Porto Colom 39:25.09N 03:15.87E
Red Skies
David Alexander
Sat 28 May 2011 21:08
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Thursday 26th May - Cabrera. Today
was exercise day. It started with D. rowing the 15 minutes to get us to the
harbour (upper body workout). Then we walked (full body workout) to the
lighthouse - a round trip of 2 1/2 hours, with only a few short stops for slugs
of water. On the way out, the path leads one through 2 ups and 1 downhill
section but on the return 2 downs and 1 up, but the return up seems a lot
steeper - perhaps the legs were tiring by then.The island is alive with fearless
black lizards, who only seek cover at the very last minute and will happily come
near you if you remain still. We gave up lizzard spotting after the first dozen
in almost as many seconds.
A short stop at the bar for a 'refresco' and D. did
another upper body workout, back to the boat. (Note: we do have a working
outboard, it's just that D. needs the exercise). Later D. went for a dinghy sail
outside the entrance to the bay in 'testing' conditions (mind and body workout)
- and we both rounded off the day with a swim - OK if you stayed in the
sun.
Friday 27th May. We left Cabrera after
breakfast for a motor to Porto Peto, where we hoped the Posidonia buoys might
have been laid.These are put out in the summer months to protect the sea grass
which is an important feature of the marine ecology.The buoys are free - but one
is limited to a 2 night stay and you need to register in advance and make a
booking. As we have had no wifi or dongle access recently, booking had not been
possible.
On the way past, we called into the tiny Cala
Figuera which, acccording to the pilot book, one can anchor stern to the outer
harbour wall. As no-one else was there, we decided to check out Port Petro
first.
 Cala Figuera with harbour wall to left hand
side
Having reached Porto Petro, it was clear that
the mooring buoys had not yet been laid, despite the booking system being
supposedly fully operational from 1st June. Although a stiff breeze was blowing we anchored and hoped that the
wind would change through 180 degrees as per the weather forecast.
Saturday 28th May - Porto Petro. The
South-West wind did indeed turn into a North-Easterly and we were not encumbered
by swell during the night. In the morning D. rowed us into the little port to
explore. Although primarily a holiday village, it doesn't have huge hotels or
apartment blocks and the waterside villas are modest compared with other places.
The small marina boasts a few largish motor boats but mostly the accent is on
small craft and fishing boats.
 Porto Colom
 Poto Petro anchorage outside the
marina
 Waterside villas - Porto Petro
 Porto Petro
We managed to avoid stopping for coffee in one of
the many restaurants and, after a quick supermarket stop, left for Porto Colom,
which again we had liked last year. This time, though, it is hotter and sunnier
and very pretty. We picked up a Port Authority mooring buoy, of which there are
now many, but only a couple unoccupied. The one we chose had lost its pick-up
rope, which had been replaced by a piece of thin string - so having attached
ourselves,it was a dinghy job to make everything secure. The harbourmaster
seemed happy for us to stay as long as we wanted - just pay him when we leave.
There are showers ashore here, so it will be good to have a decent scrub down
and hairwash.
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