Back in Mahon for the winter – News and Photos

 

The last blog was written from Santa Teresa de Gallura on 18^th September, so here is a brief summary of our movements leading to our return to Mahon.

 

 

Santa Teresa de Gallura was an attractive spot, warranting a couple of nights visit. Thence we spent a night in Castelsado – notable for an excellent huge supermarket in the marina – a night at anchor in the Bordelli Passage before heading south to anchor in Porto Conte some half dozen miles short of Alghero.

 

 

We spent four nights in Alghero in the Aquatica marina, wonderfully situated under the walls of the old town.

 

 

We spent much of the time wandering the streets and sampling the food. Many tourists and shops selling coral but it still felt surprisingly unspoilt.

 

 

We also had to do the tourist thing and take a boat to the Grotte di Nettuna – an amazing huge set of underground caverns with massive stalactites and stalagmites.

 

 

A fantastic spectacle.

 

 

Almost overwhelming!

 

 

From Alghero we could look out west to see the sun setting over Capo Caccia.

 

We had spent much time debating where to leave Ione for the winter. At first we had considered Sicily, the various options in Sardinia. However finally we decided that we preferred tapas to pizza and would return to Menorca with the added attraction of family there and known yards, sail makers etc.

So on Friday 26^th September we set off to cross back to Menorca with a fair wind forecast and low swell. Overall we had a good passage of 33 hours but the wind was a bit lighter than predicted so we had to motor-sail for a fair amount of the way. However we arrived in Menorca mid-afternoon so anchored in Cala Teulera once more.

 

Three days in Marina Mahon allowed us time to book in for 7 months at an excellent rate and at a top rate of exchange, also giving us time to have a delicious curry chez Dennis and Dereka.

 

That left us a week to tour the island again.

 

 

Cala Covas was looking lovely and we were the only boat anchored there for the night.

 

 

The Cala Covas ducks seemed undisturbed.

 

 

 

 

Cala Talé has always been one of our favourite spots and we managed two nights there. The beach was completely deserted in the morning and twice we were able to swim ashore before breakfast.

 

We then spent a couple of nights in Ciutadella, taking the opportunity to discuss with the Llomparts plans for hauling out and anti-fouling in the spring.

 

Then a night in Cala de sa Olla under a full moon so bright that we could see the bottom five metres below us.

 

We returned to Marina Mahon, via Cala Teulera for another night, on Wednesday 8 October. This gave time to remove the sails to be sent for checking and re-stitching and also to do an engine service before flying home on Friday 10^th October, sad to be leaving the warmth and sunshine.

 

Tony & Sarah – Winchester – 14 October.