Anchorages in the Balearics

It was very windy and unsettled in Mallorca last year, with some really bad storms, very unusual for the time of year. (august)
 
That is a truly amazing video. It's really hard to explain what's happening. Maybe a slight drop of sea level outside combined with a current will do it!? Can someone give a scientific explanation?
 
Last year (2006) it was caused by an earthquake, (Tsunami) But it is normally caused by a storm surge, pressure and tide (small).
In Alcudia, same year, the marina level dropped by a meter and then came back, plus a meter, at the same time as cuitadella, amazing thing to see, lots of diving platforms damaged or ripped off.
 
Experienced similar in the Adriatic in May 2006. After that and what I heard of Ciudadella, a bit of googling led me to the site of geophysics at the university of Zagreb, who wrote :

"Thank you for informing me on exceptional oscillations in Vrboska on 24 May 2006. We know that the large sea-level oscillations, related to the air-pressure waves, may occasionally occur in the Adriatic, but mostly in the bays that are opened to the incoming atmospheric waves (which usually travel from the west towards the east, as shown in the enclosed papers). This is why your observation in Vrboska is
surprising and demands a careful analysis. I hope we will be able to do some work on this in the future."

The "enclosed papers" were extremely technical, but can forward by PM if anyone is interested.

The generic term for an air pressure related wave is "seiche", first observe on Lac Léman
 
Interesting! You can understand how a storm surge can flood an area (New Orleans!!) and how very high pressure can depress sea level. What's incomprehensible is how these features can alternate in the time scale of that video!! Must find out more about "high pressure air waves".
Totally new concept to me.
I was anchored in a broad shallow bay during the earthquake on Levkas. I did wonder whether the sea might move, the ground certainly did, we felt and heard the tremors through the water.
I though we were about to be run down by a large fishing boat. It was only the people screaming onshore that confirmed my suspicion of a quake. There were minor quakes for days after when we were anchored in Vliho where apparently something similar has happened in the past. The cameraman on the cat was on the right boat!!
 
To attempt to paraphrase the scientific papers I received ( but only partly understood), the initial disturbance happens out at sea, caused by a swift change from high to low and back again (a bit like dropping a sugar lump in a cup of coffee from a height). This creates the "oscillation", which travels a fair distance across the sea bed, without visible disturbance until such time as it encounters an obstacle, such as less depth or an inlet. At that point, the energy contained in the oscillation has nowhere to go, so slops itself back and forth in the inlet until expended.
Teletubbies guide to scary phenomena!
 
That does make sense. the oscillation out at sea (like a "tidal wave"), would be barely noticeable, but a long narrow inlet like Ciudadella would amplify the phenomenon. And like a tsunami it would go out before it came back in. Still unclear about what atmospheric incident would raise this "oscillation", or depress it in the first place?! But since it's happened many times in Menorca someone must know. What is a "high pressure air wave"? Something to do with the jet stream? I did notice when we flew over the southern Pyrennees on our way to Barcelona, that we passed through a very turbulent area. Maybe the nearby mountains are to blame, as in an enormous katabatic blast?
 
This is all very interesting, but let me just say this to DrBob: this is very rare and don't let this stop you from exploring the fantastic sailing ground of Menorca!
 
Very true, nasties happen everywhere, and if you want to avoid them all, better stay home (altho' that's where most nasties happen)
Our experience of the phenomenon on Hvar was first puzzled (why is the quayside wet, and it hasn't rained?), then amazed when the next wave came in and raised the water level by +/- 1/2 metre, then gobsmacked when the inlet literally emptied before the next wave, and finally a bit scared when all the quay side resto guys started moving their shop front fridges away from the quay. Also saw old photos of havoc ( boats on top of houses) then a week or so later , Ciudadella!!!!! Would not stop me going back to Ciudadella, nor Vrboska, but would always choose the outermost mooring
 
I'm currently working on a boating wiki see here and this is exactly the kind of info that could be contained in the wiki.

I'm formally soft-launching it tomorrow and there is still much to do and discuss but if anyone feels inclined please take a look at the wiki and PM me if you'd like to get involved or have any comments.

More tomorrow.......
 
I used to love Ciudadella ... some 20 years ago.
It has become such a popular place in the last 5 years or so that I now refuse even the idea to spend even one night there.
Not because of the Rissaga, wich is freightening, but happens only one or two times a decade. (last time late spring 2006)
As a visitor there, you have to moore alongside a crowded wall, and, worst of all, a big ferry comes in and out 3 or 4 times a day, playing havoc among the yachts.
Go to Mahon, instead, where there is plenty of room for mooring, and a nice town for shopping.
More remote, but nice places are Addaya (amazing approach!) and Fornells (don't miss the langostas!) on the north coast, and cala Coves on the south coast.
From there, (cala Coves), sail along the east coast of Mallorca, which is the nicest one, with plenty of calas, with or without marinas to spend one or more nights.
And then, the MUST : Cabrera!
Have a nice time!
Don't hesitate to PM me for more or different informations.
 
Well I am truly overwhelmed with the response - some great pointers on where to go. Reading about tsunamis in Ciudadella suggest go the other way!! but as ladyjessie says it cant be a regular occurance. Lots of links for me to flow up (I'll look through your site Jim B - for the info on the rias and Paul, I will pm you with a few questions)

Thanks again all.

Dr Bob
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is all very interesting, but let me just say this to DrBob: this is very rare and don't let this stop you from exploring the fantastic sailing ground of Menorca!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd agree it would be silly not to visit the Balearics - fabulous anchorages all over. I'd add Formentera is the jewel in the lot. Few pictures on our blog from summer 2005.

But silly also to state the pressure surges are rare. We've experienced them several times within weeks - and the local usually advise in advance so you can prepare or get out.

Enjoy
JOHN
 
Forgot one more thing: the water on the quay in Cittadulla is undrinkable. It is very brackish and would probably severely corrode your tanks. Fill up in France! I have found no water problems in Mallorca or Ibiza, apart from getting access to a jetty with water. I was almost brutally turned away by one of the marinas in Palma town although we were prepared to pay. In one of the marinas just south of Palma a British mobo with a blue ensign had parked themselves on the only space that was available on the public quay with access to water, and yes you guessed it, they refused to move to give us water. I am not very impressed with blue ensigns.
 
Reasonable water is available at Cala Nova, next marina south from Palma Bay, in Cala Mayor. It's a small marina but there is often some space there and water is available at the fuel jetty to starboard on entry.

In general the water throughout the Balearics has a high solids content and it is not advisable to drink it. I developed a kidney stone just after our three months or so there in 2005. Virtually no locals would drink tap water.
 
Yes, that was it! Cala Nova and it was indeed the fuel quay that was permanently occupied by a Blue Ensign. Pity, as it was a very nice marina for the rest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Baggywrinkle
Test run of the Lithium system that has been sitting in my cellar for most of this year.
Replies
5
Views
295
claymore
claymore

Share this page

Top