Tuesday 22^nd July – Port Sóller, Mallorca – Sant Elm, Mallorca

39:34.388N 2:21.087E

Today we were up early once again – well, not quite as early as yesterday (well, provided you forget about the two neighbouring boats deciding to leave at 4am which woke us up). 

We decided to move on a bit further around the island.  The weather was due to be a little lively in the morning (due to gales up near the French coast) but to quieten down during the afternoon.

After a little shopping and filling up the water tank, we set off at lunchtime.  In the marina there was little wind and some slight swell, the anchorage was a little more rolly, and then as we rounded the corner to leave we realised that the shelter was actually very good – outside the harbour there was a 2m swell and quite a lot more wind. 

Once clear of the harbour we turned and ran down the coast with the swell behind us.  The wind fell away and what little there was was behind us so we couldn’t sail.  The swell however remained quite large and was pretty big at times – certainly more than the ‘1.5m reducing’ on the forecast, it was more like being back on the Atlantic coast.  So we ‘surfed’ our way down the rugged NW coast towards Dragonera, the island on the W corner of Mallorca.  Amazingly there were quite a few boats motoring up the other way fighting against the swell and looking very uncomfortable.

Fortunately, as we rounded the headland into the channel between Mallorca and Dragonera we came into the lee of Mallorca and the swell began to fall away. We arrived here in Sant Elm around 5.30 and picked up a mooring buoy in the bay.  It is another pretty spot and despite the water being nearly 8m deep it is crystal clear to the bottom.

A little later we took the dinghy ashore to walk on terra firma and have had a wander around the small town here – we then had a quick drink with Carola and Peter before going back to Pyxis for dinner.

Port Sóller

Approaching Dragonera

Sant Elm

© Pyxis 2008