[p]pjr4728
[s]
pos: 39 54.082n 003 06.305e
sp: 0.0
h: 0m
w: 0kn W, CC 0, SS 0
d: 06/09/19 19:07 GMT+0200
Port De Pollença.
Leaving Sardinia, it was only a relatively short hop west for us over to
Menorca, the northern-most of the Balearic Islands. Here we anchored down
for 4 nights in Cala Teluera, which lies just inside an amazing natural
harbour, which also houses the island's historic capital Mahon.
While Menorca is generally much more low-lying than its larger cousin
further west, Majorca, we were amazingly sheltered in this spot (chosen to
sit out forecast strong N winds known as the Mistral).
The anchorage lies beneath 2 forts, including the huge La Mola and these
just hinted at some of the more modern history of the area... Elsewhere it
was not uncommon to come across the remnants (sometimes in remarkably good
condition) of much more ancient defences, homes, etc.
Mili got to enjoy lots of swimming, walks, meeting other dogs (and lovely
owners) etc. We WILL have to work more on her discipline though - more than
once I was forced to do a retrieval from the dinghy, as she refused to come
back when called and merrily swims off around the coast!
When the forecast improved we left this lovely wee spot and sailed S and W
around the coast to an equally lovely Cala at Son Saura...Lovely beach and
brilliant walks ashore mooching among ancient ruins. We were a little
discombobulated by the locals however... Several couples deciding to come
and sunbathe (and do other things) naked within a few metres of our
anchorage in their dayboats....and we'd anchored away from everyone else
for a bit of quiet! Still Mili was her usual great introduction to some
very good looking other ladies on the beach. Who also must have found the
prospect of tanlines too much to bear.
We ended staying 3 nights here because as we set off (after 2 nights) the
engine died about 5 minutes after starting. I spent the day bleeding,
bleeding and bleeding again, only to come to the conclusion that the
problem lay with the (injection) fuel pump drive shaft not doing its job.
The pump is an a bit of a mare to remove and inspect further so we decided
to leave well alone and just sail to Majorca and address it there.
Another reason was that the weather forecast for the sail across was
looking a bit dodge more than a day out... And my family was due to arrive
in Majorca in a matter of days. Thus we bit the bullet and the weather gods
shined in us. Well, sort of! It really was the proverbial 'game of two
halves' : For the first half of the crossing, the wind was a helpful
25-30kn - but was accompanied by a very uncomfortable side swell, with
short-period waves of up to about 3.5m starting to break. Not pleasant and
hand steering all the way. Then the wind died completely and it was a bit
of a challenge to find enough zephyrs to keep us going in the right
direction, albeit that the sea also, thankfully calmed down too. We finally
coasted into the expansive Pollença Bay and dropped anchor just after dusk.

Next morning, the anchor was upped and, with trusty dinghy and outboard
attached, we could use the latter to chug slowly, if a little
embarrassingly, over to join the high achievers with their much more swanky
boats at the nearby Real Club Nautica marina - ready for the forthcoming
storm (A forecast Mistral I mean - although the family was also imminent,
so easy access to shore WAS an important consideration for ease of
'victualling'!).

Despite the various extended delays since Sri Lanka, we had finally and
rather unbelievably made it in time, indeed with a day to spare! Yay!

[END]