After a reasonable night’s sleep, considering how rolly the anchorage was, we were both awake just before 0700, perused the weather and weighed anchor. The weather forecast, however, was essentially useless, given that each model showed something different. Deciding to randomly pick sunshine versus overcast skies and northeasterly winds, which were blowing at the time, we set off to find another anchorage further along the south coast of Minorca.
However, every “anchorage” was either a tiny cove or crammed with a handful of yachts bouncing around in the swell and, in our opinion, completely untenable with the strong southeasterly swell running straight into them, which got stronger the further west we motored, so much so that waves were breaking all along the cliffs. When we reached the lighthouse on Cap d’Artrutx, marking the southwestern tip of the island, we headed north and up the west coast.
By 1030 we’d found a somewhat protected wide open bay with plenty of room and good holding just south of Cala Blanca. However, by 1100, it too had become untenable as the north easterly winds became northwesterly and the southeasterly swell we’d seen along the south coast became northwesterly. It seemed the entire island was in the centre of one large swirl spinning around it. It didn’t help that we couldn’t get ashore either to get provisions, since the anchorage was surrounded by cliff face and we were running out of supplies, considering the last time we were able to access a supermarket was in Napoli on the Italian mainland, besides picking up a few odds and ends at a minimart on Ponza Island and in Porto Taverna in Sardinia. Additionally, all the local weekend revellers had come out of their marina berths and mayhem unfolded. That was our cue to weigh anchor and head to Mallorca. We weren’t prepared to try and put anymore lipstick on this pig and, for our troubles, all we got was a yacht covered in sticky red desert sand from the winds that were forecast to settle last night, but howled instead.
Our request was simply; somewhere safe and secure to anchor Paw Paw and a means of getting ashore to stock up on our provisions as well as have a walk to stretch our legs, but, sadly, Minorca Island did not have that to offer. What a disappointment, for Roy in particular, given that Elaine had vacationed on the island with Keenan years ago and it was one of her favourite destinations in Europe and he didn’t have the opportunity to explore it.
In very lumpy seas, with a rather large swell running in different directions, as well as the northwesterly wind on the nose, we motored the 35 NM to Mallorca Island in the hopes of getting our basic cruising needs and amenities satisfied, as well as get a much needed rest.
At around 1500 we could see land ahoy. Mallorca Island was certainly more mountainous than Minorca Island.
By 1730 we were anchored in Porto Pollença and by 1800 we were dressed, had dinghied ashore, had tied the dinghy to the dinghy dock and had picked a restaurant from the numerous restaurants lining the waterfront and beach areas to enjoy a well earned locally produced cold beverage and dinner, a seafood paella at the Marina Posters Restaurant. Heaven!
