Sardineland

                                                                           

Well that was an exciting couple of days.Big winds hit our mooring in port Colom in Mallorca but we were on a buoy so despite 40 kt winds and big rain we were safe and it soon passed us.Janni the fin and I mooched about and waited for favorable westerlies. 

Obviously the sun returned giving me time to change the oil and filter and impellor on the generator.

Weather good enough we started off east About thirty miles out . Fin was asleep and I spotted a whale or two not sure if it was one twice but it was big and blew from its hole twice only 30 meters away, sorry no pics as it was brief but cool.

Next event was Tuesday night. We could see an electrical storm off to the north but it was getting closer. The whole cloud was lighting up with forks hitting the surface, I headed south then bugger me there was another cell to the south. The first fizzled out after about 5 hrs then the sky went black so did the sea the moon disappeared, couldn't see anything I regained course then the heavens opened. Big rain gave the boat a wash and me . I woke the fin because I thought it might be time to get the grab bag handy. The swell by this time was building to 4 metres All in all pretty disconcerting and the sea stayed like that for 50 hrs!, Result I got sea sick . Not badly but it wouldn't stop rocking about.  The fin took watch during the day and I got a lot of kip in. I popped a pill this morning threw up then was fine. The sea went calm about 6 hrs from where we are now , at anchor in Malfatano beach off the Tyrrhenian sea. Sausage beans and smash in the tum and life is calm again. 

Heading to Sicily next after fuel and will wait for winds again.

Need to improve my photo selection but sea shots are a bit dull so here's a fashion one.

Finish bloke

Last not least, to day is the anniversary of Ed's leaving the trip let off a couple of orca bangers in his honour. 

Mallorca

Left the party isles behind day before yesterday and crossed to Mallorca. Stopped for a swim on the way as it was a bit of a motor and hot as ever , also saw some dolphins for the first time since Cartagena. Swimming in 600 meters of water is always a bit disconcerting but needs must. Found a lovely anchorage near cap Roig then headed round the east coast to Port Colom. The place has a lovely feel to it not s lot here despite it being a biggish town but looks a bit Italian. Maybe some thing to do with the Romans having been here for a few hundred years. Maybe not bearing in mind Britain doesn’t look very Roman. 

Next stop Sardinia. Looking at the weather, winds are picking up but the sea state looks a bit high so we’ll make a decision later. Hadn’t shaved for a few days or showered but because we’re on a buoy shower and water is included ashore !! Made the most of that and reinstated my mood patch. The fact that I now look like a relative of Gary Glitter isn’t the problem it was in the UK due to location and era so that’s good!

Drunk Fin sober at this point

View from underneath new artic camouflage ( very Ibiza)

Walked to top of the hill in Cala llonga for the exercise!

Supposed to be a scenic shot but turns out to be a art selfie!

Porto colom, lovely relaxed little place

Formentera and Ibiza

Formentera beach, water and island.

So left Denia and had favourable winds for 6 or seven hours.7.5 knots speed at some points unfortunately it calmed about 6 hours from the islands. Was going to head to one place but the buoys were 39€ so went to the other side of Formentera spit.Only problem around these parts is posidonia- a sea grass with multiple benefits to the locale and climate generally. If you drop anchor on it heavy fines are imposed and quite right to! Found a good white sandy bottom  clear water , ah lovely. Stayed two nights and made a sweaty walk to the local town. Not really in the mood for eating when food arrives so forced down a lomo bocadillo.

I’m not always doing nothing. Blew up the dingy and lowered the engine on to it.quite tricky but got it in the end and it works having not been used for 7 months!

Janny the drunk Fin flys in to Ibiza to night possibly to be crew but mainly to sort out his life and broken boat. Dashed on the rocks at an anchorage about a month ago , waiting for me to turn up 😳

Any how might be interesting. I’m in Talamanca bay on the hook as they say in nautical circles . Shortish walk to Ibiza old town where I shall be later.

Want to get a wriggle on towards Italy really, I’ve been static for so long munching miles is my objective now. 

More news soon . These pics are of Talamanca which is quite busy but still clear water.

Balearics here we come.

So well on my way again, and everything seems to be working. After Carta I anchored first night in Torrevieja. Inside a sea wall out side the marina. This saves money and got me back in to using my equipment. I met some old English codger with one bottom tooth whose been mooching around these parts for too long. A brilliant engineer, talented musician getting royalties from Japan twice a year and probably quite a capable sailor.Presently busking and paying the bills. Shouldn't judge a book by its cover but if I was I'd be looking at a well thumbed 1970's porn mag with quite a few of the pictures missing. Stayed two nights and swam among the harmless jelly fish. Loads of them.

Next night anchored in Albufereter swam a shore and had a mooch but a boring little town really.

Did a good 6 hrs of sailing which was great ,passed Dubai of the costa brava (Benidorm) which actually looked pretty impressive from the sea then on to Calpe.SWam a shore here and walked about,nicer than last place but not all that.Highlight here was swimming back after dusk with 2 beers in my belly,aslight struggle to climb up the ladder but not too bad.Only fell back once , then the most attrocious nights sleep rocking and rolling all night so left at 07.30.

Winds useless but bit of a swell so about 6 hrs of motor sailing up to Denia.What a discovery.Nicest place I've been to in Spain great marina.Water and leccy included in reasonable price for high season!

Lots of people but not chip eaters. Loads of restaurants which unfortunately I'm not visiting but look great and realy vibrant sea front.Beach is the other side of the office so swimming to cool down is easy option.Tempretures here high 20's and more so quite draining for us fair skins from rainsville. Did buy 1\2 kilo of juicy fresh prawns,should have been 3 meals but finished in 2. One more night here because bugger me there's another festival on tonight and of course making te most of power and water.Went up the mast yesterday to clean the lower shrouds.What's the expression, clean boat clean mind!

Walked up to the castle which was not too high but lovely very well looked after and  €3 entry for the museum with prerequisite amphoras, still good value-cheap even.

Nextleg is to Balearics but wind is not great possibly tomorrow useable but I'm not in a rush and like this place.

TNT.

Dubai of the Costa what not.

Flamingo pond Calpe

Calpe like Gib but smaller.

lovely cliff properties Punta Plana

Denia.There's the Kat!

Night time.

View from the top

Castle Denia.

Denia.

Denia.

So here we are again!!

Bob and Katrilli are back in action- maybe.

The engine is fixed and working but I wasn't happy with a heavy rattling noise so the mechanics came on board yesterday realigned the engine a bit and everything seems to work .I said I would accept the condition so long as the head honcho gave it the all clear and he did so now I just need to start my trip again.

I was going to leave tomorrow, still might but have to wait for a gas piece to turn up. There's no rush so I'll be heading 30 miles up the coast anchor and reacquire my sea legs.Its been 6 months and everything is a bit new so ,slowly slowly catchy monkey.How that's appropriate I don't know.

Anyhow this is me testing my blog skills and even hot spotting the laptop is a forgotten skil1,I'd better try a few pictures but can't do any more Carta ones.

This is my new engine before fitting.

This is Theo and me .The skipper who got orcaed when we were sailing past Cashcai ( that's not how you spell it but this isn't an English course).He wrote a great little piece in Yachting monthly August edition.very scary.

''The orca shook the boat like a toy''

These are some English Electric Lightenings from the 1960's. great picture they're upside down not it.

And this is a peacock butter fly taken in Sussex a month ago.

That's all for now.I think this went well. Watch out for more dynamic info ,commentary and pictures from the sea.

Bloody hot here!