious — the facet got opened, unnoticed, and the water with a new salient pump has been just pumped out…  I also started to hit boom more often then average… etc, etc…  All that formed the feeling that the boat is not happy with me… ;-).  Superstitions,  I think. We will see… ).  

So, that is all for now. 

Everything is OK and in order. 

Talk to you soon!

M.