JamesTT
Well-Known Member
Last weekend I flew out from Manchester with a Pal to crew for another friend who was moving his Fairline Squadron 58 from Puerto Banus to Palma Majorca, tough but someone`s got to do it.
We arrived onto the boat on the Friday evening, we cleaned up, got out and enjoyed a great night out in the very lively town of Puerto Banus, the place was heaving, even bumped into the boxer Ricky Hatton.
Up bright and early the next norning the crew assembled for a team photo, the Captains daughter is taking the shot.
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The boat was purchased new in England in 2005 and was sailed by the owner and Captain from Abersoch to Puerto Banus last year.
We cast off at 8.30am in calm, warm conditions for the longest of three planned legs at 230Nm to Cartagena.
The sea was like glass, all up on the fly bridge ( bigger than whole of my boat ), auto pilot set and cruising at 24 knts.
This is Kingy!
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About 70 Nm into the trip and just off the coast of Motril in around 700m of water we spotted some fins, we had been seeing small dolphins or porpoise all morning but these were slow moving ane remained on the surface.
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We thought at the time that they were Pilot Whales and having seen other pictures of them on the web today I am certain that is what they were, amazing large gentle animals, I actually went in for a swim with them but the pictures are not on my camera!
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We pushed on now in and out of sight of the coast, passing Almeria and crossing the busy shipping lane from the big port there.
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The sun was scorching during the afternoon as we kept plastering on the factor 20.
Cartagena Port coming into view at around 6pm
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Cartagena is a big industrial port, there is what appears to be a large cement works, a busy Naval base, a small yacht marina and not much else. Although the staff were very helpful and fuelled the boat up whist we enjoyed a well deserved beer in the marina cafe.
We were moored outside the marina on the commercial harbour wall quite a distance from the facilites.
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Lots of construction at Cartagena
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We walked a mile or so into the old town, very very Spanish and very few tourists to be seen. We enjoyed a terrific tapas meal in the old square and returned back to the boat for a sing song and a few more beers.
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I had a great sleep on the fly bridge and was awoken by the sun rise at about 5 am the next morning, Sunday.
We went ashore searching for a breakfast, but returned empty handed despite my best efforts to break into a locked up Burger King.
Dejected we cast off at 10.30am for the 100Nm leg to Ibiza and hopefully some food!
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The mid day sun once again was searing and we went for a dip in 600m of water somewhere off the coast by Alicante
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The Captain is going to like this one!
We continued on a fairly uneventful and traffic free leg, until we spotted this beautiful Mochi Dophin just off Ibiza
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It almost made me forget my hunger!
Nearing Ibiza we passed through the southern tail of islands which was realy busy with boat traffic large and small but all stunning, until we turned for the port and saw this, unfortunately I have forgotten the name but I believe it's 160ft long is arranged over 5 decks and is privately owned!
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We had made the marina at Botafoc aware that we were coming at regular intervals along the way but they being very unhelpful.
We pushed our way in and berthed at the fuel dock with reluctant consent, but were unable to be served fuel as it was closed.
We took on water and went shopping for supplies.
What a place, the boats were just amazing making our S58 look small! ( sorry Mark ).
After two or three hours we got the nod and were shown a berth opposite the fuel dock, stern to on the main quay wall.
The Captain did a great job of explaining the procedures for mooring stern to and we carried out a text book manouvre, which was just as well with a Azimut 90 one side and a very trendy Technomarine 75 the other side of us!
We cleaned up, dressed up and hit the old town of Ibiza, the place was packed, in maked difference to Caratgena the night before.We received a recommendation for a Morocan restaurant about 15 minute taxi ride away called El Ayoun, absolutely fantastic the nicest meal I have had in years with great service and great craic!, we hit some of the famous Ibiza clubs on the way back and got back to the boat around 5 am, I felt 18 again until the alcohol wore off!
Again slept up on the fly bridge, this time with my Pal!. The sun didn't wake me up this time, I could have slept all day but the clattering of china plates, the smell of fresh croissants and coffee did, we thought the Captain was cooking!
