Soller 39:47.63N 02:41.57E
Red Skies
David Alexander
Wed 15 Jun 2011 09:34
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Monday 13th June. Sadly we have come to the
time to start making tracks back to Sant Carles. Yesterday was spent relaxing
after a trip ashore in Puerto Pollenca to pick up provisions. Today we
plan to pick up fuel and move on to Soller for a couple of nights at anchor
there.
Soller anchorage was very crowded, although there
was some room on transit moll, had we been willing to pay. Just as we were
anchoring, the wind veered 180 degrees and gusted, which made it interesting and
prompted us to adjust our location. A 'gentleman's motor launch', at allegedly
92 tons displacement and with 60 metres of cable out, was anchored in the middle
of the crowd of yachts and warning anyone who approached of his wide swinging
arc. Needless to say we kept well clear of him but were amused at how much
energy was expended by him in rushing to the foredeck to shout at approaching
yachts
Previously mention has been made of our yacht
tender. Below is a photo showing the necklace of fenders and what Alison
describes as its orange bowtie.
 Our Nestaway dinghy with protection
Tuesday 14th June. Alison's birthday!!
It was a gloriously sunny, calm day and D. rowed us into Soller for a leisurely
wander around, stopping for coffee and then a birthday lunch (with sangria of
course) in a restaurant overlooking the bay. Lunch included the renowned Soller
orange ice-cream as the area is famous for its oranges and almonds.
Our afternoon's entertainment was achieved when
'Napoleon' (-all 5'4" in T-shirt and speedos) anchored his 47' Beneteau slightly
in advance of our position. Regardless of swinging room of his or other yachts,
he emptied his anchor locker of chain and - surprise! - when the breeze
later kicked in we were amused to see his boat cuddling up to the aforementioned
gentleman's cruiser. We also watched a super yacht back itself up to the quay to
take a mooring line. We wondered whether it had been loitering outside the bay
for the gentle breeze to drop altogether, as when it came in there was no wind
at all and it tracked back as if on rails.
 Superyacht stern to Soller Quay
 Soller anchorage with town behind
As last night, we were fortunate to see the sun
sink into the sea, perfectly framed between the two headlands of the bay. No
green flash though!
 Sunset at Soller
 The sun sinking below the horizon
As Soller is a military base, we have been pleased
to witness and hear the standard being raised and lowered each day, with extreme
precision on timing but utilising recorded band music - unlike the military base
at Puerto Pollenca where they had a bugler for the same function, although we
were too far away to see the ceremony.
D is suffering from a nasty cold and has been
streaming all day. We hope that he will be fit enough to manage the night
watches on our passage back to Sant Carles tomorrow.
Wednesday 15th June. We left the mayhem of
the Soller anchorage after an early breakfast and have motored 4 miles down the
coast to the Peninsula de la Foradada, where we have re-anchored to spend some
resting time before setting out for what should be a 20 hour passage. In order
to avoid the numerous fishing-pot buoys that are located in the coastal strips,
we prefer to go off mid afternoon and arrive mid morning so we have the best
chance of seeing the obstructions.
 The famous 'hole in the rock' at
Foradada
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