Sardinia Summer 2015

[jrudge]

Hello. Oh no just seen this. We were on pontoon 7. Now in polenca. Where are you next. We will be back in alcudia poss tomorrow.



As a. corrction re the weather we have just moored up in a screaming cross wind. It it not rough but is very windy ! Thank goodness for hydraulic bow and stern thrusters !

 

[MapisM]

Mapism Yourskills in finding a dentist for an 8 year old were fantastic !

Well J, that's nothing in comparison with the aplomb of your young girl on the dentist chair, I was impressed!
I hope she's all right now.

As an aside, looking also at the last post from Nick_H, it's nice to see how this amazing thread that Hurricane started is becoming a sort of reference for forumites cruising around the Med. And needless to say, I'm very happy that my cruising grounds started it all, somehow.
But in hindsight, I think it would be great to have a similar thread every summer, where all forumites cruising around the Med post their experiences and take the opportunity to catch up, regardless of whether they are in Sardinia, Corsica, Baldricks, Montenegro, Turkey, Greece, or anywhere else.
After all, I can understand some RTW folks who argue that the Med is just a big lake, but if there is a nicer lake (and with more variety of places and cultures!) anywhere else in the world, I've yet to find it!

Just a thought, anyway. Looking forward to an epic "Summer 2016 Med cruising" thread!

 

[Hurricane]

Jrudge, we are also in Alcudia, on the outside quay against the sea wall. I think i can see you further inside the port. Will try and pop by to say hello later

If you two are in Alcudia, have you guys been to the Meson Dulcinea yet?

Very windy here in Palm Nova this morning - from the west so Santa Ponsa must be bad.
I think the wind direction is now going north and reducing.
We had to re anchor this morning - couldn't get anchor to hold in the grass.
Lots of others had problems as well.

Might go into Arenal on Wednesday
Probably now go north to Sollier or Calobra for Friday - then home

 

[julians]

Very windy here in Palm Nova this morning - from the west so Santa Ponsa must be bad.

Our boat is safely in Port adriano, but I had a drive past santa ponsa in the car around lunchtime,and it's very rough in there, big waves rolling /breaking right into the anchorage, wouldn't be surprised if a boat or two ends up washed onto the beach. Hoping for calmer weather soon so I can get to cabrera for the day.

 

[Nick_H]

Hello. Oh no just seen this. We were on pontoon 7. Now in polenca. Where are you next. We will be back in alcudia poss tomorrow.

Planning to go to Menorca tomorrow, then cross to France on Weds if forecast stays good. Shame we missed you again

 

[Nick_H]

If you two are in Alcudia, have you guys been to the Meson Dulcinea yet

Went last night Mike, based on forum reccomendations. Great steak, and reasonable prices, a complete contrast to the apalling food we endured the night before in Alcudia old town.

 

[Hurricane]

Decided to go into Arenal for a couple of nights.
Picking up our son. Marina Arenal is nice and close to Palma Airport.

WiFi here is excellent so I've uploaded lots of pics that we took since leaving Carloforte.

So, here they are:-

Leaving Carloforte - crack of dawn.

Then just as we left, the local pod of dolphins came out to say goodbye.
I switched AnCam on and took a quick snapshot of the screen as they swam under the bow. I told you it should have been called "DollyCam". Don't worry about the wording on the screen - the software that I'm writing for AnCam is still "a work in progress" - it will, effectively, be a chain counter as well when I've finished it - a winter project!!

It was a long day - 10 knots all the way to Mahon.
Here was the evening sunset whilst at sea.

Then after filling up in Mahon we anchored in Teulera and dinghy'd to Ways for dinner. Mahon itself was absolutely full.

Then a couple of days later we went round to Binibeca via the turquoise waters at Isla del Aire.

And into the really small cala of Binibeca to meet up with out yachtie friends from Sant Carles. We have been past lots of times but didn't think Binibeca was big enough - in fact there was plenty of room so we stayed a couple of days.

By then, there were 4 boats from Sant Carles.

After two nights in Binibeca, we pressed on. Still in Menorca, we then anchored in Cala Galdana. After a swelly night, we moved on to Alcudia. Juicy steaks were beckoning.

Continued on the next post......

 

[Hurricane]

...... continued form above

After Alcudia, we headed north round Mallorca - stunning scenery

Into Calobra - we've been there before - beautiful anchorage - and may go there again on the way home this weekend.

