Hi all! Leila and Tom here. This is our first log entry, lets hope we live up to previous standards!

So, having waited for a gigantic ferry to enter and leave port we leave Cituadella. The wind is blowing a modest 2-3 NE breeze so we decide to furl out the main sail and jib, and with Leila at the helm, Tom keeping  log and Bill kicking back(ish) we make for Pollenca, Mallorca. A very enjoyable crossing with lots of sunshine and calm sea, not a bad start for us rookies!

Upon arriving in Puerto Pollenca, the afternoon wind picks up (typical timing) and with the depth of water reading zero metres we all need to be on our toes while berthing stern-to. The wind picks up so much that at one point Leila becomes ‘human fender’ to stop us colliding with a neighbouring motor boat, quick thinking Lei!

Our first priority that evening is to visit the local supermarket to stock up on essentials, namely beer and crisps! Explore the port further the following day and find it to be a bit ‘plastic and neon’ full of pink Brits in restaurants and bars. Later we all enjoy a pizza at one of the many restaurants. On Wednesday Leila and I go to a local farmers market held in the main square, we buy fabulous fresh fruit and vegetables, along with some salt cod for a fish pie Leila plans to make later that evening. Which I must say was delicious, if a little salty! While Leila and I explore Puerto Pollenca, Bill remains on the boat and busies himself with boat maintenance and no doubt a few siestas (which I must say Leila and I are embracing with open arms!) We stay a little longer than anticipated due to the late repair of the troublesome water maker, (which I am sure Liz or Bill have mentioned in previous blog entries) but having made the necessary repairs we were ready to depart the following day.

Thursday begins motoring to Cala Calobra (Torrente de Pareis) and with Puerto Pollenca disappearing into the distance we are lucky enough to see a seaplane take off (see pics).
Cala Calobra is the most beautiful place we have visited so far. It has a wide, deep bay, huge imposing rock formations on either side and with clear bluey-green water it really is the perfect over night spot. We enjoy a day of swimming, snorkelling and ‘chillaxing’. (chillax is a word that derives from the words chill and relax and really is a great adjective to describe life aboard Kalandia). The next day Leila and I attempt to wake early for a dawn photo session (if you don’t already know I am a keen photographer). However, clearly not quite keen enough; we end up rolling out of bed at 10am. We motor ashore in the dingy, cameras and tripod in hand, ready to start snapping. However, within ten minutes the bay is swarming with tourists hot off the now infamous ‘day tripper’ boats, and so our session is cut short but we manage to get a few pics. On returning to Kalandia Leila has an incident with the outboard motor key which has her jumping into the water fully clothed to try and retrieve it, however her brave efforts are in vain as we watch the key sink to the sea bed. Luckily, Bill, prepared as ever, produces a spare! As if the whole incident wasn’t traumatic enough for Lei, she hangs her soaking (new) dress out to dry and it is swept away by the wind, we try to recover it but without success. What a start to the day!

We depart mid afternoon as it is only a short sail to Puerto de Soller. We anchor a little way from shore and motor across to check out the Port. There is a huge expanse of shops, bars and restaurants that run the length of the shoreline. The place has a much more welcoming feel than Pollenca, with traditional small fishing vessels moored along the harbour side and palm tree lined roads. We enjoy another one of Leila’s culinary triumphs that evening, feasting on home-made Spanish tortilla with chorizo and Salad. Delicious! Bill suggests we visit the Mallorcan capital Palma via a Victorian open car tram (see pics) to Soller and then a connecting train to Palma. It is very exciting journey as we travel through the mountains which provide great views of Soller and pass through long tunnels bored into the mountain side (it gets very cold inside).

Our timing couldn’t be better as upon arrival we see what must be a local tradition of men hoisting huge papier-mâché dolls upon their shoulders and performing dances for an excited audience (see pics). We wander around Palma and stop for lunch at a cafe, later we stumble across a great little shop selling hammocks and to add to the ‘chillaxed’ atmosphere aboard Kalandia Bill decides to buy two, one being a rather large blue and white striped two person hammock! We take the train back to Soller and enjoy a beer before returning to Puerto de Soller. While Bill returns to the boat Leila and I go about finding a replacement or three for Lei’s lost dress. We enjoy cocktails overlooking the water (it’s a tough life!). Later Bill joins us and we go for a meal at a local restaurant, one rather disappointing Paella later we head back to Kalandia.

To save you guys reading too much, I will simply say, the next day we ‘chillaxed’. (I’m sure by know you all know what that means).

On Monday 14 September we set out for our last stop in Mallorca before crossing to Ibiza. We head for San Telmo skirting along the coastline, Leila and I share the helming today as we motor towards our destination. On my turn Bill decides to keep us both on our toes by throwing a fender overboard to begin a MOB (man over board) rescue scenario. The first I know about it is when Leila shouts ‘man over board!’, at least one of us was paying attention! We cope well and under a little direction from Bill we manage to retrieve the fender, I’m quietly pleased with my performance.

We anchor in San Telmo with an ominous weather system moving in, we baton down the hatches and prepare for a very rough night. That evening we are treated to a spectacular display, the skies are lit bright white by jagged fork lightening as the thunder cracks around us. The rain falls all night and the boat is tossed back and forth, we get very little sleep. Unfortunately, there is not much I can tell you about San Telmo as we were unable to get ashore to the Pizzeria we had planned to visit. I rustle up a quick pasta dish with chicken, chorizo (we seem to have this with most of our dishes lately) and a tomato and herb sauce, I think it goes down well as Bill comments, ‘that was tasty with a capital f!’

We depart for Ibiza early the following morning, a long day’s sail ahead!