We’ve done 118 miles since departure, heading more or less toward Cabo Verde.

It has been an uneventful first night out, with light conditions. We are going a bit slowly, averaging about 5 knots with 8 to 12 knots dead square. It is a little rolly. The wind and current pushed us about 25 miles west of the direct course to Cabo Verde, but we are now managing to the lay the course. We also seem to have a north setting current of about half a knot against us still.

Around 7AM, just as it was getting light a pod of dolphins came to have look and a little play before heading off. In my bunk at the bow last night I could also occasionally hear the high pitched squeals as they played in the bow wave

We were helped out of our berth just after 9AM by Bri and Pat, farewell lovely friends, we will miss you!

We motored about 2 hours in zero apparent wind, then the forecast NE breeze picked up. Now we are running dead square, averaging about 7 knots in 8 – 14 knots and half meter seas. Absolutely perfect conditions!

We are heading towards Cabo Verde first to get into more predictable weather and give us some options to respond to forecast changes. So far so good!

We had alcohol-free beers at sunset, and the ideal conditions persist. We are still cruising along at 5-6 knots with 10-12 knots from behind. Sea state still below 1m also from behind, so just a gentle roll.

We noticed Cabrera while searching for the perfect stopover on our way west. Reviews on Navily raved about the island, a marine and nature reserve as well as the very protected anchorage. To visit we had to get an annual sailing permit for the marine reserve (free) and book a mooring (€17 per night for our 14m boat). We booked two nights and are now really happy we made the effort.

The island is steeped in history, including being a defensive outpost against pirates and being a prison for 9,000 of Napoleon’s soldiers (including women and children) who were left on the island from 1809 to 1814. Only 3,600 survived.

We arrived late afternoon on Monday so we had all of Tuesday to explore. Unfortunately Maria’s sprained ankle allowed only a walk up to the fort and back, but I went on a hike of about 7km to see the historic spots and the lighthouse. To my delight I was the only person out there and I had about 4 hours of quiet enjoyment.

We could easily have spent a week here, but alas we must away towards Gibraltar while the winds are favourable.

Crossed to Mallorca from Minorca and stopped at Cala Nau, Bahiá de Artá for the night. This is marked as “a great spot for provisioning” by the Navionics community, and it indeed has a Lidl supermarket within walking distance of the beach. Other than this not a lot to recommend it as it is a pretty tacky tourist spot with dozens of hotels and beach chairs.

Landing the dinghy was a challenge as the beaches are out of bounds and buoyed. We went to the rocks in the corner of the bay and managed to land Maria safely with two trolleys. Unfortunately she twisted her ankle on the rocks when she came back.

The anchorage was very comfortable in the prevailing light conditions and we dropped a stern anchor again to hold Sunny Spells bow to the wind in the 3 inch swell from the south-east.