A crew change, a passage to Ibiza, and Merryn gets filmed by a drone… Quite a week!
After Cate returned to the UK to visit family and friends, I was joined by my brother Richard and nephew Christopher for a week’s sailing holiday. They flew into Alicante on the 31st of July, and we set sail the next day, initially with a couple of days travelling up the coast. First stop was the lovely Marina at Altea, which had a swimming pool – most welcome in the heat and sun. We then enjoyed an upwind sail to Moraira, punctuated by a lunchtime stop in Calpe where we anchored in the lee of the imposing Peñón de Ifach, a huge cliff at the tip of the peninsula. The overnight anchorage at Moraira gave Richard the chance to get his drone out and take some terrific video and photos of Merryn from the air.
On Tuesday we got off to an early start as we planned to sail to the Balearics. In practice, light winds made it more of a motor across, and the seas had a surprisingly large swell, so not the most comfortable passage. Nonetheless, we reached our destination – Cala Sahona on the west coast of the little island of Formentera – in good time to inflate the dinghy and enjoy a relaxed meal ashore (helped by a little wine and beer).
We woke early the next morning, this time because the wind had shifted to the Southwest bringing an uncomfortable swell into our anchorage (uncomfortable swells seemed to be the theme of the week!). Today we had one of the best sails of the trip – a healthy 15 plus knots of wind on the beam ensured a cracking sail up to Ibiza, around the island, and an eventual stop in a cosy anchorage at Port St Miquel. That evening Cate also returned from London, flying into Ibiza, and we took the dinghy ashore to meet her on the beach.
On Thursday the 5th of August we had the last sail together: leaving the anchorage (now also rolling with a swell) and heading to the marina at Sant Eulalia on the eastern coast of Ibiza. Richard decided to have another go with his drone, this time launching it from the boat as we sailed along. It was his first attempt at launching from a moving target, and required him to manually control the flight path, take photos, and land the drone on the deck of the moving boat. That last part proved tricky! I was called to assist – which meant reaching out and catching the drone in my hand as it hovered in the air. Thankfully, I caught it (and it caught me – grazing my arm with the spinning propellor!), and the drone was recovered successfully. It was worth it for the photos – one will soon be on the home page of this website.
We reached the marina later in the afternoon. I had had to book a space there a week in advance, and it was the only marina on the island able to offer any berths at all. With space at such a premium, the marina was able to charge sky high prices. Sadly, it failed to offer quality commensurate with the €190 a night fee. They did, at least, offer a welcome drink and we enjoyed a complimentary Bellini cocktail in the marina bar before a last meal out together. The following morning we had a leisurely lie-in, before waving goodbye to Richard and Christopher who flew back home from Ibiza later that day.
So, we find ourselves alone again! Our plan now is to spend another week or so in Ibiza and wait for a good weather window to cross over to Mallorca. The immediate aim is to explore more of the Ibiza anchorages, starting with the Cala Blanco – described in the pilot book as possibly the nicest anchorage in Ibiza…
Thanks for a lovely week’s sailing, hope to do it again!
We are back on Pantalaimon and heading to Ibiza, then quickly on to Majorca/Menorca so might catch up somewhere. We will keep an eye on you !!! xxx
It will be great to see you: our next stop is Palma. Might see you there??