NGM
Member
We’ve had our current boat for exactly one year now, based in the Mar Menor, south eastern Spain, appox 45nm south of Alicante. For those not familiar the Mar Menor is an inland sea of 170km2, formed by a 22km narrow sandbar which of over the last 30 years has been built into the resort of La Manga.
We have used the boat as a day boat with the occasional overnight stop, a typical day is a 20 minute run followed by many hours at anchor playing. Over this last year we have clocked up some 75 engine hours and a lot of happy times on board.
This May half term we planned our first major passage, not just in this boat but our first in any boat. The plan was for me to take the boat to Alicante, where my wife and two little ones would join me, The following day head off for Formentera and Ibiza for approx five days, all of course weather dependant. Meeting the family at Alicante seemed to be a good idea to shorten the passage time for the children.
I arrived in Spain to do various little jobs onboard – they took 3 full days ! Firstly cleaned all the teak using the Semco 2 part cleaner and sealed it with their natural sealer. I have to say it worked very well. With some help, day 2 was spent cleaning and applying 2 coats of A glaze. Finally the last day was spent preparing the cabin and loading clothes food, beer and cava.
Finally ready to go ..
Day 1
Set off early afternoon. Weather was perfect and the seas and wind were light and with us for the trip to Alicante ( I had a friend join me for this part of the trip).
A stunning day to start
First the exit through the narrow 0.5m long canal that allows access out onto the Med. We were the only boat today but it gets very busy during the summer especially every 2 hours when the bridge opens for the larger sail boats.
We ran up the coast for about 2 hours to the east of Tarbarca Island and then headed into the port of Alicante. Filled up with fuel, the headed off to the birth. The marina was busy so although we had booked the only space was on the larger births which unfortunately did not have the low pontoons and fingers and we were not carrying a passerelle, oops !
The good news was we were directly opposite the ‘Pirate Ship’ (a replica galleon, housing a dodgy restaurant), my son would love it !
I really like Alicante Marina, well-kept, good services and a really nice town. Although the quayside restaurants and bars open late and I can imagine it can be very noisy in the summer for the wrong berth.
Here's a shot with he castle in the background
Collected the family from the airport (10 mins taxi ride), a quick bite and bed. A rather nice experience for them, travel with no luggage to the boat all shiny and ready to go ! Good news too - weather looked good for the morning.
Day 2
Left the marina at 6am. Thought process being 1. The sea would be better 2. The kids would sleep for hopefully the first 2 hours – both worked.
A beautiful sunrise ,,
Scene from Game of Thrones ?? Ah no, it’s Benidorm !!
Our first sight of Ibiza.
Journey time was about 4 hours the last hour got slightly choppy but overall a very pleasant run.
Headed straight to the Playa de Ses Illetes, a stunning beach, lowered anchor and lifted beer. We had time to relax before our booking at Juan y Adrea for lunch, one of several stunning beach restaurants. They don’t serve cava here, only champagne and only by the bottle ! This guy collects you when ready !!
Heading in for lunch...
After a truly beautiful lazy lunch and some time on the beach we headed down to our pre booked birth at Puerto de Sabina. There are two small Marinas in the port, we chose Formentera Mar, for no special reason over the other. It did seem to be a little roomier and the noise from the ferries, of which there was a constant flow, was perhaps a little less.
It had been a long day so we didn’t explore too much, just a walk around the very small town and a bite of sushi in the marina. What a great start !
Day 3
Bacon and eggs for breakfast. Settled up and left the birth by 10am. We headed to the bay at Espalmador. Isla de Espalmador is a very small island to the very north of Formenterra, the two are separated by a break in the sand of only 200 metres and the depth is only 0.3m. Anchoring in the bay is now prohibited and the government have placed buoys which can only be pre booked between June and end September. As it was the end of May no booking was available but the buoys were all in the place, so we were free to grab one. Easier said than done….. they didn’t have much give and with high side decks the only way for us was to use the tender.
The bay and beach are simply stunning.
The kids loved feeding the fish (lubina I think)
We really did have it to ourselves !!
Took the tender back down to Illetes to try another beach restaurant - this time Es Ministre, doesn’t have the glamour of Juan and Andrea but I think I prefer it’s more casual feel and unrivalled views.
Another long lazy lunch then back to the beach at Espalmador. Afternoon was slightly spoilt when my daughter got a jelly fish sting from a small but nasty purple stinger (Pelagia noctiluca). The reaction really was quite bad, luckily we are quite prepared so a dash back to the boat for the bic razors and local and oral anti histamines.
