Round Mallorca Trip. What else could go wrong.

[DougH]

Just the two of us on board and cracking weather forecast so decided to do a 10 day round Mallorca trip.

Next morning getting ready to cast off when I realise that the boat cleaners have trapped the bitter end of one of the spring lines between the bathing platform and the hull.
Of course the platform is stuck and refuses to rise or fall. Spend the next hour in the blistering heat cutting the rope free. Platform then free and operates.

Leave Cala d"Or and head for Cabrera and notice a vibration on the steering so reminiscent of the dreaded crustaceans on the props.
Ring mr Fixit Steve Hookings who arranges for us to be lifted at Port Adriano for a pressure wash provided we could arrive by 15:30 hrs.

Turn west at Cabrera and the E120 plotter loses all data and fads out. Tried reboot but no go. Luckily have second plotter on flybridge and local knowledge so no worries.

We arrive at Port Adriano at 15:29hrs and go straight into the lift.
Boat cleaned and back in water. Perfect. Really great service by this yard.

Book restaurant and about to leave to have a drink when notice that the water pump is not switching off.
Look in engine room and find a plastic non standard tee has one of the connector collars broken.
Naturally this is next to a 175 litre hot water tank in an extremely hot engine room next to a roasting 900hp engine.

Say he appropriate words and go for refreshments.

Wait until 22:00hrs in the hope engine room will cool (some chance) and spend next 2 hours sweating like a pig robbing parts from other pipework to repair the break.
Find out to my surprise that I might make a plumber yet.

Next morning Rapha the Raymarine engineer attends and resets the plotter to make it work but says it will have to be returned to Raymarine UK for repair to the power unit. End of season soon so thats a result.

All to much for us oldies so decide to stay one more night.
Go to retract passarelle that night and find it will not operate.

Noel the Bezzonone passarelle engineer attends and manages to make a temporary repair but we cannot operate the unit properly as it needs a new shaft between the pump and hydraulic unit.
Needs very careful nursing.

Decide to leave for Soller and get a warning from Stb engine that the alternator is not charging.
MAN engineer from Delta Diesel arrives, confirms that alternator is defective and that the bearings are in need of replacement.
Delta Diesel fit a second hand unit from their stock and take old unit away for proper inspection.

We depart and head for Soller betting between us what will go wrong next.

Berth at Soller no problem and all is good in the world.

Should keep my mouth firmly shut.
A new (4 month old) catamaran helmed by a rather incompetent gentleman tries to berth next to us in calm winds making a complete mess of the process and nearly careering in our port side.
The situation was saved by a very competent handover skipper and my wife leaping into action with fenders.

Nice friendly people (including helmsman) who told me they were leaving the next day.
They did leave next day with the same helmsman (who was the owner) and he managed to impact my boats bow area with his Stb stern.
Fortunately no damage due to fenders deployed by us the previous night.

We stay one more day but are dismayed that evening to see them returning to the berth again as the owner had picked up a young lady and he wanted to take her to the best restaurant in the port.
Mad panic on our part as we put out the large inflatable fenders in the hope we can keep him at bay.
Sigh of relief, the owner is not at the helm and the other member of crew makes a better job of mooring up.

Next morning young lady has disappeared and the owner takes the helm to depart.
MORE FENDERS.
Catamaran leaves the berth oscillating from side to side due to the incompetent helmsman not understanding how to control two engines in close quarter manoeuvring.
Gets his Stb beam level with my bow and turns to Stb like a car.
The marinero on the pontoon screams as his Sbd engine prop passes over our bow mooring line and cuts through it.
He carries merrily on his way as though nothing has happened.

We leave Soller and head for Port Alcudia.

On passage we stop in Cala Vincente for lunch. Terrific, Cala is empty so decide to take Rib for a run and visit a bar on the beach.

AGHHHHHHHHHH the bathing platform has packed up and we cannot launch the tender.

I GIVE UP.

