In the Balearics again – New & Photos

 

 

We have now been on board for over 4 weeks and far too busy / lazy to write a blog! At present we are on the Club Maritimo moorings on the Moll de Levant in Mahón, leaving tomorrow to fly home for about 3 weeks.

 

We got back to Ione in Cartagena on Friday 8^th April to find all in good order. Six nights in the marina passed rapidly and sociably with Sunday barbecue, Wednesday tapas night but missing Friday happy hour!

 

 

.The town is already starting to get busy with the cruise liners.

 

We left at noon on Thursday 14^th heading for Ibiza and with a fair forecast. In the event the winds were lighter than forecast and so we only managed to sail for about a quarter of the way on a 24 hour passage. However it was sunny by day and clear by night.

 

 

We spent a couple of nights anchored at one of our favourite spots on the north coast of Formentera near San Augusti. Only one other boat was at anchor – the Rival 34 Comet with Andy & Denise Hurley – who proved to be excellent company both here and in Ibiza town.

 

 

The little harbour here is delightful with small fishing boats pulled up into thatched huts.

 

From Formentera it was the inside of four hours to Cala Longa on Ibiza where we were the only boat at anchor. It is still early in the season and the swimming buoys had not been laid so we could anchor close inshore.

 

 

The Andouin Gull, noted in bird books as very rare, is common in these parts. Slightly smaller than a herring gull, red beak with black band and yellow tip, and very noisy.

 

 

The old part of Ibiza town is very attractive and, it being only April, was not crowded with tourists. Likewise the marinas were not full and we were able to get a berth in Ibiza Magna, the most central and cheapest of the options. Last autumn we had to go to Botafoch across the harbour which was much more expensive.

 

  

 

Wonderful flowers and a few green lizards!

 

After three nights in Ibiza town it was time to head north again and we had a good sail to the NE corner of the island. There the wind headed us so we decided to look in to Cala San Vicente for the night. This was not a good idea as we started rolling badly – we had had a very uncomfortable night here last year. So we decided not to stay and, with the wind on the nose, motored round to the peaceful anchorage at Cala Portinatx.

 

Thence a peaceful passage to Mallorca, anchoring in Cala Portals at tea time on Friday 22 April, two weeks after leaving home.

 

 

The next morning, over breakfast, we had the lovely sight of paddling horses.

 

 

We spent three nights in Palma in the Real Club Nautico. At €44 per night this is low season. Prices double from 15 June and then treble from mid July until the end of August! The marina was pretty full and, with the boat show just about to start, we would not have been able to stay any longer. However we made good use of the time with some meals ashore, a major shopping expedition to El Corte Ingles (this curious sculpture is on the way there) and a bicycle ride to the castle.

 

With south and SW winds forecast the south coast anchorages did not appeal, so on Tuesday 26 April we made passage to Soller to anchor for the night in the harbour. As has happened before, it took two attempts to get the anchor firmly dug in and not entangled with weed.

 

However Wednesday’s forecast told of rain and stronger winds to come so we decided to move onto the Ports IB pontoon. At this time of the year the cost was only €23/night so excellent value, albeit a bit exposed to the swell and rolly. Also we had a very social time both with Swedes Dennis and Katerina on their Najad 405 heading for the West Indies this autumn and with OCC member and round-the-world sailor Mark Scott and sister Connie in his Rival 38 Lone Rival.

 

 

But in addition to socialising over a drink or three, we did take some exercise, visiting the town of Soller and walking back through the orange groves

 

 

and the olive terraces

 

 

with sounds of tinkling goat bells, and views that could have been unchanged for two thousand years.

 

 

Further exercise was taken riding and pushing our bikes up the steep little road to the lighthouse above the southern entrance to the harbour.

 

On Tuesday 3^rd May the forecast was for WNW force  - ideal for the 55 mile passage to Ciutadella on Menorca.

 

 

The scenery on the first part of the passage up to Formentor is spectacular. However the wind was more fickle than forecast so the motor was used for much of the passage to the Ports IB marina in Ciutadella. It was nice to be back in one of our ‘alternative homes’ and we were made very welcome by the marinero, by Jaume Llomparts in the yard and by the staff in the Yacht Club.

 

With strong easterlies in the forecast we only stayed one night before leaving on Wednesday morning for Mahón. Here we had one of the best sails so far with a fresh to strong northerly but a flat sea. We did poke our noses into Cala Covas and considered anchoring for lunch but decided that the wind was a bit strong so pushed on to anchor for the night in the greater shelter of Cala Taleura just inside Mahón harbour.

 

After just one night in Cala Taleura we have now come up into the town and have a Club Maritimo mooring on the Moll de Levant – another of our ‘alternative homes’ – where we are booked in for the rest of the month.

 

On Thursday evening we had a huge and excellent meal at the new and bigger Way’s restaurant. Yesterday sadly we were unable to lunch as planned with cousin Dennis and Dereka, so we walked up to the market. Today it is pouring with rain – so a lurk in the cockpit! Tomorrow morning – Sunday 8^th May - we fly home. The plan is to return at the end of the month and then take a view as to where next!

 

 

Tony & Sarah,

Mahón – 7^th May 2016

Malo 37 – Ione – http://blog.mailasail.com/ione