Have just picked up the news about the London bombings.  We'll learnt more later when we get into Mallorca but our feelings go with all those effected by this tragedy.

The last two days for us were relaxed.

The guys woke me as we approached Ibiza harbour entrance in brilliant sunshine around 1000 on Tuesday 5th.

It is a big main harbour - very busy with ferries and small coasters - with an anchorage area immediately to starboard after entry - then two big and modern marinas also to starboard - and finally the Club Nautico older marina on the port hand side much closer to the town.

As we furled the gib we attempted to contact the first big marina - Botifoch - on the radio.  We failed to hear back - and now know this usually means they are full and cannot be bothered to reply to say so.

We also heard other yachts trying the second big marina and they did reply - but we heard them say they were full up also.

We chugged into each just to see - and were waved off by the marineros - but we did raise Club Nautico on the phone - and then radio ch 9 - and pleased to hear they had space for us.

Club Nautico is less than 200 metres from where the ferries park and the pilot suggests it is not the best - but we found no issues with it.

They moor visitors outside the low concrete wall which protects the local boats, and we edged in backwards to hand over our stern lines and be passed the mooring line by the marinero.  No worries.

It was a busy location - and there is significant wash from passing ships.  The signs all say 3 knots maximum - but clearly the ferry skippers can't read English!  The low concrete wall had been laid on top of another slightly wider stone wall which was awash most of the time - but we had to try and get our stern as close as possible so we could get on / off - but not so close any big wash may push our stern / rudder against the submerged wall.  Again - no worries - we got to within 6 foot so could then drop the bathing platform and tie our passerell to it - bridging the gap fine.

We were one of the lucky ones to secure a berth - in the course of the day we watched many others arrive to be advised Club Nautico were now full.

Must be a real pisser if you really need shore time - and find all three marinas full - especially as it is only early July.  They also say they will not take advance bookings - its a kind of come / ask / first in when another goes out type arrangement.  You could hear may arriving skippers begin to loose it on the radio when waved away from what appeared to be empty slots, but in reality they were slots occupied already and the yacht was simply out day sailing.

Anyway - despite it being the so called worse quality marina - it still cost us 90 Euros per night - elec and water inclusive.  We booked in for two nights so we could explore the back allys of Ibiza town.  Nice real Spain clubhouse - beers less than 1 euro each - location - superb with only a 4 min walk to town centre and seafront action.

I think the only word that can encapsulate this place is hedonistic.

It was very busy - a strong clubbing and gay scene - with multiple nationalities all intent on having as much fun as possible in the time they had.  Lots of touts selling club tickets - backstreets dotted with shady bordellos and parlours.

On our first evening we wandered the seafront and narrow shopping streets, but ended up high inside Ibiza Castle in a fabulous street studded with some quality casual restaurants.  Still busy - but a tad more class that the front - lovely.  Not super expensive - recall about 140 Euros for four people - two courses including GT's and wines.

Wandered around the bars and shops on our way back at 0100 - all were open and pumping.  So many girls - far outnumbered the available guys.  If you are under 40, male and single - it's certainly a place to visit.

Spent the next day (Wednesday) sorting out some plumbing bits at large chandlers just across the road.  The boys really cleaned up the boat pm whilst the girls went shopping.

Lovely sitting around on deck early evening just people / boat watching as new arrivals either demonstrated skills or lack of in parking.  One big Swan obviously with professional crew moored alongside to drop off four charter guests - but they came in bow to and the angle of their passerell was pretty severe.  The guests were all dressed ready to go get a plane or whatever, and slipped / slided down to the jetty only to then be swamped to the waist when a ferry wash crashed into the jetty!  I know one shouldn't take pleasure in anothers discomfort - but one can't help watching. 

Especially when they are all dressed in flimsy white clothes.

This night we went back and found another super restaurant in the castle - seems strange to find we've ended up going for a meal at 2100 hours - find we finish eating around 2400 - then a cleansing ale or two down on the front - before returning to the boat at 0100+.

Our plan is to go direct from here tomorrow (I'm typing this whilst en-route) and get to Mallorca.  The forecast today was for easterlies F 3 (and it's correct right now) so we are sailing into it - holding a course of 55 degrees to make the west facing bays by late this afternoon.  Plan says it is an 8 hour trip - we left at 0900.

Forecast for tomorrow is not idyllic - 70 percent cloud cover and temp down to 24 degrees. Tough.

But it's only for one day and they predict it will then return to the 25+ degrees we're used to.

Found super weather website (new to me anyway) in Ibiza - www.meteoservices.be/en

Update you later with more news - take care...blah blah

Cheers

JOHN