We leave for Port Alcudia.

Arrive at Alcudia at approx. 15:00hrs and the wind is blowing more than I would like but not enough to worry me.
Get offered a berth on the end of a pontoon. No, not a hammer head a pontoon head about 2 metres wide. We are 20 metres long so refuse their offer.
Marinero then finds us a berth along the main pontoon which I am delighted with. Wind is behind me so proceed to berth stern to.
Hell what is happening, wind is gusting from opposite direction and we are being pushed in every direction than the one I want to go in.
Get into berth somehow but scrape my stern on rubbing strake of next boat. No damage to the other boat but black marks on mine which cleans off.

Other boats owner not on board at first but returns later so give him my contact details should he find any damage that I could not see.
Very pleasant chap indeed.
Then told that it is not advisable to berth in Alcudia between 11:00 to 17:00hrs as the winds keep veering in all directions and wind strength.
The resident berth holders of the larger vessels tend to stay out and return late evening.

Next day leave Alcudia for Cala d"Or and berth at fuelling station only to see the dreaded catamaran in front.

Luck has at last returned, the catamaran is to wide too berth at the lower end of the marina so had to stay at the top pontoons.

I DREAD TO THINK HOW MANY BOW LINES HE WOULD HAVE CONNECTED WITH ON HIS PASSAGE THOUGH THE NARROW FAIRWAY.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Well, bad luck for such an incident-filled trip - but I have to say, I'm v impressed at the sheer number of Mr Fixit's that you seem to know!

 

[rafiki_]

That sounds like a very trying trip. Well done for your tenacity.

 

[SLC]

At least it didn't rain.

Well done, I'd have given up.

 

[pan]

Interesting trip Doug..:ambivalence: I assume you were on the outer wall of Tramuntana, he must have really got hold of your bow line, they are about 2" thick, unless he had rope cutters fitted! Have to say the wind in Mallorca this summer has been all over the place, usually not in the direction or force of the forecasts. I was intending to report an earlier summer trip of ours which started on day one with an engine alarm/shutdown (faulty sensor, Delta fixed in Adriano), next day anchor windlass gearbox failed with 50 meters of chain out & blowing a bit (Total marine replaced), then to cap it off 2 days later a prop fell off in Portals Vells (diver needed, one engine back to portals & of course a bit extra wind for docking!)…. Mallorca jinx???

 

[julians]

, then to cap it off 2 days later a prop fell off in Portals Vells (diver needed, one engine back to portals & of course a bit extra wind for docking!)…. Mallorca jinx???

I lost an anchor in portals vells earlier this year, and then in august I sheared a prop shaft on the outdrive just outside port adriano, leading to one prop (of the two duoprops) falling into the sea, and a rebuild of the drive.

 

[MedMilo]

What a tough marathon that turned out to be! But sounds as though you got great service from Mallorca's support infrastructure all the way round the island. Not to mention the able assistance of the lovely Mrs Doug who saved the day with her speedy fender deployment!

 

[Hurricane]

We had a similar incident to your Cat one - in Cala d'Or
Big yachtie aiming to berth near the travel lift dock - you will know it.
He was running down the leeward side if the fairway - it isn't that wide there - and caught is keel across one of the lazy lines (not ours thankfully - but the one next to ours)
I was worried that he would drift down onto our bow so I stayed on our bow and send my crew/visitors to help.
He then seemed completely surprised that his bow thruster that had been running for a good 2 mins - just gave up!
By then, all the anchors of the berthed boats were rubbing down the side of his boat - even though his crew and us were fending off.
Dockmasters tried to help - even brought the marina launch (a dory) down - that didn't work and the ?uggered off to fetch help.
Eventually he got his keel free and (I cant understand why) put his engine in full reverse, instantly wrapping his prop round another lazy line.
What a plonker, I thought.
Nobody seemed to be in charge - even less this skipper - who was wandering around muttering "why does this always happen to me!!"
Now, this skipper was very lucky.
My SWMBO turned up and took control of the whole situation
When she gives an order - YOU DO IT - even the dockmasters did as they were told.
Just shows what you can do when you are assertive - she had the whole thing under control in a matter of minutes.
The harbour launch then arrived back with a diver who then sorted out the mess.
Dammage - to the yacht was mainly decks - but the Sunseeker next door but one to us had some nasty scuffs on his bathing platform where it had been pushed back to the quay.

