The Catamaran Adventures of Noel and Ceu

Finally On Our Way – Leaving Cartagena

Yep! The new rigging is finally  up and seems to be working. It was a BIG job, so I am glad I don´t have to do that for another decade. But it needed doing and the new synthetic ropes are very nice and a lot lighter than the old stainless steel.

My parents came our for a week´s visit, so we went out for some day sails in a very pleasant 20kts with blue skies. Which also gave us a chance to tune the rigging and, hopefully, get it just right.

The boat has now been here for 6 months plus 3 days, so it is definitely time to move on. We will go first to Mar Menor, which is just 30 miles around the corner. The wind is against us until Friday, but it is a short enough distance that we should still be able to do it as a day sail.

Mar Menor is a huge saltwater lagoon with just one small entrance through a bridge. It is a lively place for windsurfing and kitesurfing, so I am hoping to get my new board on the water.

Unfortunately all around Mar Menor, particularly on the thin strip that separates it from the Med (known as La Manga) are rather unattractive apartment blocks and hotels. Not really the best atmosphere ashore.

The wind is supposed to change to Westerly on Friday, so at that point the plan is to move onwards across to the island of Ibizza, which is an overnight sail.

Cartagena has been a great place to stay for the winter, but it will be good to get out of the marina, onto the anchor, and back into cruising mode again.

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