Andraitx - 39:32.55N 02:22.97E
Red Skies
David Alexander
Tue 27 Apr 2010 19:26
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We returned to Red Skies in Sant Carles on 13th
April to prepare for our summer sailing season. We had booked a 5-day lift-out
and spent the time dodging showers and full-on rain to get RS polished,primped
and pretty for our trip.We were ahead of the Icelandic Volcano fiasco but
several folk on the marina were caught up by the wholesale cancellation of
flights. Bob Nurse and son, James, from Roanda (Rally Portugal 2009) had taken
her to Mallorca, only to have to return and hire a very expensive taxi to get
them home in time for work. Mike King (Artemis) from Hythe was also affected and
so were Graham & Gilly from Gilly B (another Rally Portugal boat). They were
expecting their first grandchild and had hoped to be home for Gilly to act as
'back-up' midwife, but Immogen arrived safely on 24th April, much to the delight
of all.
Before leaving Sant Carles, Dave Jones, one of our
friends from the marina, had organised a trip around the local lifeboat. It was
an impressive beastie with 2 huge engines that drive water jets for propulsion
at up to 40 knots. The engine room was kept spotlessly clean! The lifeboats come
under a state-run organisation which has been going about 10 years and a fair
amount of liaison is undertaken with other national units including our own
RLNI.The crew of this paricular lifeboat is a skipper, navigator and seaman; in
fact the seaman was the only one there during our trip and he was busy washing
and cleaning the boat.The accomodation was homely - 3 bunks, a lounge/galley
with microwave and television, nautical curtains and cushions. The 'wheel' is a
tiny joystick on the arm of the 'pilot's' chair. Apparently, they get about 2 or
3 'shouts' per week, quite often to rescue illegal immigrants from the African
coasts. They once took on 140 people, all sitting cross-legged everywhere, which
required very careful handling of boat and people.
 Our group climbing aboard the lifeboat
 Alison in the Engine Room
 Alison at the controls!!
We eventually set off for our first intended port
on Mallorca at 4.15 pm on Sunday 25th April. Calm conditions were forecast but
we did manage about an hour of very pleasant sailing before the wind dropped
and, with 100 miles to go, the engine came on. We were soon joined by 2
dolphins, part of a much larger pod that was feeding close by, who gave us a
careful inspection before rejoining their fellow diners. This was to be a
pattern over the passage as we had their delightful company on several
occasions, treating us to leaps and tail-slapping displays.
The trip was uneventful - a bit misty in places
but, by juggling our tempermental Raymarine E80s and Sea Pro (a long story of
equipment not working properly with interfaces that worked previously) we did
have radar and AIS to help us through the shipping lanes. We arrived at the
South East corner of Mallorca, about 2 hours after dawn as planned. Our first
night is on a mooring buoy in Puerto d'Andraitx - a delightful spot -warm and
sunny , but with a chilly breeze - after all it is still only
April.
Picture from our yacht looking at one side of
Andraitx bay
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