NGM
Member
Day 4
I didn’t enjoy that night. Whilst being on a buoy alleviated fears of drifting, the noise and motion of the boat just made for very broken sleep, there was a small breeze and for the earlier part of the evening some wash from the distant ferries but I was say on balance benign conditions – for now happy to stick with marinas (never say never).
The weather turned a little cloudy so we reluctantly decided to leave the idyllic Formenterra. We will be back ! - although will most definitely avoid mid-July through August. We were told marinas are impossible to access (even getting water a challenge) and the crowds on the beach take away much of the idyllic charm.
We had called ahead to Botofoch marina, in Puerto de Ibiza luckily they had room, in fact just the two spaces – again near on impossible in high season. DVD for the kids, sunbathe for my wife and I went for a nosy at boats – sorry I forgot the camera but as you can imagine there were plenty of beautiful craft.
I did get this on my phone, my son’s favourite...
Late afternoon, we went to explore the castle and old town,
really beautiful
and spectacular views.
Tried to get past all the boutiques and in a cab back to Botofoch, didn’t quite make it – ouch !!
Dinner in one of the many beautiful restaurants in the marina and this time a very sound night’s sleep.
Day 5
Party on board !! my son’s fifth birthday, so balloons and cake.
After present opening and cooked breakfast we headed off to Cala Llonga
Situated about 6nm along the east coast from Puerto Ibiza, Cala Llonga is a long thin and well-protected cala except from easterly winds (guess what we had ! albeit slight ).
It really is beautiful but like many parts of Spain somewhat spoilt by over development.
Looking east out of the Cala ,
We had a fun few hours, eating , drinking, playing board games and more cake.
Back to Botafoch more games, more cake !
late afternoon and another trip into town – they have water taxis direct from the marina but we kept missing them !
The guys got dressed up Ibiza style for the birthday dinner. Again in the marina and again very good.
Day 6
I fully appreciate time can’t dictate when to make a passage but we did need to get back to the mainland for a flight on Sunday. Whilst another day would have been great Wednesday looked the best of a mixed bunch.
Winds were forecast to be against us at 15-20 knots with the wave height at zero. I expected the wind to cause some degree of surface waves but felt we should be ok especially as the worst of the wind was close to the Island and forecast to be much calmer closer to the mainland.
Again an early departure, the first 90 mins was, as expected, a little bumpy but nothing to worry about. Then, exactly halfway across the conditions deteriorated rapidly, we slowed a little from 22kn, but it got worse. The waves got as bad a 2m and a few came over the top – note to self, close sunroof as conditions get worse. It started to get very uncomfortable and the best speed was at 10kn, with 30nm to go the thought of 3+ hours like this wasn’t appealing. Whilst I was never concerned for our safety I did worry that the kids would find it intolerable and frightening – luckily they loved it !
After 5 hours, we finally completed the 65nm back to Moraira. We had heard this was a great little town and a nice marina always with plenty of visitor space and had friends staying there on their way out to the Balearics so had planned to meet up. We radioed in – there was a regatta on – sorry no room at the inn ! After several hours in a washing machine this was not what we wanted to hear !!
We radioed to Calpe, 5nm further south and they had space. A nice marina in a spectacular setting against the backdrop of the Penyal d’Ifac ( a huge limestone outcrop linked to the mainland).
Calpe along with Moraira and Denia is a convenient stop over for a crossing to Ibiza however the town itself really isn’t worth a visit – in fact it’s awful.
We were rather down and predicting a bad culinary experience, however the taxi driver came up trumps and took us to a stunning Dutch run restaurant. I would now visit again just to go back – Restaurante Puerto Blanco.
Day 7
A final early start and a glorious day with flat conditions – we loved boating again !
An hour to Alicante, fuel stop and breakfast.
45 mins to Torrevieja, for a coffee stop whilst our dealer checked over a couple of issues on board.
And finally back down to the Mar Menor,
A Spanish Air Force academy is based at San Javier (Murcia) airport, they are always training so free shows are common.
Today we got one ....
it was so flat we could help anchoring and playing around for a bit.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed the trip, Formentara and Ibiza are the most beautiful places and 5 days was far too short. The crossing back gave us some anxious moments but I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have a story at least that bad. I need to further my knowledge on reading weather reports to satisfy that I was genuinely caught out rather than unprepared. The boat performed exceptionally and for a 45 footer never felt cramped.