Bangers and beans for dinner on board and watched the sun go down with a beautiful bottle of red ! . Then to bed for our first night at anchor (buoy).
We have used the boat as a day boat with the occasional overnight stop, a typical day is a 20 minute run followed by many hours at anchor playing. Over this last year we have clocked up some 75 engine hours and a lot of happy times on board.
This May half term we planned our first major passage, not just in this boat but our first in any boat. The plan was for me to take the boat to Alicante, where my wife and two little ones would join me, The following day head off for Formentera and Ibiza for approx five days, all of course weather dependant. Meeting the family at Alicante seemed to be a good idea to shorten the passage time for the children.
I arrived in Spain to do various little jobs onboard – they took 3 full days ! Firstly cleaned all the teak using the Semco 2 part cleaner and sealed it with their natural sealer. I have to say it worked very well. With some help, day 2 was spent cleaning and applying 2 coats of A glaze. Finally the last day was spent preparing the cabin and loading clothes food, beer and cava.
Finally ready to go ..
Day 1
Set off early afternoon. Weather was perfect and the seas and wind were light and with us for the trip to Alicante ( I had a friend join me for this part of the trip).
A stunning day to start
First the exit through the narrow 0.5m long canal that allows access out onto the Med. We were the only boat today but it gets very busy during the summer especially every 2 hours when the bridge opens for the larger sail boats.
We ran up the coast for about 2 hours to the east of Tarbarca Island and then headed into the port of Alicante. Filled up with fuel, the headed off to the birth. The marina was busy so although we had booked the only space was on the larger births which unfortunately did not have the low pontoons and fingers and we were not carrying a passerelle, oops !
The good news was we were directly opposite the ‘Pirate Ship’ (a replica galleon, housing a dodgy restaurant), my son would love it !
I really like Alicante Marina, well-kept, good services and a really nice town. Although the quayside restaurants and bars open late and I can imagine it can be very noisy in the summer for the wrong berth.
Here's a shot with he castle in the background
Collected the family from the airport (10 mins taxi ride), a quick bite and bed. A rather nice experience for them, travel with no luggage to the boat all shiny and ready to go ! Good news too - weather looked good for the morning.
Day 2
Left the marina at 6am. Thought process being 1. The sea would be better 2. The kids would sleep for hopefully the first 2 hours – both worked.
A beautiful sunrise ,,
Scene from Game of Thrones ?? Ah no, it’s Benidorm !!
Our first sight of Ibiza.
Journey time was about 4 hours the last hour got slightly choppy but overall a very pleasant run.
Headed straight to the Playa de Ses Illetes, a stunning beach, lowered anchor and lifted beer. We had time to relax before our booking at Juan y Adrea for lunch, one of several stunning beach restaurants. They don’t serve cava here, only champagne and only by the bottle ! This guy collects you when ready !!
Heading in for lunch...
After a truly beautiful lazy lunch and some time on the beach we headed down to our pre booked birth at Puerto de Sabina. There are two small Marinas in the port, we chose Formentera Mar, for no special reason over the other. It did seem to be a little roomier and the noise from the ferries, of which there was a constant flow, was perhaps a little less.
It had been a long day so we didn’t explore too much, just a walk around the very small town and a bite of sushi in the marina. What a great start !
Day 3
Bacon and eggs for breakfast. Settled up and left the birth by 10am. We headed to the bay at Espalmador. Isla de Espalmador is a very small island to the very north of Formenterra, the two are separated by a break in the sand of only 200 metres and the depth is only 0.3m. Anchoring in the bay is now prohibited and the government have placed buoys which can only be pre booked between June and end September. As it was the end of May no booking was available but the buoys were all in the place, so we were free to grab one. Easier said than done….. they didn’t have much give and with high side decks the only way for us was to use the tender.
The bay and beach are simply stunning.
The kids loved feeding the fish (lubina I think)
We really did have it to ourselves !!
Took the tender back down to Illetes to try another beach restaurant - this time Es Ministre, doesn’t have the glamour of Juan and Andrea but I think I prefer it’s more casual feel and unrivalled views.
Another long lazy lunch then back to the beach at Espalmador. Afternoon was slightly spoilt when my daughter got a jelly fish sting from a small but nasty purple stinger (Pelagia noctiluca). The reaction really was quite bad, luckily we are quite prepared so a dash back to the boat for the bic razors and local and oral anti histamines.
Bangers and beans for dinner on board and watched the sun go down with a beautiful bottle of red ! . Then to bed for our first night at anchor (buoy).
