Balearics October 2005 - 6:25 PM, Nov. 1, 2005

October 22, 2005

Brussels airport, 5 in the morning, cold and wet, 6 of us queue at check in for Barcelona. Is this a way to start a holiday? 09.00, arrival in Barca, 19° outside, feeling better. Efficient lady at tourist info gets us a mini-van to Port Olimpic marina. "Refuse to lose " taxi driver gets us all plus many bags into his vehicle.Pitstop at charter base to say hello to Barbara, base manager, drop off bags and do some sight seeing. Back at 16.00, knackered, footsore and laden with provisions.Take possession of our Océanis 393,only 3 years old, but already looking a bit shabby. Stow everything, go thru check in with Barbara ( who wouldn't let us test the dinghy's outboard, and gave a few strange looks while the crew tried to get the hang of the electric pump on the aft heads). Cast off at  18.00, direction Porto Soller, Mallorca, 100 nm away, with the wind on the nose.( 15-20 knots , SE) Attempted supper (disgusting cannelloni) only appreciated by 2 of the crew. Mine went directly to the fish, just before I succumbed to seasickness for the first time in 16 years. The night passed in a grey/green nightmare, my only memory being whether I should attach myself to my bunk with the safety harness ( was in forward cabin, and the pitching of the boat sent me roofwards several times), and Popeye coming to grief in the forward heads. No entries in log book after 18.20.

October 23, 2005

Ressucitate at 9.15, when we abandon sail, and start to motor, which we did for the rest of the passge to Soller, where we anchored at 14.35. Former colleague of Popeye's, now retired at Soller, had been waiting (in the pub!) since 10.00. Put out the dinghy, attached the outboard - and it didn't work! 4 of us rowed ashore to meet (imbibed) former colleague, and plan next move. Phoned charter technician in Palma re outboard, rowed back to boat, moved to commercial quay (last but one berth), picked up new outboard, unspectacular dinner in Soller, back to boat at 23.00, where we discovered that the electric  aft heads were refusing to digest. Two hours of plumbing ensued, without sucess. Thunderstorms and hard rain during the night.

October 24,2005 

Morning taken up with call to Andreas, our friendly repair man, internet for weather, shopping. Andreas finally (after over 2 hours) fits new manual pump to heads. Mobile internet for weather, via GPRS was brilliant - shame Popeye didn't bring a real mouse, since neither of us are very good with these pad things. Shopping was a pleasant surprise - everything seemed much cheaper. Got a real trolley full for 6 people / 2 days, and still had change out of 70 EUR. Further analysis conducted on a "reference product" (beer) proved that life is cheaper in thr Balearics. 33 cl in Belgium cost around 67 ct, while we now paid 49 ct. No wonder Popeye's colleague retired here!

Left Soller at 13.15, with no regrets. Not a very pretty place, bursting with day trippers.Motor sailed to Cala Figuera, where we dropped anchor at 18.25, just as it was starting to get dark, so couldn't really appreciate the beauty of the place. Bit of swell in the anchorage, so a rolly night, but anchor held well.

October 25, 2005

Upped anchor at 9.45, off for Menorca. Original plan was to go for Cala Covas, apparently one of the prettiest calas , but this would have been a 12 hour sail, and the crew was showing mutinous tendencies. Change plan, and head for Ciutadella. Not much wind, sea like a mill pond, 36° at 13.00 - starting to feel like a holiday. At noon, a pod of dolphins came to play with the boat, one of them loved scratching its back alongside! At 13.15, wind picked up, so cut the motor and hoisted the sails. Nice lunch made of leftovers, followed by pancakes, courtesy of son n° 1. By 15.20, we were doing a smart 6.6 kn ! Arrived 16.20 at Ciutadella, moored alongside the visitors’ quay ( 25 EUR , incl water and elec, but 2 EUR extra for a 6 min shower), and hit the town. Very pretty. Ate at “La guitarra”, excellent, 162 EUR for 6, incl starters, dessert and wine. Really feeling on holiday – unfortunately, tomorrow we start the return trip.

October 26,2005

Fill water and fuel tanks, check weather, debate as to next destination. Uncertainty causes 3 separate shopping parties into the town.Popeye thinks that a well provisioned boat is one with a fridge full of beer. Forgets that we are 6 on board, including 3 non-drinkers, but who like to eat regularly.Leave at 11.30, destination Pollensa, Mallorca. Good run, got up to 7.5 kn (by this time, I was bleating about maybe putting in a reef or two, what a coward). Approached Pollensa at 16.30, dropped the sails, and motored around trying to find the “sheltered moorings “ promised by the pilot book. Gave up and anchored in the bay, near the harbour. Quiet night.

October 27, 2005

Since we were near enough to the town to go ashore, send the mutineers off in the dinghy to ensure beer stocks. Left at 11.15, motored to Cala Engossaubas, between Pollensa and Cabo Formentor, where we were to have a day of R+R before tackling the trip back to the mainland.This was to be the day I was going to blog from the boat, but just couldn’t summon the energy.The Cala was not as sheltered as we had hoped , so several nervous eyes were watching our position relative to the nearby cliffs. Inspired by son n° 1, swimming in wet suit, dived in as well, only to be attacked by a jellyfish after 10 strokes. Someone had said that urine was a good remedy for jelly stings, but declined all offers and went for the mozzie stuff instead. Supper at 18.00, upped anchor at 19.00, and set off for the last 100 miles with the wind up our bum.By 19.50, had put the main to bed, and were doing 6 kn with just the genoa. No pitching this time, just rock’n roll. Manage to grab 50 min sleep before my watch at 21.00.

I hate watches- like really, really hate. First lasted until midnight, nothing much to report, apart from the rolling got a bit scary sometimes. Smoked too many cigarettes. Handed over next watch to son n°1 and a mutineer ( who was having a hard time digesting a squid) at 24.00

October 28,2005

 Next watch was from 06.00 to 09.00.39 miles to go , wind still up the bum. Smoked the last fag at 08.45, together with the first cup of coffee. Thought I would then sleep until Barca, where tobacco stocks would be replenished. However, as we neared the mainland, the wind died, and our ETA was recalculated from 12.30 to 15.00, so got a bit tense. Was roused from my bunk at 10.30, due to sighting of more dolphins. Thought I had given specific instructions re not being woken for less than a whale!

13.00 – TTG 1.23. Consider smoking Popeye’s pipe.

15.00 – arrival at Port Olimpic. Had been nervous about mooring, since very little space between the neighbours, and the Océanis behaves very strangely in reverse. But we slipped in without any problem, without even a shoe horn, as if we’d been doing this forever.Despatched son no° 1 for tobacco supplies ( he was almost as bad as me). The mutineers hit the town ( or rather the shoe shops), while Popeye + I did the check out with drop-dead-gorgeous Jensen ( Barbara had broken her leg while washing up). Popeye got a bit iffy, but if an old lady is not allowed to appreciate a work of art…?

Mutineers back at 19.30 for dinner. Went  to “El Cangrejo Loco” on the port (already known to son n°1), where we had a wonderful meal ( starter, lobster, pudding + lots of libations), for less than a Pizza Hut back home.

October 29,2005

Vacated boat at 09.00, although it was not due out the next week. Female mutineer had already left earlier, to visit Montjuich (and more shoe shops). Minibussed rest of crew and luggage to airport, then returned to the city for whistle stop tour of Sagrada Familia – must say its grown a bit since I last saw it in 1968! Back to airport, just in time…. to find out that flight is delayed !

Back home, fantasising about a long , hot , deep bath – heating’s broken. Bugger

November 1, 2005

Finally get round to writing this, but the website’s down. Bugger