Destination Gibraltar
After a quick passage through Sardinia and the Balearics we join Gibraltar...
Tuesday 23 August - Cape on Sardinia
That's! the weather window 24 hours we were waiting with a wind Northeast 20 knots is there as expected. We leave in Sicily's Egadi Islands around noon before the wind doesn't change my mind. With two laugh in the mainsail and Genoa cut in half... Our speed oscillates around 8 knots and in the morning we perceive the Capo Carbonara South-East of Sardinia. Once past the Cape wind is passed out and it is the engine that we will get wet at the end of the beach of Villasimius... as far away from the marina.
Sunday 28 September - Porto Romano
A few moorings further we reach San Antioco and we amarrons we like a year earlier at the dock of the Guardia Costiera of Ponte Romano. Good location for big shopping at Lidl and the local market. Moored as soon as we get out the bikes and will see if Giselle and Giovanni, with that we had hit it off on our first pass, are as every afternoon with their friends in the shade of the tall pines that border the Bay... Well Yes! they're all here, as if time was still. After the initial surprise and hugs... that ends around a pizza to their home. We have to wait a few days to recover parcels that are sent to us by post office. After five days in the dock the coast guard to ask us to leave because the parking is limited to 48 hours! Luckily the last package arrived a few hours later.
Friday 2 September - San Antioco island
Late after lunch we sail along the South coast of the island of San Antioco and just behind the Tower of Cannai find a small Bay well sheltered with sandy bottom. We meet Annick and Hervé on LILIA with whom we spend a very convivial evening.
Wednesday 7 September - Cap on the Balearic Islands
We spend one last night in the North of the island of San Pietro and we lift anchor at first light. While the Sun shows its first rays, We leave behind the industrial port of Portoscuso and Sardinia...
Thursday 8 September - Menorca, Mahon
Super fast voyage to the port of Mahon in Minorca. Anchorage in the Cala de Teulera, which is like a lake. It is in the appendix we go to town a few miles away. The port is empty, but once in the city overlooking the Bay, It's the rush! Of the world - glass hand - and sand in the streets. Street bars compete who will have the most Watts of music. It's too much for us!
It's the first day of the fair with equestrian demonstrations large well-trained horses. It will last 4 days and during this time all the shops are closed. Fortunately on the dock we find a kiosk in newspapers where we can buy a Spanish SIM card in order to have Internet access.
Saturday 10 September - Ilha of in Colom
We go up the coast is Menorca and find safe from Ilha of in Colom with water to bathe and do fresh water.
We make a short hop to the North in the next Bay, the Cala Rambles. We get to spend carefully between the island and the land that offers a passage on a sandy bottom at 1 m depth 50. This crossing can be done only by flat sea and Sun.
Immediately wet we will walk in the Park of Es Grau along the trail to Cape Favàritx more North.
The coast is very cut and offers lots of coves with turquoise waters which are not inhabited.
We locate our next anchorage in front of a sandy beach.
The Lighthouse is imposing and brand new, Despite the strong prevailing winds that sweep the coast.
In a few days a North wind is announced and our concern is to find a good shelter.
In the meantime we have time to stop at Puerto Fornells to refuel.
We sail a few hours at the close with 2 RIS under a threatening sky and a confused sea, but once North of the broken blade, It is the calm.
Thursday 15 September – Cala Pregondas
It is a small paradise, that is part of a nature reserve. The sand is color curry, Some houses are based in the rock and the water is turquoise.
We will explore the funds in a small Cove in the annex...
..then the next day we put our sneakers to walk in the Park and the views.
On the way back the clouds are gathering, the wind picks up a swell in the Bay and the surf on the rocks
We the pace and quickly win the boat. We secure the annex, put the electronics market and raise the anchor quickly.
Arriving on the South Coast, We are surprised by a grain to 40 knots. Engines running, We affalons the veil
and keep a piece of Genoa that drives us to 7 Nodes.
All the bays around Ciutadella (West coast of Menorca) are either too narrow for safe wet, either with beautiful beaches for swimming... which limits the areas of anchorage for the boats. We must therefore continue on the South coast of Menorca until Cala Parejals.
The Bay has no access by road, What makes the place exceptional and infrequent. The bravest climb the rocks to bathe... like Marjoram and Hervé who swim to the boat and spend a little time on board.
We are only to 1 mile in an appendix to the port of Tamarinda - Cala'n Bosch, where regular buses run Ciutadella...
one of the main squares and.. .its many pedestrian streets
Lunch along the port..
Thursday 22 September - Mallorca
Evenings start to be refresh and we must put a "sweater" for an aperitif. We even dug out a quilt for the night... It's time to go to the South and quickly reach Gibraltar. A stop at Porto Cristo which the Bay is well protected from the swell and where we find a large supermarket... then just after having passed the Cape of Salinas (southern tip of Mallorca) in its Roquetes S'illot Bay which is part of the nature reserve.
Monday 26 September - Isla Cabrera
The season ends and we can book two nights in the natural park of Cabrera - places are limited and in high season it takes several months in advance for not being able to stay for only one night. We start with the tour of the island and stop at Cala of Burri, only mooring allowed and equipped with 30 moorings. Not a single boat in view - the Bay is for us!
Immediately hooked on the deadweight, we jump in the water to check the status. It's tough!
A ballet of jellyfish is changing around us.
They are slower than us and it is easy to avoid and admire closely.
They are beautiful when the Sun is reflected on their transparent bodies and their filaments.
We continue the tour of the island closely along the cliffs that fall steeply into the water...
In the main Bay of the island, who is the only one where it is allowed to spend the night.
While the main trails that criss-cross the island cannot be done with a guide, one that leads to the lighthouse at Cap Vermell is open access.
We climb to the lighthouse which as all lighthouses, We saw in the Balearic Islands, is well maintained.
What deserves some rest!
before going down...
to find Tao at the foot of the old fort that keeps the Bay.
Wednesday 28 September - Cap on Gibraltar
While we have three days to reach Gibraltar, forecasts are for two and a half days of northeast wind before a dead calm and the wind from the West. This is our opportunity, and it's still dark when we leave the deadweight. We are full tailwind with most often sails in scissors. We avoid a few grains, but not all!
Some feel it closely while on the other is looking dry.
It shall not be said that we will have nothing fished in the Mediterranean for a year that we carry around of the lines. It ran aground on the bridge - a little thin for lunch!
It's désolent to see a sea with so little life.
As expected the last night is to the engine and it's in the mist we see the "Rock".
Just time for Philippe to hoist flags...
and will anchor in front of the beach of the Linea of the Concepción - on the side of Spanish, Gibraltar. The border is only a few minutes walk...
Expected more! Have a good stay in the Canary Islands. Denise and Edward had lunch with us Thursday and kiss you. DDDom also, seen yesterday. And all others… Road Gambier mid November. Kisses to both.