Easy ride to Ibiza, 12 & 13 October 2022

The ride to Ibiza was the last stage of the second period of the Belisama migration from Rochefort to Toulon. We planed to cover the 103 nautical miles in 20 hours given the fact that we could do it on a single tack with headwind in the 8 to 12m/s. We departed 8:30 in the morning and went along the coast up to the city of Benidorm, then headed a bit more eastward directly towards Ibiza. 

Sunrise as we depart for Ibiza

In crisis to Alicante, 10-12 October 2022

With time pressure increasing as Pieter needs to be in Ibiza on 14 October for flying back to his family, we decided to sail at night the 63 nautical miles from Cartagena to Alicante. The plan was doing it during the day, but because of the problems with the gasoil filters, we got delayed until late in the afternoon. The forecast was for winds 8m/s (16 knots) with gusts up to 12m/s (24 knots). In such conditions, 12 hours would be sufficient to comfortably cover the ride.

North of Cartagena

As night was falling, the weather became threatening and we could see lightnings on the horizon...

First miles in the Mediterranean, to Almerimar, 5 & 6 October 2022

 We did not stay long in Gibraltar as there are still lots of miles ahead of us, and the forecast is indicating mostly headwinds in the coming days. As we get in the Mediterranean, we go around the Trinity Lighthouse at Europa Point before heading west towards Almerimar. 

The Trinity Lighthouse at Europa Point, Gibraltar

We therefore decided to skip Malaga and focus on heading through the bay to the various capes along the coast...

To Gibraltar, through Barbate, 3 & 4 October

Today, we made it to Gibraltar, kind of a significant step in our way to the Mediterranean. We were extremely exited about the trip and wishing to enjoy the cruise. To most of our surprise, a thick fog emerged as we were approaching the straight of Gibraltar, and we could not see more than 50 meters around us as we moved full speed in the currents all along the straight. No need to say that we will plan a new crossing of the Gibraltar straight in the future :-).

Arrival to Gibraltar as the fog clears up

The "Rock" of Gibraltar is not a myth. You just see it as you approach and the fog clears up. As expected, in this area, there is extremely intense traffic of all sorts of boats. While you are expecting tankers and other cargo ships to cruise along their access lines, we were surprise to see how many pleasure boats were wandering around in the fog without AIS system. We had to activate the radar for the whole crossing as the only way to be able to safely monitor the traffic ahead of us. 

On the track of La Pinta in Baiona, 14 -16 September 2022

We made it to Baiona, along the Galician cost, 193,411 days after La Pinta made it. La Pinta was one of the three boats of the first expedition of Chistophorus Columbus (as they call it here) that departed from Southern Spain on 3rd August 1492. It was the first one to make the return journey in March 1493, reaching Baiona and bringing back the news of the success of the expedition!

La Pinta on the main beach of Baiona these days, with the welcome committee, I mean our welcome committee.

But this was just the start of the story, as it seems that Martín Alonso Pinzón, the captain of the Pinta made it to the Americas couple of years before this expedition with Chritophorus Columbus...

A Coruña to Muros, 11-12 September 2022

On the picture below, I summarise our ride from Rochefort to Muros. As you can see, on the way from Rochefort to A Coruña, we had to divert when we encountered the tail of Danielle and the wind shifted northwest driven by a tropical hurricane going across the North Atlantic. When we reached the coast, a head wind of 30 knots and the swell were so high that we had to use the engine to support our move towards Burela. 

A most welcome stopover in A Coruña, 7-11 September

We depart 7:00 in the morning for a day ride from Burela to A Coruña. Nice weather expected, but very low head winds requiring using the engine all the way in order not to arrive at night.

Fishermen getting at sea at 6:30 in Burela, picture by Stéphane Lucchini

Burela, the unexpected stopover, 5-7 September 2022

Belisama in Burela harbour

One could most probably only end-up in Burela to escape some sort of storm as we tried to escape when we ended-up in this fishing boat harbour. Zero place for visiting ships, and only a rough outside jetty to moor on. But most welcome in any case given the weather forecast in the aftermath of the Danielle tropical hurricane!

Gulf of Biscaye, faithful to its reputation, 3-6 September 2022

The Gulf of Biscaye has a reputation and is intimidating for any sailor who considers going through. Rochefort to A Coruña is a 370 nautical miles ride. In early September in 2022, the weather has switched already to autumn, with depressions emerging from south-west Atlantic and heading north-east through the Atlantic. "Danielle" its on her way, as is named the tropical hurricane announced. We had just left Rochefort when we heard about her...

Rising sun in the Biscaye Gulf

Rochefort, preparing for the Mediterranean, 29/08 - 3/09/2022

After two months in Croatia following the start of the season in Southern Brittany and having dropped Belisama in Rochefort for the summer, I made it back to Rochefort to prepare for the conveying of Belisama to the Mediterranean. Rochefort is a place to be visited by any sailor as it used to be the centre of sailing activities for centuries in France. And it shows in the city!

This painting is located in the Corderie of Rochefort, but was it painted by a sailor?

 I could not figure out where the wind is supposed to be coming in relation with the position of the sails on the various boats...