Trip to Formentera

The end of summer always brings a mix of nostalgia and the urge to squeeze every last ray of sunshine. This year, that urge took us to Formentera and Ibiza aboard El Azul, our faithful companion on adventures. The crew: Eli and me, along with our friends Miguel and his son Alex.

I met Miguel years ago at the sailing school in Alicante. He, a seasoned sailor with a thousand crossings behind him; I, a novice with more theory than practice. From that meeting, beyond nautical knowledge, I gained lifelong friends. Alex, for his part, is a calm young man with a great sense of humor—the perfect company for a voyage.

As often happens, our departure came with its share of unforeseen events. True to his style, Miguel was late. The wait grew long, dinner went cold, and we even considered postponing our departure. But finally, just before midnight, our friends arrived, and the excitement of setting sail erased all doubt.

The crossing was calm—perhaps too calm. With more hours under engine than sail, El Azul moved at his own unhurried pace, much to Miguel’s frustration. Accustomed to faster boats, he couldn’t understand how a vessel with such an engine wouldn’t exceed five knots. But El Azul has his own character: serene, majestic, and indifferent to haste.

Miguel’s calculations were off, and instead of reaching Formentera by daylight, we arrived at S’Espalmador at dusk. With little light and limited experience, we managed to secure a mooring buoy and enjoyed the night’s stillness, surrounded by the lanterns of other sailboats and a star-filled sky. A wonderful dinner—prepared by Eli—and a few spirited drinks celebrated our arrival. The following days flew by among anchorages and buoys, exploring Formentera’s coves and making short trips to Ibiza. Each landing was an explosion of sights and scents—small treasures that enriched our journey. One of the most memorable days was our excursion to the Faro de la Mola in Formentera. We rented three scooters and crossed the island, leaving El Azul resting on a buoy in Caló de s’Oli. Formentera: a magical island floating in the Mediterranean.

It’s impossible to forget the bath in s’Estanyol, on S’Espalmador—a lagoon of brackish water and fragrant mud, sometimes sharp-smelling, that left our skin renewed. They say bathing there is now forbidden—a true shame.

Sailing with Miguel and Alex was a pleasure. Great travel companions, with whom we shared laughter, stories, and the immense beauty of the islands. There are many more tales to tell, but this is just a glimpse—a memory of those unforgettable days.