Archiv
CW29 2001
15.07.2001 - 21.07.2001
Today is Sunday, July 7, and we're in Bahia de Paguera on Mallorca.
Before we can have breakfast today we've got to get some things done - the
announced mistral is really coming.
We've got to move fast now since the swell is getting stronger and stronger,
driving us straight into the bay. Martin and myself hop into the dinghy to
bring in the tail line and Tom and Petra take care of the anchor.
Fighting an impressive swell we pull ourselves and the dinghy along the line
to the rock where we secured the line the day before. Now we need to get out
of the dinghy to unfasten the line and there: I go overboard, and involuntarily
for a swim. Never mind! Off with the line, back into the dinghy and then Tom
pulls us back to the ship and we finally get out of here.
| 3 N.M. and one hour later we drop anchor in
Santa Ponsa. Now we really earned ourselves a nice breakfast. And what good things we have! Martin went ashore and brought us fresh rolls, even some with poppy seeds. The winds are up to 36 Kts - which makes staying where you are and waiting for the things to come a very good idea. Luckily Formel 1 (car racing) is on today and a TV that broadcasts the race is quickly found. In the evening the wind calms down - which is good, because we need to go ashore, since Petra and Martin are flying back home today. |
 |
So we take off in the dinghy to find ourselves a nice restaurant. But before
we find a place to eat we find something else, or rather somebody else. A
man is floating in the boiling sea, frantically waving his arms in the direction
of a motor boat. But there is no reaction from that boat. We drive up to the
man and find out that he is French and that he drifted to far away from his
motor boat buddies. We take him back there and apparently no-body even missed
that man. Hard to believe!
During this little detour Petra and I were showered a little and therefore
we finally sit in that nice restaurant on the beach in slightly wet clothes.
After dinner we have to say good-bye. Petra and Martin leave and Tom and I
stroll through town a little.
On Monday we get rain, lots of rain. They had 100 liter/cm rain on parts of
Mallorca and the storms caused massive damage. A radio station reports a sunken
Tornado and a sunken sailing yacht in Soller, which isn't too far away from
Paguera. I guess we were really lucky!
Along with the rain comes a drastic fall in the temperature - 15°C less that
the day before. Since there isn't much to do, and last night was rather jerky,
we decide to take a little nap.
In the evening the rainfall ceases and we take off to get some groceries and
take a light meal. And then we let it be for today.
Wake up: 7am! Weigh anchor: 7:30 am - and off we go!
That's our Tuesday morning and we set course to Ibiza. And to make sure we
get That into our system, we turn on some music and the loudspeakers - good
enough for a whole lagoon - raw with "We're going to Ibiza" by the Vengaboys!
That really gets you going!
And since we're "going", we immediately set sail.
We're sailing along and it's just right for a nice breakfast . We have perfect
weather and a superb wind. Great!
The main sail is set and that gives us a chance to renew a few lines. Today
we'll take care of the reef-lines and we also renew the Dirk.
Ok, we made it and it looks fine.
We reach Cala Portinax at about 8 p.m. A beautiful and probably well known
bay - there are plenty of visitors here. We squeeze into a corner, but not
for long. The ground isn't good for anchoring - and we have a grumbling neighbour.
In addition to all that there are bars and discos all over this bay and they
are already starting up.
We don't need that and therefore our anchor is weighed again, just one hour
later, and we're on our way to another bay, Cala Characa. It's a big, quiet
bay, just around the corner, and there are only 2 other ships here. As if
it were made for us. Now, let's go, on the pans, get set, go, prepare dinner.
On Wednesday morning getting up is rather hard. Although we had a secure place
here, the wind came howling from all directions, and rather fierce, and above
all, all night long.
The weather forecast often speaks of "rotating winds" - and now we know what
that means: they really come from all directions, run all around … well, rotating
winds!
And since strong and again rotating winds are predicted for the next few days
we go and look for a place on the other side of the island.
While leaving the bay we do a small, but important practise. We drive the
man over board manoeuvre!
I'm at the rudder and Tom throws a ball-fender over board. The aim is to get
that back safely aboard as fast as possible, just as is it were a person who
went overboard. We've practised that before and today it really went very
well. What we practise with the fender is actually according to the book,
but if you're only two people this version is hardly possible. For such a
case we have a rescue system aboard called Lifesling. It's a kind of life-belt,
attached to a line. It's kept directly by the rudder, so it's always immediately
available.
It's a system one can also use, if alone, which is very important. And so
we also practise that right now.
But now we've got to get out of the bay and on towards the East cost of Ibiza.
13 N.M., further we drop anchor in Cala Boix. And here, it's hardly any different
that in Mallorca - the bays are over-over-crowded. Cala Boix is also pretty
busy, but it's one of the few, if not the only bay close by that can offer
some shelter form the predicted weather. Usually lots of ships leave in the
evening and then it should be better. And that's exactly what happens.
