Total Distance : 518.66 nautical miles
Average Speed : 6.96 knots
Time Enroute : 74.28 hours
On June 6 afternoon, David, Martin and Ivy, were happy to bid farewell to the beautiful city of Barcelona after spending several weeks waiting for parts, performing boat maintenance, cleaning, and carrying out minor repairs. Before departure, David conducted another safety and route briefing, assigned watch duties, reviewed the cruising plan, and did a final inspection of the engine room and the boat. With everything in order, we eventually departed from Port Vela Barcelona. Mikel made a special trip from Luxemburg to see us off and wish us a safe journey.
For Martin and Ivy, this was their first motorboat cruising experience, and they were both excited to discover how different it felt from sailing. The boat's ability to move independently of the wind made the journey less physically demanding, provided a more stable ride (with no heeling), and allowed us to cover longer distances in shorter time—perfect for tight timelines and long-range cruising. Route planning and navigation were also much simpler. David joked, "Hey guys, I hope you won’t get bored on board!"
And so, our estimated three-day, three-night journey began along the Valencian coast. We cruised through gentle thermal breezes and moderate 1.25 meter waves — ideal sea conditions for a comfortable ride. Just as Ivy started her watch shift from 8 p.m. to midnight, we were greeted by our first breathtaking sunset at sea.
We passed Alicante and Cartagena, then onward to the Malaga/Almeria region. From Day 2 into the early part of Day 3, we experienced straightforward Mediterranean coastal dynamics - no squalls, no significant swells, just gentle alongshore drifts. It was a smooth and comfortable cruise, and we took the opportunity to relax and enjoy some tasty Mediterranean-style meatballs, gnocchi, and homemade granola for breakfast.
In the early morning of June 9, as we entered the Alboran Sea and approached the Strait of Gibraltar, the conditions began to change.. Winds picked up to around 20 knots, forming whitecaps over the Gibraltar Strait, and short-period waves combined with tidal currents started to build, creating a more intense chop.
As we neared the western edge of the Alboran Sea and approached the iconic Strait, the unmistakable silhouette of the Rock of Gibraltar came into view - majestic and towering at over 400 meters high. This legendary limestone promontory, steeped in history and mythology, marked our entry into the gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. For all of us on board, it was a symbolic milestone—signaling the end of our Mediterranean passage and the beginning of a new leg into the Atlantic and beyond.
All said, it was indeed a smooth passage out of Barcelona.
Upon arrival in Gibraltar, we headed directly to the fuel dock located at the western sea shore near the marinas, just south of the airport runway. Gibraltar is well known for its tax-free fuel, making it a strategic and cost-effective stop for boaters cruising through the Strait. The fuel station is easily accessible by boat, with clear approach channels and helpful dock staff to assist with lines. We filled up our tanks efficiently, taking advantage of the calm weather and minimal wait, before proceeding our onward journey.
One more check before we left the fuel dock, David discovered that the port fin roll stabilizer was acting up again. As much as we would have loved to continue our journey, we agreed it was best to ensure the stabilizer wouldn’t cause issues later on. So, we decided to anchor Anna at Puerto Deportivo Alcaidesa Marina, conveniently located nearby, to address the problem before proceeding.
David was back on his knees in the engine room, checking over the stabilizer actuator to make sure everything was in order before our next, slightly longer leg. It had not been bolted down properly and had come loose thus obviously failing to perform its duty. David tightened the bolts properly and we agreed to have a close look at the port fin and the actuator before and during our shifts to ensure the bolts stayed in place.
The following morning, we reviewed the weather window for our journey from Gibraltar to Bilbao - a 700-750 mile stretch - with a possible stop in
Galicia.
From June 10 onward, the forecast showed calm and smooth seas with only light chop as we headed north. Winds had eased, the air had cooled, and while a gentle Atlantic swell of 1–1.5 m was expected, conditions remained stable. In the Bay of Biscay, swells could build to 2 m, but overall, the weather looked favorable.
All good now, ready to go. We lifted the anchor and began navigating toward our next waypoints. Anna was cruising beautifully under clear skies and cool temperatures, with dolphins dancing alongside our hull.