Cala Mondrago and Porto Petro

Had an extremely long debrief after supper on Cabrera stretching into the early hours. None of us were unanimous on the search for the perfect digestif by the time (3.30am) all bottles are empty.
So to clear the head we marched up to the castle one last time before sailing off the mooring in a pleasant 15 kts S/E heading for a lunchtime swim in a lovely bay 18 miles up the coast at Cala Mondrago an old haunt from Colin's distant past. It did not disappoint. A turquoise bay with choice of 2 sandy beaches surrounded by sculpted rocks with caves to swim through and of course the beach bar.
After a couple of hours and a good swim it's time to head up the coast to Porto Petro. Another pleasant downwind leg and we take a stern to lazy line on the quayside of Club Nautico. It's a quiet fishing town very pretty. We eat paella  at a great restaurant by the boat the friendly owner telling us how much had changed since he worked with his father 40 years ago.
No partying tonight. We are all knackered.
Next morning we walk in the sunshine  round the dramatic coast back to Cala Mondrago. Beautiful!

Palma to Illa de Cabrera.

Wednesday May 13th. We motor out of Palma feeling like we must be the smallest ship in the bay. Millions of £££ of super yachts mostly not being used.
The coastline is layered rock the eroded sandstone forming deep thin caves.
We beat to windward in 11 kts until the wind died then motor sailed the remainder of the 28 miles to Ille de Cabrera an island and nature reserve off the southwest tip of Mallorca.  Mooring is free with no anchoring but permits must be arranged in advance. A castle dominates the enclosed bay which was a strategic defence for Palma and still maintained a military presence.
GnTs and bbqs as the sun sets. Tough life. In the morning we take the dinghy ashore and walk up the hill for the view from the castle before sailing off the mooring and heading north.

A stroll around Palma

Can't leave without exploring the old town so we stroll along the marina front just avoiding getting run down by the 100s of bikes on the cycle track then head inland through a shady plaza by the fort with swans nesting in the moat. Wandering aimlessly through the old town the narrow streets of 5 story buildings offer welcome shade. We stop for coffee and to listen to a couple of buskers, take a bearing and head to a leafy park leading to the cathedral. Nice to see the impressive building with unusual buttresses fully restored. Well worth a visit.

Ibiza to Mallorca and the Paps of Palma

Following the evening debrief and Spotify debate we retired at 2am and awoke early. Motor sailed the 48 miles to Mallorca in the 8kt Easterly breeze. The Paps of Palma visible 40 miles away. Found a berth on the town quay at Andraitx for €25. Found barbed hooks and awesome Italian pasta.
Monday morning was time to service the winches in the windless blue. Springs and bearings everywhere but we had a plan. Lots of photos and it all went back together smoothly. Our team of engineers sorted the electric winch too.
The 420s practiced in the harbour as the 10kt breeze slowly built. Time to go sailing. We cast of and headed East to Camp de Mar a lovely turquoise bay for lunch and a spot of fishing then enjoyed an 18 mile sail to Palma under full sail in 10kts, GnTs on the pontoon then off to town. Terry getting taxi to Magaluf.

Ibiza to Cala de Portinax

After a welcome lie in and a healthy breakfast Daren Colin and Andy head off to explore the mediaeval citadel and cathedral whilst Kev and Russ revitualise the boat and Terry had lie in.
The hours walk up to the cathedral through cobbled winding streets covered with mediaeval bunting was tastefully done with colourful street markets. Stunning views over the fortress canons of the southern islands from the summit.
A quick lunch then we slip the lazy line and head north up the coast. Leaving the busy cosmopolitan town of Ibiza behind the true beauty if the island is revealed. Idyllic hamlets between rocky headlands hide occasional white beaches. We shake out the sails and enjoy the peace of 6kts without the engine. Rounding the northeast corner of Ibiza we drop the sails and motor into the enclosed bay of Cala de Portinax. We manage to bag the perfect anchorage in a turquoise sandy 4m patch within swimming distance of the beautiful sandy beach and soon we are all enjoying a beer after a refreshing swim ashore.
The bbq is lit and the lasgoustines fight for space with Colin's freshly caught fish  followed by sausage and steak hashe.
The arms race of after dinner playlists is mellowed by the Havana Club.
Tomorrow Mallorca.

Good to be back onboard Echo

The bus from Ibiza airport dropped us Andy Col and Daren off at Club Nautica at 10pm local time. Kev Russ and Terry had the San Miguel poured and after a couple of welcome beers we head off to a tapas bar for some supper. Russ and Andy share the chorizo and squid but the other animals go for the offal sharing nose and ears mix and kidney. Its an acquired taste as Kev bails early sticking to squid. Its now well past midnight and Daren has crashed. Looking forward to exploring the east coast tomorrow. 

VALENCIA!!!

Well, it seems we spoke too soon about getting THE rough passage of the week out of the way...

Despite the forecasted light SE'ly, an early morning thunderstorm dumped a load of angry looking clouds over the whole coast, and when we slipped lines at 8am we headed out into another choppy sea from the NE, although thankfully not as bad as the first day...

Still, boat speed struggled above 6kts, and 30 miles of constant barraging from the spray over the bow necessitated rinsing all of the cushions and decks before we sat down to another alfresco lunch.

Still, we've made it to Valencia, checking into the marina on the North side left over from the 33rd Americas Cup!

Whilst the girls soaked up some sun and took 1001 photos, Rob and I went to try and find the conspicuous looking catamaran we eyeballed as we sailed into harbour. Aiming to walk around the basin, we walked on the remnants from the F1 track and looked around the massive branded warehouses that housed the cup teams (all of which are now empty and in poor condition), and the whole place feels like a ghost town...

Eventually, we did find what we were looking for; the 100ft Alinghi cat from the cup, just sitting in a fenced off area (with a small Oli shaped gap in the fence...) of the port with an old 12m AC boat and a load of old dinghys!! It is massive. Huge. The photo shows a selfie with my head easily fitting through one of the rudder pivot holes!!

After we blagged a water taxi home, we went for a swim in the sea and hit the seafront for some more seafood, and to laugh at Ella wrestling with her lobster!

Good times!