Unfortunately he wasn't the action was from the staff on the boat next door who were preparing breakfast for the Italian family that owned the boat, my Pal and I leaned over from the flybridge in our boxer shorts and asked the Lady of the boat what time to expect us??
Having upset our neighbours and with only a short leg ahead to Palma we convinced the Captain that we should eat before we left, the facilities ashore at Botafoc were great but the mile walk from along the quay in 30 degree sun with a thick head was tough!
We were pushed out of our berth at noon by the two professional crews of the neighbouring superyachts, swinging space hopper size fenders into whatever gaps they could, although to be fair they needn't have been worried, our Captain had taken this baby from North Wales to Ibiza without a scratch, now none of them had done that.
We were booked on 7.30pm flights from Palma on the Monday evening and we had reckoned on a 3 hr leg. We had made good time all trip so we headed North around the island to visit one of the top ten berths featured in this months MBM called Cala Moli, when we got there it was packed and reading the article again only suitable for upto 15m, we moved on and stopped at Cala Tarida.
Just after we had dropped the hook the club 18 to 30 glass bottom tour boat arrived with about 200 screaming drunk nudes on board so we convinced the Captain that we should hang around for a bit and watch them walk the planks!
We left around 2pm and turned into a stiff breeze. We could only make 17 to 18 knts without removing the beer tins from the tables so we settled into a longer cruise to Palma.
We rearanged the flights on the interweb and settled into another fairly uneventful run. Again all the ports at Palma were reluctant to accept us but the Captains friend at Fairline Majorca called up with berth just in time at Santa Ponsa, otherwise we would have been barging in at Portals!
Arriving at Santa Ponsa, it doesn't get much nicer than this
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Moored just outside the marina
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Entrance to Santa Ponsa
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The Captain receiving Instructions ( something he doesn't normally do ) from the fuel attendant at Santa Ponsa, it was closed!
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Last night just to bring us back down to earth we went for a curry in Magaluf!
And that's the end of one of the best boating trips that I have enjoyed so far, and I wasn't driving. I wish now that I had taken more pictures but it gets busy when you get into port and it was hard work trvelling the decks with a camera in had, especially with my record!
We arrived onto the boat on the Friday evening, we cleaned up, got out and enjoyed a great night out in the very lively town of Puerto Banus, the place was heaving, even bumped into the boxer Ricky Hatton.
Up bright and early the next norning the crew assembled for a team photo, the Captains daughter is taking the shot.
[image]
The boat was purchased new in England in 2005 and was sailed by the owner and Captain from Abersoch to Puerto Banus last year.
We cast off at 8.30am in calm, warm conditions for the longest of three planned legs at 230Nm to Cartagena.
The sea was like glass, all up on the fly bridge ( bigger than whole of my boat ), auto pilot set and cruising at 24 knts.
This is Kingy!
[image]
About 70 Nm into the trip and just off the coast of Motril in around 700m of water we spotted some fins, we had been seeing small dolphins or porpoise all morning but these were slow moving ane remained on the surface.
[image]
We thought at the time that they were Pilot Whales and having seen other pictures of them on the web today I am certain that is what they were, amazing large gentle animals, I actually went in for a swim with them but the pictures are not on my camera!
[image]
We pushed on now in and out of sight of the coast, passing Almeria and crossing the busy shipping lane from the big port there.
[image]
[image]
The sun was scorching during the afternoon as we kept plastering on the factor 20.
Cartagena Port coming into view at around 6pm
[image]
Cartagena is a big industrial port, there is what appears to be a large cement works, a busy Naval base, a small yacht marina and not much else. Although the staff were very helpful and fuelled the boat up whist we enjoyed a well deserved beer in the marina cafe.
We were moored outside the marina on the commercial harbour wall quite a distance from the facilites.
[image]
Lots of construction at Cartagena
[image]
We walked a mile or so into the old town, very very Spanish and very few tourists to be seen. We enjoyed a terrific tapas meal in the old square and returned back to the boat for a sing song and a few more beers.
[image]
I had a great sleep on the fly bridge and was awoken by the sun rise at about 5 am the next morning, Sunday.
