After we left our little deep anchorage in Cales Coves we headed over to Mahon for a restock . We were finding the anchorages on Majorca and Menorca difficult for wind and swell and the amount of boats (French) out here at this time of year. After Mahon we traversed the north side of Menorca. Found a decent anchorage at Calla Vellana with a hike through the marshes and up to the watchtower. The watchtowers were a coastal defense tower built by the British in the early 19th century to guard the entrance to Fornells harbour. We couldn’t get into the tower as it was all lockup up but it was good little hike.
After that it was Cala Fornells and then Cala de Algalarens. Anchorages were rolly and basically not pleasant so we didn’t stick around on the island of Menorca and headed back to Majorca and the sanctity of Port de Pollenca. Here we met up with Mike and Helen and did some more exploring around the area. Got a car for the day and visited a couple of small villages and went over to Palma. This was Leni’s family vacation stomping ground during her youth.
Stayed in Pollenca for a few days and then headed around the island to Porto Colom where we picked up a mooring ball for a couple of days and experienced our first orange rain for a while, hence to say massive topside clean up required and pretty much the last straw with the weather conditions for us anyway.
To be honest, we were just not enjoyed the Balearics at this time of the year, so started to discuss whether or not to anti-foul in Sant Carles or wait until we got to the Canary Islands. Realizing that the sailing around this area was limited and busy we decided to head back to Sant Carles to bring the boat out of the water and do the anti-fouling ourselves. Nice that Mike and Leni were headed back that way as well. Makes for a good social time. Caught the winds for a nice sail back to Sant Carles. Managed to avoid doing an overnight sail by leaving first light and got in to anchor outside the marina by 11 at night.
We managed to reserve a lift out on July 13th and onto the hard stand for 5 days. Took care of the anti-foul, new coat of PropSpeed on the propeller., various other little jobs such as new Oceanis 473 Clipper decals. Tried our hand at polishing the hull. That part needs some more practice. A week well spent, also back and forth to the much needed showers to remove all the dirty grime from all our hard work via our scooters.. Needless to say at the end of it we were spent for a few days
We had a little bit of time here as we rented the berth for the month of July (same berth we had before) and saying that we took the opportunity to get another car and head up to Barcelona for a few days and visit Jeff who is hard at work getting his boat worked on after the unfortunate accident with the fishing boat back in February. Helped him get the deck hardware off. All the jackline and stantions.
While we were there in Barcelona Jacqui and I decided to go into Barcelona and see some of the sites. The amount of tourists around the famous sites was staggering. Hardly able to get a good picture. Saw the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. Under construction! Arc de Triomf. Under construction! Casa Mila by Antonio Gaudí. From a distance across the street.
Took the train after our “sightseeing” trip around town to a stop where we got picked up by Mike and Helen. While we waited, had a beer and a small bite in a very local bar/restaurant frequented by some of the locals. It was a very hot day walking around Barcelona and with so many tourists I can see why the locals are upset. (After seeing what we have seen on the Balearic Islands it has gone mad over here and sympathize with the locals for the inflated real estate prices making it unaffordable for the locals).
Prior to leaving Sant Carles we had one more big job to arrange and that was new anchor chain for the boat, 100 meters of galvanised). Installed and checked off the list. Our list was long and it felt good to check things off. Then of course there are always things that never made the list but needed to get done, like new sanitary hose for the rear head. Check! (Shitty job ha).
During all of this we still had time to go out into the bay and have a race around the oil rig (about 25 nm round trip). MAD 2 won that one, even though the opposition, Mike, said we didn’t come back through the channel markers. I didn’t see any race officials around, so, yes MAD 2 won!
The locals were celebrating a weeks worth of something, festival week I think! Every night fireworks and music till 5 in the morning. (Jacqui managed to not sleep through the night for 9 days straight, bit of buggar), Hopped on our scooters and went to find the bull ring where there were more festivities! Basically a whole bunch of people in a ring with metal safety stands to hide from the cruelly zapped irritated bulls, we didn’t last long guess a Spanish tradition I am not sure that should be supported.
Now we are off to Ibiza to hang around for a couple of weeks and pick up friend Michele before heading out to Gibraltar. We feel that the boat is fully prepared now for the big journey that we will make in December. Crossing the Atlantic!!
Wow! Absolutely fabulous! And how wonderful to catch up with Mike and Leni.
So – you bought some scooters! Good job. We found ours very handy.
Antifouling 😩. Well done guys!
Ahh, I love Barcelona. So much to see.
Happy sailing 😃