Saturday 30^th August – Cala de Fornells, Menorca (Puerto de Cala de Addaya)

40:02.979N 4:07.896E

Last night we slept really well again as the boat did not move at all.  We are getting to like it here but Richard thinks we are just being very lucky with the weather as we are at the normally windy end of the island.

Today, after breakfast, we decided to take Pyxis to visit Puerto Addaya.  This is a long, narrow and very sheltered cala about 7 miles from Fornells.  The entrance needs reasonable weather and some careful pilotage but once inside it is very sheltered.

Originally we had planned to drop back from Fornells to Addaya for a couple of nights before heading to Mahon, but a couple we met yesterday warned us that the anchoring space is quite limited in Addaya – though there would possibly be space at the very small marina there.  We decided we would go just for lunch and then return back to the moorings at Fornells.

As it was just a short hop and the wind was mostly light and against us we decided to motor and take the opportunity to run the water maker and top up the batteries.  Once clear of Fornells the wind picked up a bit and was a F4 as we started our approach into Puerto Addaya.  Fortunately the buoys were all in their designated places and we had a safe passage round the rocks and shallows into the tranquillity of the lagoon. 

The lagoon was quite full of boats on moorings, however, we managed to anchor between the first of the moored boats and the small marina – the only boat there on anchor.  However, if any other boats had come in then it would definitely have been a bit cosy.  Later, when we went to recover the anchor we discovered the bottom was thick mud – very secure; given how sheltered the lagoon was we don’t think we would have been going anywhere even in a strong blow. 

Once happy Pyxis was not going anywhere we took the dinghy up the length of the lagoon to explore until we ran out of water, passing a family of cormorants on the rocks at a corner, and spooking some herons that were fishing close by.  We then headed back and moored the dinghy at the marina.  After a short walk ashore, checking out the obligatory chandlery, we stopped for a drink at the café by the marina and then returned to Pyxis for lunch.

After lunch we headed back up to Cala Fornells. Having weaved our way back out around the buoys into the bay we were once again delighted to find that the forecast S/SE F3 was actually a definite F5.  However, as it was behind us we actually had quite a pleasant sail up on just the genoa.  Once around the headland at the top both wind and swell fell away and so we motored the last leg back in Fornells; once on the buoy there was only a slight breeze.

Early this evening we popped ashore for a short walk around Fornells, picking up some fresh bread and a new cap for Richard, before returning to Pyxis for dinner.

Puerto de Cala de Addaya

© Pyxis 2008