Sant carles to ibiza/cabrera/andratx in june

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Agree with MedMilo and jfm. Not sure why you'd want to spend 5 nights at Botafoch. Formentera does have an almost tropical vibe to it and you can drop the hook anyway off the sandy spit to the north or better pick up a buoy in Espalmador which is about the most beautiful anchorage in the area. Also when you cruise north from Ibiza, it would be a shame to miss out on the equally stunning anchorage at Portinatx. For Andratx, yes the marina is a bit of a schlap from the town; our preferred berthing method in Andratx was simply to drop the hook in the SW section of the cala (on the starboard side before the town) and dinghy into the town from there. There are also buoys further towards the town on the same side but these seemed to be occupied by mostly local boats. If you have time, instead of 2 nights in Andratx, I would spend 1 night there and 1 night in Soller up the coast. The port is attractive enough but a really nice thing to do is to take the tram upto the town of Soller for dinner. Also before you leave Majorca, go a bit further north and anchor for lunch at Sa Colobra; if there's no swell, take the dinghy to the beach for one of the most famous postcard views in Majorca
One last thing. Having spent a season in Denia before we moved permanently to the Balearics, it's a first class marina but I would spend only 1 night there and take the extra day in Ibiza

 

[jrudge]

The Andratx buoys are bookable on their web site. They tend to be less bouncy ( nautical term) than further out in the bay.

We had bad swell in Fomentera - we should have moved to the other side of the island but had a buoy booked so didnt! The formentera marina lets you in in the middle of the day for water / shopping. The fee was not cheap but not daft either - the charge - i think - by the hour or part thereof. Coming back from Formentera to Ibiza I saw more big boats ( big!) passing the other way (friday night) than I have ever seen in my life. It really was the closest thing to being on the M1 in a boat.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Coming back from Formentera to Ibiza I saw more big boats ( big!) passing the other way (friday night) than I have ever seen in my life. It really was the closest thing to being on the M1 in a boat.

Yup thats the problem with anchoring in Espalmador or on the west side of the long sandy spit. You get lots of wake from passing traffic but it all goes away at night

 

[John100156]

Well we returned from our vacation yesterday, now back on our home berth in Sant Carles:

1) 09/06/14 Trip to Andraitx
Having fully provisioned and meticulously planned our trip our first run was from SCM to Club De Vela in Pto de Andraitx, we had been watching the weather for a week or so, looking for a good slot enabling enough time for the sea to settle and to provide a window for a comfortable journey over for fear of mutiny from the crews of both Coral Rae and Betdylew, two Sealine F43’s. We needed to top-up the tanks early in SCM, so we slipped over to the fuel berth at 0800 to find the marineros ready and waiting to receive us, so after taking on 600 litres, we were full and ready to depart on schedule at 0830, with an ETA at Andraitx somewhere around 1400-1500Hrs.

The weather was dull to start with but the sea state and visibility were good, with nothing greater than F2 predicted for the entire route over to Mallorca. Both skippers agreed we would cruise at a steady 20-22k until we rounded south of Dragonera, then pootle in to Andraitx at 10k to allow the engines to cool down and to take in the views:

This is Betdylew:

The sea state remained flatter than a flat thing all of the way, the previously mutinous crew even fell asleep on the flybridge! Most of our long journeys were like this:

We encountered the usual pods of dolphins crossing our bow starboard to port, we slowed down to see if they wanted to play, but clearly they had a prior engagement and were late, so off they went but as always it was an honour to see them; Lyn was first to spot them so I had to remind her over VHF of a an old sailors hard and fast custom, that the first one to spot a dolphin had to buy all other crew members present a drink when arriving at the next port!

As we approached Dragonera, a large cruise ship was running down the west coast of Mallorca and was in competition with us to round the headland, we throttled-up a bit and all was going very well until it turned in, so with a good distance between us, we both courteously turned to starboard for a wide 360 turn to run up behind her, only to my surprise to be thanked by the officer on the watch, whom must have been a bit bored and monitoring channels, we were on Ch72, he said that they were just running closer in to the island to allow for sightseeing and would soon be on their way, which I thought was very courteous indeed, it would have taken them hours to wipe two little white smudges off their starboard beam had we stood on! We eventually crossed well astern of the ship and pootled in flat calm waters under bright blues skies into the port of Andraitx, spot on schedule at 1430, it took just 6 hours door to door.