We went ashore searching for a breakfast, but returned empty handed despite my best efforts to break into a locked up Burger King.
Dejected we cast off at 10.30am for the 100Nm leg to Ibiza and hopefully some food!
[image]
The mid day sun once again was searing and we went for a dip in 600m of water somewhere off the coast by Alicante
[image]
The Captain is going to like this one!
We continued on a fairly uneventful and traffic free leg, until we spotted this beautiful Mochi Dophin just off Ibiza
[image]
It almost made me forget my hunger!
Nearing Ibiza we passed through the southern tail of islands which was realy busy with boat traffic large and small but all stunning, until we turned for the port and saw this, unfortunately I have forgotten the name but I believe it's 160ft long is arranged over 5 decks and is privately owned!
[image]
We had made the marina at Botafoc aware that we were coming at regular intervals along the way but they being very unhelpful.
We pushed our way in and berthed at the fuel dock with reluctant consent, but were unable to be served fuel as it was closed.
We took on water and went shopping for supplies.
What a place, the boats were just amazing making our S58 look small! ( sorry Mark ).
After two or three hours we got the nod and were shown a berth opposite the fuel dock, stern to on the main quay wall.
The Captain did a great job of explaining the procedures for mooring stern to and we carried out a text book manouvre, which was just as well with a Azimut 90 one side and a very trendy Technomarine 75 the other side of us!
We cleaned up, dressed up and hit the old town of Ibiza, the place was packed, in maked difference to Caratgena the night before.We received a recommendation for a Morocan restaurant about 15 minute taxi ride away called El Ayoun, absolutely fantastic the nicest meal I have had in years with great service and great craic!, we hit some of the famous Ibiza clubs on the way back and got back to the boat around 5 am, I felt 18 again until the alcohol wore off!
Again slept up on the fly bridge, this time with my Pal!. The sun didn't wake me up this time, I could have slept all day but the clattering of china plates, the smell of fresh croissants and coffee did, we thought the Captain was cooking!
Unfortunately he wasn't the action was from the staff on the boat next door who were preparing breakfast for the Italian family that owned the boat, my Pal and I leaned over from the flybridge in our boxer shorts and asked the Lady of the boat what time to expect us??
Having upset our neighbours and with only a short leg ahead to Palma we convinced the Captain that we should eat before we left, the facilities ashore at Botafoc were great but the mile walk from along the quay in 30 degree sun with a thick head was tough!
We were pushed out of our berth at noon by the two professional crews of the neighbouring superyachts, swinging space hopper size fenders into whatever gaps they could, although to be fair they needn't have been worried, our Captain had taken this baby from North Wales to Ibiza without a scratch, now none of them had done that.
We were booked on 7.30pm flights from Palma on the Monday evening and we had reckoned on a 3 hr leg. We had made good time all trip so we headed North around the island to visit one of the top ten berths featured in this months MBM called Cala Moli, when we got there it was packed and reading the article again only suitable for upto 15m, we moved on and stopped at Cala Tarida.
Just after we had dropped the hook the club 18 to 30 glass bottom tour boat arrived with about 200 screaming drunk nudes on board so we convinced the Captain that we should hang around for a bit and watch them walk the planks!
We left around 2pm and turned into a stiff breeze. We could only make 17 to 18 knts without removing the beer tins from the tables so we settled into a longer cruise to Palma.
We rearanged the flights on the interweb and settled into another fairly uneventful run. Again all the ports at Palma were reluctant to accept us but the Captains friend at Fairline Majorca called up with berth just in time at Santa Ponsa, otherwise we would have been barging in at Portals!
Arriving at Santa Ponsa, it doesn't get much nicer than this
[image]
Moored just outside the marina
[image]
Entrance to Santa Ponsa
[image]
The Captain receiving Instructions ( something he doesn't normally do ) from the fuel attendant at Santa Ponsa, it was closed!
[image]
Last night just to bring us back down to earth we went for a curry in Magaluf!
And that's the end of one of the best boating trips that I have enjoyed so far, and I wasn't driving. I wish now that I had taken more pictures but it gets busy when you get into port and it was hard work trvelling the decks with a camera in had, especially with my record!
