Leaving the Mediterranean

 Sunday 15th October 2023

With a heavy heart and a knot of excitement, we released the lines on Offbeat and headed out of Estepona.  After 5 years, we were leaving the Mediterranean to start our adventure in the Atlantic.

 
Our first stop was Alcaidesa Marina in La Linea. With a great view of the Rock of Gibraltar, we would wait for a good weather window and our crew. Mark's sister Jo would be joining us to help sail Offbeat to the Canary Islands. We had planned to have four crew members, and Maria our intended fourth crew member joined us on the sail to La Linea. Mark took some teasing from his friends for having a crew entirely of "mujeres".

True to form in the Mediterranean, the sail was not a sail, but a journey under engine as the wind was only blowing 5 to 8 knots. And no dolphins, just a splash in the water, possibly a tuna.

The highlight of the journey was whenour good friends Richard and Edita came alongside us in their motor boat to say goodbye. It really meant something us that they made that special effort and took some great photos of Offbeat.

During our time in Estepona, we have made some very good friends and we will miss them. We plan to return to Estepona in the future,  but in the meantime, hopefully great adventures await.