Thursday, and we stay in Cala Boix. 10 a.m. and here he is: the mistral. Due
to the strong winds our anchor doesn't hold and we have to drop anchor again.
On the third try the anchor holds again and the wind is howling around us
with up to 40 kts. There they are again, the rotating winds.
Secured safely you can dry your laundry very nicely in this wind, but that's
about all it's good for. So once again we out-sit a small storm and are content
as long as it doesn't get any stronger.
It does make you wonder though. Are these weather conditions already the results
of the changing of the climate zones, the destroyed ozone layer and all that?
One does get the impression, that number and intensity of these weather changes
grows all the time. Doesn't it seem like pure irony if a president of a world
power, George W. Bush, says that he doesn't care and that the USA will not
support or realise the resolution of the world climate conference?
Towards the evening the winds calm down a little and Tom can go snorkelling
a little. Just to be on the safe side I'll stay aboard.
On Friday we take Ibiza! At least that's what we thought, but plenty of others
have already done that. We can't get a berth in any of the three harbours
of Ibiza town. Everything is full. So we refuel a few liters Diesel, fill
our water-tanks and find ourselves a place where we can drop anchor. A few
ships are already lying by the harbour entrance and we simply join them. A
really nice place with beautiful water, a view of the old city centre, the
harbour and up to Formentera.
But it stops being a nice place as all those who spent the day on Formentera
return to the harbour. They come in like angry hornets - and the waves they
make are hard to stand. One motor boat after the other: big ones, small ones,
fast ones, slow ones and ferry boats in between. Total madness!
One look through the binoculars tells us that it won't change too soon. Dozens
of sailing and motor boats are to be seen on the horizon, all holding course
for Ibiza. Let's get out of here quickly. Not far, just around the corner,
to Cala Talamanca. It's comparatively quiet and secure here - we'll drop anchor.
It's Saturday, July 21 and it was about time that we caught up on some sleeping.
And then we set out to do some shopping. And we also need gas for the stove.
Talking about stoves and cooking, here comes the culinary expedition of this
week. Although, we don't need a stove, that can stay cold today.
We're making a "light" bread-spread with tuna.
You need:
2 small tins of tuna (in oil or in water), drain the oil or water, put it
into a bowl and break the fish into small bits with a fork
Add one container of sour cream and mix. As usual you can add spices to taste:
e.g. salt, freshly grounded pepper, a few drops of lemon juice. If you like
it hot, add some Cayenne pepper.
Then leave it in the fridge or freezer for a while, until everything is nice
and cool.
Since we (unfortunately) hardly ever get sour cream here there's a little
trick You can also use Crème Fraiche, but then you should mix it with normal
cottage cheese. It doesn't change the taste and the whole thing stays a "light"
bread-spread.
Now enjoy it with a nice bread. It doesn't matter weather you prefer baguette,
mixed bread or a seed loaf.
For the vitamins we also have a few raw vegetables: tomatoes, peppers or a
cucumber - sliced with a little salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
At this point I'd like to make a request: please buy tuna which was caught
dolphin-friendly. These products are specially marked with a logo, a dolphin,
or only have the information printed on the package. Unfortunately there is
no general marking. Cheap tuna is usually caught using huge nets in which
dolphins also get entangled and die. And that shouldn't be! Thank you!
 |
Back from the culinary expedition, back to Ibiza. We
take a small ferry to Ibiza town. Since it's siesta-time the streets
are comparatively quiet, but looking at the people around, one can easily
guess what goes on here at night.
But for now we leave through the old city gates and climb upwards. We have a great view over the roofs of Ibiza, the harbours, the adjourning bays and to Formentera from here. On our way back we stop and eat a light snack. And then we climb down the steps of the old city center again, buy a few vegetables and fruit at the market and make our way back to our floating home. |
Arriving there we soon realise that the big party in Ibiza town will have
to take place without us. So we stay aboard and that's the end of today and
for this week.
But before you leave, one more piece of information: From now on you can also
reach us aboard, via satellite, by fax or telephone. Daily, between 16:00
and 17:00 MESZ (14:00 - 15:00 UTC). This information is also always available
on our homepage under Contact - Post
Telephone: 0087 1631991218 Fax : 0087 1631991238
 |
… and one more: Coming Sunday there will most probably
be an interview with us on the radio. Channel SWR3 will broadcast a report
about our tour on the programme "Wildweit" between 16:00 and 19:00 hours.
Whoever wants to join us, turn on the radio, on the frequency UKW 94,3
or 98,4 …or via the Internet www.swr3.de … or via KW under 6030 band 49m or 7265 band 41m. To see what the next week has brought us...... see us here next week, same place same wave! so long |
Greetings
Diana + Tom