Most of the time yachties are quite skilled but this guy was a liability.
Seems your Cat chap comes from the same stable.

 

[DougH]

Well, bad luck for such an incident-filled trip - but I have to say, I'm v impressed at the sheer number of Mr Fixit's that you seem to know!

Just one Mr Fixit Jimmy, Steve Hookings (ex Sunseeker apprentice) who is known and respected all over the Island.

He manages and maintains all aspects of the boat for us.

Would be lost without him.

 

[DougH]

Interesting trip Doug..:ambivalence: I assume you were on the outer wall of Tramuntana, he must have really got hold of your bow line, they are about 2" thick, unless he had rope cutters fitted! Have to say the wind in Mallorca this summer has been all over the place, usually not in the direction or force of the forecasts. I was intending to report an earlier summer trip of ours which started on day one with an engine alarm/shutdown (faulty sensor, Delta fixed in Adriano), next day anchor windlass gearbox failed with 50 meters of chain out & blowing a bit (Total marine replaced), then to cap it off 2 days later a prop fell off in Portals Vells (diver needed, one engine back to portals & of course a bit extra wind for docking!)…. Mallorca jinx???

No, we were on the first pontoon berth on the inner harbour right behind the Night Club (Container converted into a bar).

The bow ropes were of normal size for a 20 metre boat but I had them pulled tight due to commercial traffic.
He did not cut right though with his prop but did enough damage for the weight of my boat to break the rope due to the tension

We have also been berthed on the outer wall and got a real surprise at the size of the huge mooring rope, couldn't wind it around our cleats and had to attach one of our winter mooring ropes to the ships size rope offered before we could secure the boat.

Love Soller and Marina Tramuntana, the guys who run the office, and the marineros, are so friendly and helpful.

 

[DougH]

What a tough marathon that turned out to be! But sounds as though you got great service from Mallorca's support infrastructure all the way round the island. Not to mention the able assistance of the lovely Mrs Doug who saved the day with her speedy fender deployment!

You smoothy Miles, Mrs Doug (Shirley) has got all excited at her name being mentioned on the forum.

Forgot to mention her strong women antics during my **** berthing at Alcudia. She was up and down the side decks pushing and pulling on the other boats side rails to keep us apart whilst shouting her instructions in a very professional manner.

Tried to promote her to 1st Officer but she says I am not qualified to make such judgements and is going to talk to Mike at Sea Teach and discuss with him if she should take over as captain.

 

[DougH]

Hi Mike, was the boat called 'Miami to Ibiza' by any chance.

The owner was an English guy who now lives in the USA. He had a young South African who was the captain and a very experienced French lady who was attempting to teach the owner how to handle the boat, and she got very heated at times.

Unfortunatly the owner just seemed to ignore her and was oblivious of everyone around him.

Nice enough chap off the boat but a real danger when he tried to be a mariner.

 

[pan]

No, we were on the first pontoon berth on the inner harbour right behind the Night Club (Container converted into a bar).

The bow ropes were of normal size for a 20 metre boat but I had them pulled tight due to commercial traffic.
He did not cut right though with his prop but did enough damage for the weight of my boat to break the rope due to the tension

We have also been berthed on the outer wall and got a real surprise at the size of the huge mooring rope, couldn't wind it around our cleats and had to attach one of our winter mooring ropes to the ships size rope offered before we could secure the boat.

Love Soller and Marina Tramuntana, the guys who run the office, and the marineros, are so friendly and helpful.

