Richard10002
Well-known member
On Saturday we left the marina at P. Andratx in Mallorca to anchor in the outer harbour - bearing in mind that this is a very pretty place with plenty of facilities..
The pilot book says that anchoring here is discouraged by the authorities, and not to anchor in the fairway, but it has been full every night whilst we were in the marina, (3 nights), and every night since, (2 nights), even with a few yachgts anchored in the fairway.
So, we drop the hook well out of the fairway, and it doesnt set, (weed and hard sand - CQR type Hi-Blade), so we try again - sets but we are too near another boat, (so I think - see on). So we try elsewhere ... after 5 trys we get it set with 1800 revs in reverse. We are not in the fairway at any point of our swing, I dive the anchor and it has found a rare non weedy patch of sand and is dug in - Great.... here I am for 2 weeks or so.
At around 6pm, loads of boats come in and anchore closer to us and other boats than I would ever dream, (only done it 4 times so far). The boat in front of us, a bit to port, we could pass a cup of sugar if the wanted some!
Anyway... I decide this must be the norm and, if all swing the same way, and all are dug in, so we get ready to go ashore for tea.
About to step in the tender when the Spanish harbour Police tell us to move 10 metres nearer the shore - I begin an argument along the lines of "why didnt you tell us at 3pm when there was room", and "how are we supposed to do that with all these boats here?"
"I am the Spanish Police and you do what I tell you!" ... no room for further discussion.
He moved one other boat which was a bit nearer the fairway than us, and didnt move two boats which were anchored in the fairway.
Anyway, after another 5 trys of not setting, and dragging up weed, we anchored outside the harbour, and were able to hold 1200 revs in reverse. Weather was fine, so even if not dug in we shouldnt move with 120ft of chain in 30 ft of water.
We didnt move, have been here 2 nights, although I dove the anchor and it's in thick weed and isnt dug in. Moved it so its' point is just in the sand through the weed so if we start to drag it might get a grip.
The point of the post is that P. Andratx is hard sand and thick weed. The Spanish police are petty arbitrary b$$$$ds, and a CQR type will not penetrate weed and hard sand the way I do it.
I'm off to find out how to buy a Rocna, (which I'm not expecting to be easy) - no ifs or buts!
I almost certainly wont be coming to The Balearics in the summer again
I hate the Spanish Police
I will be doing my best to avoid anywhere with weed.
Any observations welcomed
Richard - Blood Angry
The pilot book says that anchoring here is discouraged by the authorities, and not to anchor in the fairway, but it has been full every night whilst we were in the marina, (3 nights), and every night since, (2 nights), even with a few yachgts anchored in the fairway.
So, we drop the hook well out of the fairway, and it doesnt set, (weed and hard sand - CQR type Hi-Blade), so we try again - sets but we are too near another boat, (so I think - see on). So we try elsewhere ... after 5 trys we get it set with 1800 revs in reverse. We are not in the fairway at any point of our swing, I dive the anchor and it has found a rare non weedy patch of sand and is dug in - Great.... here I am for 2 weeks or so.
At around 6pm, loads of boats come in and anchore closer to us and other boats than I would ever dream, (only done it 4 times so far). The boat in front of us, a bit to port, we could pass a cup of sugar if the wanted some!
Anyway... I decide this must be the norm and, if all swing the same way, and all are dug in, so we get ready to go ashore for tea.
About to step in the tender when the Spanish harbour Police tell us to move 10 metres nearer the shore - I begin an argument along the lines of "why didnt you tell us at 3pm when there was room", and "how are we supposed to do that with all these boats here?"
"I am the Spanish Police and you do what I tell you!" ... no room for further discussion.
He moved one other boat which was a bit nearer the fairway than us, and didnt move two boats which were anchored in the fairway.
Anyway, after another 5 trys of not setting, and dragging up weed, we anchored outside the harbour, and were able to hold 1200 revs in reverse. Weather was fine, so even if not dug in we shouldnt move with 120ft of chain in 30 ft of water.
We didnt move, have been here 2 nights, although I dove the anchor and it's in thick weed and isnt dug in. Moved it so its' point is just in the sand through the weed so if we start to drag it might get a grip.
The point of the post is that P. Andratx is hard sand and thick weed. The Spanish police are petty arbitrary b$$$$ds, and a CQR type will not penetrate weed and hard sand the way I do it.
I'm off to find out how to buy a Rocna, (which I'm not expecting to be easy) - no ifs or buts!
I almost certainly wont be coming to The Balearics in the summer again
I hate the Spanish Police
I will be doing my best to avoid anywhere with weed.
Any observations welcomed
Richard - Blood Angry