A very nice and as expected busy approach into Pto de Andraitx, we had arranged (thanks to Evi and Mar at MDL Reception - SCM) two visitor’s berths in Club de Vela (CDV) - just keep running straight through the buoyed channel until you hit the wall at the end and you have found the CDV visitors quay! The cost of berthing and use of all facilities for 5 nights was €444.92 which equated to £361.59, not bad given some very good facilities, nice pool, restaurant, free water, power and WiFi and an excellent location, both crews were by now very happy. Paperwork, registration and payment were all taken directly at the berth and the boat rinsed down and all completed within 20 minutes! We decided to eat out every night as we were soon to go on the hook in Es Trenc and on to buoys in Cabrera and Espalmador, we found some very good restaurants and cocktail bars to end the evennings in.

11/06/14 Land trip to Soller
Two crews left CDV marina at 0840 to collect a bus number 102 from a stop located directly outside its entrance, this was the start of the 102 bus route that links Pto de Andraitx to Palma – the bus was therefore empty, the fare cost just under €6 each to run the entire route to its final destination: an ultra-modern bus station in Palma. The bus journey took about 75 minutes running through various resorts such as Paguera and Santa Ponca, from the station square in Palma it was just a 5 minute walk to the station where we collected the train to Soller:

I have wanted to take this historic old narrow gauge ‘Orange’ train journey from Palma to Soller for some years, the track cuts its way through and runs under mountains, with numerous heavily laden orange and lemon groves within a tempting arm’s length of the carriage, it winds its way high up into the mountains, with some excellent vistas. The cost per person for a return trip including the Tram that takes you from Soller town to Pto de Soller cost €28 each and well worth it. The train journey takes just over an hour.

A tram meets you at Soller station and you have the option to take it, or nose around the town and take a later one, they run about every half hour through the busy streets, with pedestrians and other vehicles taking evasive action to avoid collision or certain death!

We arrived in the port (where we berthed in 2009) and enjoyed an excellent lunch, meeting some people in a UK flagged sailing yacht, they too were considering moving to SCM – a small world indeed. We ended up the day having Mojitoes on a floating pontoon back in CDV at around 8pm. A thoroughly enjoyable day!

2) 14/06/14 Trip to Es Trenc:
Having dropped-off some seats that we had transported over for one raggie in SCM, to another in Andraitx (John and Bev), we thought that we would refuel early then pootle at 10k from Andraitx to Es Trenc, dropping into Portals Vells en-route, we arrived early and anchored close in, a lovely place to drop the hook but beware, within a few hours there were dozens of boats dropping their chain over each other and not leaving any space to swing whatsoever! My goodness if the wind changed direction fast, it would have been chaos! Still we managed to keep them off our chain (thanks to a decent PA on my Standard Horizon VHF) and all was well, so after lunch we decided to move on to
Es Trenc.

What an excellent spot (thanks to Hurricane whom recommended we visit it), the following picture taken from the beach bar where we lunched, my tender in the foreground and two F43s can be seen far right in the background:

Spent the night on the hook there, it really is a fantastic place to anchor; I laid 30m of chain and could see it all! Having both Raymarine and an Echopilot I still made up a weighted line just to check we were actually in 3m! There’s something nice about a measure and the thud of a weighted line hitting the seabed! Loads of space to anchor there:

3) 15/06/14 Es Trenc to Isla de Cabrera:
The short crossing was going to be a bit lumpy F4/5 but we had already booked two buoys for two nights, so all agreed that we would press-on, crew less mutinous now having had some long flat crossings, after all its only just over 10NM from Es Trenc! This was a lovely place to spend two tranquil days and nights, we took the tender over to the quay and trekked up to the castle, some lovely views:

We then had lunch in the Cantina, a very relaxed atmosphere and definitely worth a visit, a quick trip over to the blue cave as we departed to head to Espalmador, with Lorraine keeping a good lookout:

Even the sea gulls were chilled-out:

4) 17/06/14 Trip to Isla Formemtera
Well what a great place to visit, busy through the north and south cardinals between it and Ibiza, my goodness those ferries move at a pace! We arrived around 5pm and agreed to re-fuel in Sabina, then pootle down to Espalmador to find some buoys. I had attempted to book a buoy when in Cabrera but was not sure if I had! So we timidly approached and were met within minutes by a marinero in his Rib, I explained that I thought I had booked a buoy and he said ‘no-problem, just pick one you like’ So we picked two, side-by-side and he promptly took our bow line threaded it through and returned it! He then moved-on to Betdylew and did the same, returning later to them to collect their payment which was about €29. Later that evening we launched the tender and went to shore for a swim to cool off – the waters were crystal clear and very warm. An excellent place to stay, but we had to move on to meet friends in Valencia.

5) 18/06/14 Trip to Valencia
Once again we chose a calm weather slot to leave Espalmador, the sea remained flatter than a flat thing almost all the way, but got very choppy about 6.5NM off Marina Real Juan Carles I. We managed to get berthed adjacent to friends from our marina Phil and June, Lester and Gail. We had an excellent meal in the restaurant and the following day we took two taxis to Oceanagraphic which was great fun.

We even saw three ships come sailing by:

The next morning Phil and June set-off early for Denia and the three remaining boats headed back to SCM. Nice to see familiar sights like the Castle in Peniscola just 18NM south of SCM:

We arrived back on berth around 1530hrs, next year we will have to allow at least a month!

Thanks to all those that have recommended places to visit, much appreciated we all had an excellent time!

 

[adey]

Great write up. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Great report, John. Pleased you enjoyed the Balearics

 

[GSL]

Excellent post, thanks John.

We are off to Mallorca in 5 weeks, can't wait.

Graham

 

[Hurricane]

Hi John

I saw you both arrive home - I was being entertained aboard the new P56
I did wave to you but you all looked so "chilled out" you didn't see me.
There was definitely an air of relaxation aboard both the F43s

Glad you enjoyed yourselves - quite a big round trip.
Most of us will do just one of the islands at a time bit two AND then a mainland trip like Valencia.

It seems that all that planning worked out well for you.

We are off to Mallorca at the end of next month - I cant wait

PS
I'll pop over and see you - tomorrow - hopefully before you leave

 

[DougH]

This is the site to book the buoys in Cabrera if it helps.
http://www.balearslifeposidonia.eu/index.php?register_vars[lang]=en

Sorry this link https://www.caib.es/sacmicrofront/archivopub.do?ctrl=MCRST34ZI102912&id=102912

Paul,
I don't think that is the website for bookings in Cabrera but unfortunatly I do not have the correct address to hand.

The authorities have decided to get organised and stop the buoy jumping and general mayhem during the evening period when all the raggies try their luck at disregarding the rules for these moorings

There is now a patrol RIB on full time duty who ensures that every boat entering the moorings has a pre-made booking on his list.

Of course in order to make a booking you have to be registered first as you say.

Just how long this new enthusiasm on the authorities behalf will last will be interesting to see.

We like to spend a few hours there for a lunch time stop (about 3 hours) but now they are not so co-operative.

 

[John100156]

This is the one you need chaps, all in English:

https://www.caib.es/rescabfront/mostrarForm?ID_INSTANCIA=6e0cb3bc13ffa6d8c320f443d08c1346

 

[Hurricane]

This is the one you need chaps, all in English:

https://www.caib.es/rescabfront/mostrarForm?ID_INSTANCIA=6e0cb3bc13ffa6d8c320f443d08c1346

That link, John, doesn't work
It is a very strange site
I think this is the one to use - it is the one I'm checking regularly for a buoy anywy

https://www.reservasparquesnacional.../listado-actividades-oapn.aspx?cen=26&ii=6ENG
You then have to click the FONDEO link
And then this link
Pulsar en este enlace
You then go through the order process

Why they can't have something more user friendly, I can't imagine.

 

[John100156]

Nooooo - all you need to do is backspace or enter the following:

https://www.caib.es/rescabfront/

Then, first click 'English' then when screen changes click 'Permit for navigation'

Takes you straight to the booking form!