Ibiza

Well we are finally here. The crossing from Burriana (near Valencia) to San Antonio took 15 hours. San Antonio is a fantastic anchorage except for the Discos which go on to 0700 in the morning!!!! During our stay the wind reached over 35 knots but the anchor held very well. The small marina is very friendly and will let you have showers or take on water or relax in their club house.

After a night in the nearby Cala Bassa, to escape the youthful music we came to Espalmador, Formentera. This must be paradise, with clear water, white sand and no shops or tourists. We stayed for 3 weeks and swam every day. The weather was very kind and everyone seems to have an all over tan...no white bits!!! In the dunes is a rather sulphurous mud bath which is supposed to rejuvenate you!!!!

.......Are the natives revolting ?! ( see First mates log )

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A visit to Ibiza town was a must, however I wish we had stayed in Paradise. We anchored near the entrance and during the night, someone swam out to the boat and stole our dinghy which was tied on the stern.......after hours in the local police station there seemed little chance of recovering the dinghy . The Marinas in Ibiza are both very expensive and usually full, so there was no alternative except to buy a new one. Our Insurance company Pantaenius were terrific and settled our claim without any fuss!

Mallorca more pictures soon!

Andraitx was the first port of call, very magnificent, but again no room at the Marina!!! After a very uncomfortable night on anchor we left for El Arenal the other end of the bay of Palma . Arenal was where we honeymooned some 26 years earlier! The marina has a swimming pool which was refreshing as the temperatures were approaching 40 degrees Celsius.The local buses are cheap and air conditioned so we made the trip to other end of the bay, past myriads of hotels, visiting the lovely old City of Palma in 41 degrees Celsius. We spent 3 nights on "R&R" (rest and recuperation) before leaving for Colonia San Jordi where we stayed for 3 nights. We anchored in Porto Colom due to very unsettled weather and it proved to have good holding and shops. Porta Petra is a lovely small cala but gets quite crowded in the evenings. The best plan is to sink your hook early and scare off the late-comers.

Porto Cristo is another very sheltered cala. We went into the marina to fill up with water, swim in the pool and visit the caves of Drach. Marina stops for R&R and water were averaging about every 10-14 days the rest of the time anchoring. When the weather was hot, anchoring was the coolest option.

Trying to squeeze in at Porto Cristo

............Marinas get very busy!!!

Our last stop in Mallorca was near Cala Ratjada. We arrived in the evening at Cala Guya, a perfect white sand beach, crystal clear water, perfect if you didn't look left and see the multi-storey hotels but the tourists had taken their towels from the beaches and gone to the discos.

Clear water and cool air at Cala Guya................

Menorca

We weighed anchor and left early, as the daily invasion of tourists, banana boats and jet ski's arrived to disturbed the tranquility. The 50 miles sail to Menorca from Cala Guya, was very smooth. Ciutadella our first port on Menorca was fascinating, a narrow natural harbour which had been used by generations of invaders and traders, but so crowded and expensive (for us yachties).Mooring on the visitors quay is British style, side on with fender boards and springs. Those arriving later have to anchor and tie their sterns to any rock on the shore...........

.....the ferry arrived at dusk blowing it's horn trying to find a passage through the moored yachts, it was mayhem!!!!

The weather had improved so it was safe to visit numerous small callas on the rugged North Coast.

Fornells was a beautiful natural harbour without a skyscraper in sight (unlike Mallorca). Whilst the protection from the wind and sea is good, holding  can be bad in places. The surrounding hills are well worth walking and are reminiscent of a hot Scotland!

Addaya must be the most perfect anchorage we visited, tucked up a narrow creek with a rocky entrance to keep out any swell from the Tramontanas. The small marina is well run and friendly. During the peak period it is usually full but there is plenty of room to anchor.We met lots of boats we had seen before.... probably because we all have the same pilot book!

............Tranquility further up the creek

Mahon (Mao)... having thought Addaya was a safe anchorage, Mahon must be the best in the  islands. After some time taking in the sights, we went round the Island's less rugged southern coast.

More on the Southern coast to follow.....

.......The new age hippies of Macraletta