Back home

We have added pictures to the posts and will add stats to this page when we have worked them out.  We spend a lot more time motoring and a lot less time in marinas this year than last year so it will be interesting to compare the stats.

For UK sailors one of the most amazing things about sailing around the Balearics was the clarity of the water.  When we were crossing the south side of Formentorar we could make out sand patches on the bottom through about 18m of water!  We could always check the anchor by going swimming, and if the water was still just looking could be sufficient, below are pictures taken when anchored in 6m of water, the anchor is directly underneath us.

Left Balearics

After a brief cruise down to Binirassi, which was too croweded for comfort, we spent a few days watching the weather whilst in Cala Blanco and then Cala Charracca until we saw what looked like a settled period, so after a long restraunt lunch in Portinax we set of on a night sail to the Columbretes, a small group of (ex)volcanic islands of the Spanish coast.

Cala Charraca

The wind was stronger and the sea nastier than forecast, but both died away on the approach and we arrived in sunshine. The main anchorage is in the bowl of the defunct volcano and is spectacular.

After 2 nights we left and the predicted wind materialized giving us a wonderful fetch and reach to the Spanish coast where we will be laying up for the winter.

Completed circumnavigation of Ibiza and Formentorar

Went the whole way round Ibiza without going ashore until the last couple of days as the anchorages were all very full. Formentorar was more pleasant to visit with nice anchorages and we did go ashore and met a Tiki 26 owner who is able to keep his boat in the lagoon in La Sabina.

Cala Sahona

To look at Ibiza is attractive with pine hills, fantastically shaped rocks and loads of little coves with clear water; but the whole area suffers from an overabundance of super yachts and big motor boats which in turn mean loads of wash and a plethora of jet skis and ribs all going flat out. The nicest bit is the NE corner which does not seem to suffer so badly.
We would only visit again well out of season.

Why we do not wave at power boats

We sail to enjoy the challenge of making the boat go as well as is comfortable for the conditions and to enjoy peaceful anchorages.
Both these objectives are frequently disrupted by planing and semi planing power boats with noisy engines kicking up huge wakes which affect other boats a mile or more away from where the power boat passed.
The wakes are the worst problem as they shake the wind from our sails in light weather and in stronger winds create nasty cross seas that fling the boat around.
And then there is the smell of diesel or 2 stroke exhaust.
All the above applies whether sailing or at anchor.
So we do wave at traditional displacement motor boats but we do not wave at power boats as we are usually busy preparing to cope with their wake.

UPDATE

In September there was an article in the Huddersfield Examiner about 2 men from Huddersfield being hospitalised and flown home following the small motor boat they were in in Ibiza being overtaken by a large power boat and the wash being so extreme that they  thrown up in the air a number of time of times and suffered serious injuries when landing back on their boat each time.

Visiting Ibiza

We sailed back to Soller from Pollensa and from there headed to Ibiza. The coast line is spectacular.

Sailing from Pollensa to Dragonera Island showed how variable Mallorcan weather can be with it changing from fast sailing to motoring or vice versa in a few miles or a few minutes.
By the time we go to Dragonera the wind was on the nose and there was a nasty sea so we postponed crossing for a day and spent the night of the 22nd on a buoy in San Telmo.  The sea was still nasty the next day but the wind was behind us so we persevered with the crossing and anchored that night in a lovely Cala Blanco in Ibiza.

On the 24th we continued down the lovely North coast of Ibiza and round to the west coast where we could not find a space to anchor in a cala so are anchored in St Antonio Bay putting up with music from various bars and the wash of the foot passenger ferries that ply across the bay.

Back in Mallorca

Our stay in Cala Son Saura was pleasant; especially as we found (from another cruiser) a farm shop selling really fresh local produce and, for future reference, that there is a bus service to La Cieutdadela.  It was also amusing snorkeling there as a school of sea bream was based near the boat and would follow us when we were swimming.
The snorkeling high light to date was in Cala Molto where we saw an octopus.
We had a fantastic sail back to Pollensa where we are doing the laundry and shopping and catching up on administration.  We also met some people circumnavigating the island in a traditional llaut using only sails and oars for propulsion.

In Menorca

We arrived in Menorca 3 days ago after an overnight stay in the lovely Cala Molto to await a favourable wind. 

We sailed almost the whole way, but resorted to the engine when closing Menorca as the wind died and went dead astern and the swell was knocking the wind out of the sails.  We found a good place to anchor in Cala Son Saura where we stayed a couple of days and then sailed up the coast towards Mahon looking for other anchorages.
Unfortunately Menorcan anchorages are more crowded than those in Mallorca so we ended up back in Son Saura and we are debating whether to head back to Mallorca.  

Puerto de Pollenca

We arrived in Pollenca with a failing battery, worn jib halyard and Robert coming down with a bug so we have spent a fair bit of time split between the anchorage and marina.
We went into Pollenca on the bus which makes a nice day out, especially as the bus ride is via Cala Vincenze and is very scenic.
Pollenca bay is great for day sailing as it has anchorages dotted around it, is very scenic and a breeze invariably gets up late morning. The only downside is the wash from the motor boats; but that happens almost everywhere.
  We managed to get into the marina  to get check the battery before ordering a new one and to have a calmer environment to go up the mast to sort out a replacement jib halyard in the furler. Both tasks where completed Ok., but we have had to get a new battery. We have also to decide whether to give up on the furler at the end of this season and have a hanked jib.
We are now hoping to get over to Menorca.
Below are some pictures we took during this and a subsequent visit:

Almost circumnavigated Mallorca

Not sure when I last posted an update so bear with me for repetitions and omissions.
We set off on 13th July for Mallorca from Port Barra on the Spanish mainland and made a land fall at Port Soller on the North coast on the 14th having sailed the whole way. 

We stayed in Port Soller until the 22nd during which time we visited Palma and had an evening out up in the hills on an ancient olive terrace. Port Soller, Soller and the area around are on are list of places to revisit.

We headed South from Port Soller and have stayed in a number of beautiful anchorages on the way round Mallorca, we sailed close in shore and we're able spot nice looking Calas as we passed them (a lot are very built up now) so when on a couple of occasions our objective did not pan out we had an alternative to go to.

San Telmo

Punta des Salines

Cala Barques

We reached Pollenca on NW coast on the 2nd August and will be here a few days as Robert has been poorly and we think  one of our batteries is dying.