Yes great guys at Tramuntana, same problem on outer harbour with bowline (we just wrap it round the anchor winch until I can get another line on it) La base bar is my favourite for 'tall stories', tell our guests it was set up by a crew member left behind by his skipper after a heavy night, no money so sees the container & turns it into a bar, now thinking of franchising it around the world….. (some of my friends might be a bit gullible!)

 

[MedMilo]

Tried to promote her to 1st Officer but she says I am not qualified to make such judgements and is going to talk to Mike at Sea Teach and discuss with him if she should take over as captain.[/QUOTE]

Admiral Shirley at very least, with Petty Officer Doug doing as he's told!!

 

[DougH]

Admiral Shirley at very least, with Petty Officer Doug doing as he's told!![/QUOTE]

'Doing as I'm told', nothing new there then:nonchalance:

 

[westernman]

I sailed into Alcudia once and onto the berth behind the fuel station.

We called up the port, but they did not want to send any one out to tow us in - so we sailed in. They had kittens!

We had anchored overnight in the bay and when starting up the engine to leave, the starter motor caught fire - and of course to put out the flames we stopped the engine and discharged a fire extinguisher over everything.

Anyway cost a small fortune to get the starter motor changed. The port office were pretty unhelpful - they complained about us being on a super yacht berth, but did not want to tow us to another berth and threatened to have me arrested for suggesting I would sail to another berth. I had obviously very seriously annoyed them by sailing into the port.

 

[DougH]

I sailed into Alcudia once and onto the berth behind the fuel station.

We called up the port, but they did not want to send any one out to tow us in - so we sailed in. They had kittens!

We had anchored overnight in the bay and when starting up the engine to leave, the starter motor caught fire - and of course to put out the flames we stopped the engine and discharged a fire extinguisher over everything.

Anyway cost a small fortune to get the starter motor changed. The port office were pretty unhelpful - they complained about us being on a super yacht berth, but did not want to tow us to another berth and threatened to have me arrested for suggesting I would sail to another berth. I had obviously very seriously annoyed them by sailing into the port.

We do not find Alcudia an attractive marina but the staff have always been very polite and helpful, it's just the general ambience that does not appeal to us.

Most of the super yacht berths appear to be taken at most times so maybe you were in a reserved spot and they were awaiting the return of the berth holder.

Whilst I can understand the reluctance to you sailing into another berth just why they refused to move you with their small tender craft puzzles me as well.

The thought of a mad yottie under sail berthing stern too next to my boat fills me with dread.

You certainly sound very competent and they should have realised that the situation you was in necessitated drastic action.

NB Please do not try and berth in Cala d'Or under sail without an engine as after the catamaran experience my nerves would go to shot.

 

[Andrew38]

Have to ask if the catamaran was a Fountaine Pajot called Elena? If so we met him on the RCNP med mooring pontoon in Palma last week. We were away from the boat but apparently he used my boat as a turning point and then added injury to insult by cutting my bow mooring line. Marineros and friendly yachties re-tied her. We returned 3 hours later and he was still trying to get her straight on the med mooring.

No apparent damage fortunately as the boat was Russian owned and sailing under the Cook Islands flag doing unlicensed charter work.

 

[westernman]

NB Please do not try and berth in Cala d'Or under sail without an engine as after the catamaran experience my nerves would go to shot.

Berthing without an engine does not do my nerves any good either....... There are a few things which have to go right and for which there is no plan B possible. And that is far too many for my health....

 

[julians]

I'm a motorboater in the main, but about 15 years ago I volunteered to help a friend deliver his sailing boat from Falmouth to Gibraltar. At some point in the journey the diesel engine packed up, so we had to sail onto a berth. I didnt do much, just stood by on deck with fenders just in case whilst the owner was in control, but it all went smoothly and was pretty impressive to see. I can imagine when it goes wrong it's also a fairly spectacular sight , but for the wrong reasons.