325 nm in total
Fuel approx 1500 litres
Marina costs including elec and water
Alicante € 75
Formentera Mar € 70
Botafoch € 50
Calpe € 49
Buoys in Espalmador and other Balearic locations
http://www.balearslifeposidonia.eu
Regards Nick
I didn’t enjoy that night. Whilst being on a buoy alleviated fears of drifting, the noise and motion of the boat just made for very broken sleep, there was a small breeze and for the earlier part of the evening some wash from the distant ferries but I was say on balance benign conditions – for now happy to stick with marinas (never say never).
The weather turned a little cloudy so we reluctantly decided to leave the idyllic Formenterra. We will be back ! - although will most definitely avoid mid-July through August. We were told marinas are impossible to access (even getting water a challenge) and the crowds on the beach take away much of the idyllic charm.
We had called ahead to Botofoch marina, in Puerto de Ibiza luckily they had room, in fact just the two spaces – again near on impossible in high season. DVD for the kids, sunbathe for my wife and I went for a nosy at boats – sorry I forgot the camera but as you can imagine there were plenty of beautiful craft.
I did get this on my phone, my son’s favourite...
Late afternoon, we went to explore the castle and old town,
really beautiful
and spectacular views.
Tried to get past all the boutiques and in a cab back to Botofoch, didn’t quite make it – ouch !!
Dinner in one of the many beautiful restaurants in the marina and this time a very sound night’s sleep.
Day 5
Party on board !! my son’s fifth birthday, so balloons and cake.
After present opening and cooked breakfast we headed off to Cala Llonga
Situated about 6nm along the east coast from Puerto Ibiza, Cala Llonga is a long thin and well-protected cala except from easterly winds (guess what we had ! albeit slight ).
It really is beautiful but like many parts of Spain somewhat spoilt by over development.
Looking east out of the Cala ,
We had a fun few hours, eating , drinking, playing board games and more cake.
Back to Botafoch more games, more cake !
late afternoon and another trip into town – they have water taxis direct from the marina but we kept missing them !
The guys got dressed up Ibiza style for the birthday dinner. Again in the marina and again very good.
Day 6
I fully appreciate time can’t dictate when to make a passage but we did need to get back to the mainland for a flight on Sunday. Whilst another day would have been great Wednesday looked the best of a mixed bunch.
Winds were forecast to be against us at 15-20 knots with the wave height at zero. I expected the wind to cause some degree of surface waves but felt we should be ok especially as the worst of the wind was close to the Island and forecast to be much calmer closer to the mainland.
Again an early departure, the first 90 mins was, as expected, a little bumpy but nothing to worry about. Then, exactly halfway across the conditions deteriorated rapidly, we slowed a little from 22kn, but it got worse. The waves got as bad a 2m and a few came over the top – note to self, close sunroof as conditions get worse. It started to get very uncomfortable and the best speed was at 10kn, with 30nm to go the thought of 3+ hours like this wasn’t appealing. Whilst I was never concerned for our safety I did worry that the kids would find it intolerable and frightening – luckily they loved it !
After 5 hours, we finally completed the 65nm back to Moraira. We had heard this was a great little town and a nice marina always with plenty of visitor space and had friends staying there on their way out to the Balearics so had planned to meet up. We radioed in – there was a regatta on – sorry no room at the inn ! After several hours in a washing machine this was not what we wanted to hear !!
We radioed to Calpe, 5nm further south and they had space. A nice marina in a spectacular setting against the backdrop of the Penyal d’Ifac ( a huge limestone outcrop linked to the mainland).
Calpe along with Moraira and Denia is a convenient stop over for a crossing to Ibiza however the town itself really isn’t worth a visit – in fact it’s awful.
We were rather down and predicting a bad culinary experience, however the taxi driver came up trumps and took us to a stunning Dutch run restaurant. I would now visit again just to go back – Restaurante Puerto Blanco.
Day 7
A final early start and a glorious day with flat conditions – we loved boating again !
An hour to Alicante, fuel stop and breakfast.
45 mins to Torrevieja, for a coffee stop whilst our dealer checked over a couple of issues on board.
And finally back down to the Mar Menor,
A Spanish Air Force academy is based at San Javier (Murcia) airport, they are always training so free shows are common.
Today we got one ....
it was so flat we could help anchoring and playing around for a bit.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed the trip, Formentara and Ibiza are the most beautiful places and 5 days was far too short. The crossing back gave us some anxious moments but I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have a story at least that bad. I need to further my knowledge on reading weather reports to satisfy that I was genuinely caught out rather than unprepared. The boat performed exceptionally and for a 45 footer never felt cramped.
325 nm in total
Fuel approx 1500 litres
Marina costs including elec and water
Alicante € 75
Formentera Mar € 70
Botafoch € 50
Calpe € 49
Buoys in Espalmador and other Balearic locations
http://www.balearslifeposidonia.eu
Regards Nick
