Sunriser

Cala Fornells in Menorca has been the furthest anchorage we visited in the Balearics. It is a big innerwater, protected from almost all sides from swell and heavy winds. Because of this heavy winds, only on the last days we met Denis and Sandra, and dog Chica (see the picture with the painting of her) aboard their boat Elixir, all of us regretting not having met earlier. But, as it often turns out when sailing, our paths crossed again as we returned to Fornells, this time with Chris from Fairwind. This second time made it up for the first, and we enjoyed our time together learning a lot from the extensive sailing and medical knowledge of Denis and Sandra, as well as being so fortunate to take over some of their boat equipment, such as a diving set which was put immediately to the test to change the anodes again.

Time came, however, to say goodbye to all our friends of Elixir and Fairwind. In Cala Macarella we saw John and Einat on board Ripples (also an Astrea 42) again and proceeded on the way back to Mallorca. This time we took the south route and visited some new places: Porto Colom and Sa Rápita, where we suffered heat wave number four of what it has turned out to be the hottest summer in earth history.

In dead calm over glassy water we motored to Ibiza, landing at the most eastern point, Cala Negra, an oasis of peace and loneliness on party island before heading to Santa Eulalia to pick up Aida and Miguel with their daughters Irene and Claudia. Sadly for our guests, the weather started to deteriorate fast and we had to  time the occasions to leave the boat in between torrential rain showers. And just when we thought the front had passed the tail hit us in the form of a hail storm with wind of 64 knots.

In between all of it the crew behaved exemplarily as the most experienced sailors. In the calmer waters of Formentera we could finally enjoy some swimming and quiet family sailing.

Even a TikTok reel was made.

Finally it was time to say goodbye to the Balearics and steer back to the main land, but the Balearics weather gods were not ready with us and waved us farewell in the form of still another storm on the way to Calpe. We were however rewarded by Poseidon by catching an Albacore tuna on the way.

Due to the storm the port of Calpe was full, so we anchored outside under the shelter of the huge Peñón de Ifach. A big rock at the point of Calpe.

It is always sad to say goodbye to the friends we make on the way but as the saying says: Another day, another bay, it turns out to be true as our paths crossed again with some old friends.

In Torrevieja we were reunited with John and Dagmar from catamaran Watermark whom we left behind a year earlier at La Rochelle, and in Cartagena with Wim and Petra and their dog Qiqi on yacht Guinevere whom we had met in Ribadeo in October last year.

So many stories and adventures to tell before saying again farewell! But now we know that we’ll meet again another day, another bay!

We are in Cartagena for the coming weeks where the boat will be taken out of the water and a long list of improvements and some repairs are planned. On the list are: fixing electricity issues, underwater treatment, strengthening the steering system, maintenance on all engines and many other smaller items. We try to stay on the boat while it is on the hard, but we will also go some days back to NL.