Jul 7th - Ibiza to Mallorca
Posted at 9:44 AM, Thursday, July 7, 2005
Slipped away at 0800 from Club Nuatico before most of the ferries got working. The forecast was for north westerlies in the morning, going north easterly in the afternoon. The voyage is about 60 miles along the south west coast of Ibiza in a north easterly direction, to leave it behind at Isla Tagomago. The shortest crossing would see us hit Mallorca around the port of Andaitx in it's south west corner.
As luck would have it, the wind was not as predicted. We had a short spell from the north / north east and then it settled firmly into the east - allowing us to set up on starboard tack and with just cracked sheets and close reach over to our second Balearic Island.
F4 - sometimes dropping to F3 - meant we sailed all the way and maintained an average of 7 knots. The full day trip meant we all relaxed into cruise mode with little to do. Girls and I reading. Stu snoozing.
Lunch came and went and as Ibiza dissappeared over the horizon behind, so Mallorca appeared in front.
Just before we entered a zone twix both islands where phone reception would cease - we heard from home about the London bombings. Fortunately, we still had enough coverage to ensure our loved ones were safe and OK.
Decided to spend at least tonight at anchor in a cala that would protect us from the predicted easterly winds over the next few days. Picked on Cala Camp de Mar - one of many between Andraitx and Palma - and and arrived about 1700.
Cala Camp de Mar is in the top right hand corner of a bigger bay which faces due south. It's fairly open but one can anchor close to shore where right in the middle of the cala is a very small rocky island with a restaurant - linked to the mainland by a 100 metre rickety wooden bridge.
There are several high rise hotels behind a nice beach, and more close northwest, along with a few tourist shops. Seems very popular with the Germans.
Went ashore for a tapas meal at another cliff top restaurant overlooking the boat. The wind at that time was very light from the south - so swell or anything to worry about. By the time we returned (before midnight this time) it had swung to the forecasted north east - and the boat sat well nicely under the protection of the surrounding hills and cliffs.
Would be an even lovelier bay without the hotels - some fabulous houses set into the cliffs - but recommended as a cruising stop-over if the wind is from anywhere other than the south.
Decided as weather prediction is for clouds later today - to stay over here a second night and move onto either Palma or San Antonio (Mallorcas San Antonio not Ibiza's) marina for Saturday and Sunday night. Stu and Moira depart on the same Bournemouth / Palma plane that brings out Judith and Pat for a week with us - so we need a washing machine and some work - to get their cabins cleaned up and sorted in time.
Long range forecast is for easterly / north easterly winds for the next week - and apart from today they expect less than 3% cloud cover! Means we'll be trying out many more south facings cala's - I'll let you know what we think of each.
Take Care
JOHN