We have finally broken free of Mahon and are now anchored in Cala Covas “39.51.77N 04.08.70E”.  It is a tiny inlet with steep cliffs on either side and a couple of beaches.  However the main feature are the caves.  We have only visited one so far and it was full of bats!

Before we left Mahon we took the dinghy and went ashore to see a Flamenco band....an interesting experience, four girls mainly with a couple of guys for certain numbers.  There was a dancer, an accordion player, a guitarist and a singer.  The music was odd much of it more appropriate to a funeral I felt! However, one dude joined and played the box he sat on with his hands (cheaper than a drum kit I suppose) and the dancer who changed outfits six times in an hour was excellent....and to top it all I finally got to see a girl with maraces(?) (I thought all Spanish girls had them...)

We have nearly finished painting the bilges and the deck, though there is some discussion about that at the moment....the only advantage of having the windlass repaired is that I managed to get the anchor locker painted.

The list of jobs is still long but we are getting there!

Yesterday evening we set off in the dinghy to take some photos of the boat.  In an absent minded moment I put the small camera in the pocket of my swimming shorts.  We then set off, stopped by an English boat and discussed whether or not he had sufficient swinging room.  He was in seven metres of water with a 20 m rode out and we reckoned he was more than 15m clear in every direction so all good.  Having taken some photographs with the big camera, we thought we would take a couple with the small one too...it was nowhere to be seen.  Returning to the boat, I set off with mask and snorkel and Gill in the dinghy with Steve’s big magnet.  I found the camera below the  boat we had been talking to.  Seven metres down the water is much colder, but it is crystal clear. I  got the camera and returned to the surface to find it still works.  The moral of the story...don’t put things in your pockets when on the water! But, the snorkel and goggles have paid for their passage and Canon Powershot D10 appear to be pretty waterproof!

I then swam back to the boat admiring the fish and dodging jellyfish.  I decided to swim out and check our anchor, all looked good, the chain out straight, the anchor dug in (it is great having such clear water).  But as I turned to check the distance back to the boat it happened.  I felt like I had been punched in the chest and then an excoriating pain, I believe that one of the jellyfish got me!  Having been stung on many occasions by both my own and other people bees I can tell you this was 100 times worse!!  I got back to the boat and had a shower and read the book.....”There is no known antidote to jellyfish stings...Olive oil, sugar and ethyl alcohol have been suggested...If there are complications medical help should be sought quickly.”  OK so I can do alcohol, a large G&T....but if there are no known antidotes what is the Quack going to do if there are complications?....Another G&T, a large beer and a glass of Port seemed to help.  The next day I can report that it still hurts a little but is much better.  This was my first and I hope last encounter with the floaty things! I am left with question, what do these things eat?  If the sting is to stun their prey so they can eat it they must feed on Elephant Seals!!

It is always good to have something to take your mind off an injury and we had that in spades last night!  We were sat on deck (I had to cook even though I was severely injured, apparently barbequing is always a man’s job!) when a young couple canoed in.  They were in a tandem canoe and the bloke changed his shirt which seemed odd but then he donned a chalk bag and climbed out of the canoe and up the cliff. He must have reached a height similar to our mast top (20m) an d then he dropped from the cliff into the water.  His girlfriend picked him up and he did it again!  It was one the most awesome things that I have ever seen it was just fantastic and for us a great spectacle too.  We had ringside seats the cliff he chose was the one next to where we are anchored. 

Today we will go and explore the caves in the dinghy and then head further East if there is wind.  We need to be in France by Friday and it is a two day sail so we have time.

No idea when I will send this but I hope it finds you well

Love Alasdair, Gill, Habitat, Pickles, Star Charger and a very relieved Canon camera....

Today in 1928 the first sliced bread was sold         

PS  Bad news, the deck paint has not set....maybe too hot, maybe a problem with the old paint, maybe a problem with the new!! Gill has spent all day removing it...and now we start again!