There is something special about anchorages like Calobra - this was the sunset.

We have spent the last couple of weeks in the south of Mallorca - alternating between Palma Bay and Santa Ponsa to avoid heavy wind and swell.

Yours truly - even managed a new skill - Paddle Boarding!! - well "kind of"

Over the last couple of weeks, the weather has been a bit unkind to us so not many good pics I'm afraid.

But, I thought I would share one good outcome from the bad weather.
Earlier this year, I added a Bluetooth wind transponder. This device costs less than £100 and works with free smart phone software (either Android or Apple).
I adapted our anchor light fitting to take the new wind transponder and then all our mobile devices can monitor wind strength - no other power systems need to be on.

See here for info on the device that I bought.
http://www.navis-anemometers.com/

At night we have been setting an alarm on wind strength and several times this week it has woken up whilst we were asleep at anchor. The great thing with monitoring the wind is that it alarms several minutes before any anchor watch devices can respond.

Here is a photo of our wind device display on my Android Phone. This pic was taken after the wind alarm had woken us at 2am - you can see in the pic that the wind then went to 32 knots max.

The software also keeps a record - see in this pic

All in all - a great addition to our safety at anchor.

Last year, I installed an Android anchor watch (IIRC it was about £10).
Here is the display showing us dragging our anchor in Palma Nova during the 30 knot winds shown on the wind pics above.

We plan to leave Arenal tomorrow morning.

 

[Whitelighter]

Good reports as usual Mike.

Safe trip back to SCM

 

[John100156]

Yes - sounds like you've had a great time and your reports make for interesting reading as always, all going in my book ready for when I can retire!

Wind/anchor projects all sound interesting too, hope you get a good crossing back to SCM - you and Mary have been missed.....!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

.
Earlier this year, I added a Bluetooth wind transponder. This device costs less than £100 and works with free smart phone software (either Android or Apple).
I adapted our anchor light fitting to take the new wind transponder and then all our mobile devices can monitor wind strength - no other power systems need to be on.

See here for info on the device that I bought.
http://www.navis-anemometers.com/

At night we have been setting an alarm on wind strength and several times this week it has woken up whilst we were asleep at anchor. The great thing with monitoring the wind is that it alarms several minutes before any anchor watch devices can respond.


Last year, I installed an Android anchor watch (IIRC it was about £10).
Here is the display showing us dragging our anchor in Palma Nova during the 30 knot winds shown on the wind pics above.
.

Mike, I was thinking about fitting an anemometer myself and the Navis device seems like a neat bit of kit. How have you mounted the sensors on your boat? And how do you actually buy them because it isn't obvious from the website?

With regard to the anchor alert I have an app on my iPhone called DragQueen () which doesn't give a graphic display like yours but worse flattens the phone battery during the night. How power hungry is the app you have?

 

[Hurricane]

Back home in Sant Carles now.
We decided to come back a day earlier.
We wanted flat water for a bit of Dolphin spotting and we weren't disapointed.
Lots of dolphins - some with babies.
I will post a few pics later.
We've been away from SC for about 4 months and after a few weeks recently (mainly at anchor in Mallorca), the old girl needs some cleaning.
Apart from a few small hickuos (mainly the stern thruster) she has been as reliable as usual.

A few days cleaning and refueling etc now.
Then I fly home on Friday - nearly 5 months after I flew out.
I've enjoyed every minute of it.
I'm sure that as soon as I get home to Devon, I'll want to be back.
Maybe for a few weeks in Oct - who knows!

 

[Hurricane]

Mike, I was thinking about fitting an anemometer myself and the Navis device seems like a neat bit of kit. How have you mounted the sensors on your boat? And how do you actually buy them because it isn't obvious from the website?

I emailed them.
Then I sent yhem a Paypal payment.
IIRC it took a couple of weeks to come.
Great bit of kit.
You only need to have a smart phone on.
A few years ago, I wired some 12v cigarette style outlets beside our bed.
At anchor, I plug my mobile phone into one of these outlets and it runs both the anchor watch and the wind monitor.
A mobile phone takes very little power from the service batteries but the 12v outlet keeps the device running without its internal battery running out.
A much better solution than running the full nav system through the night.

 

[Whitelighter]

Glad you're back safely.

Perhaps a long weekend out there in September?????

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I emailed them.
Then I sent yhem a Paypal payment.
IIRC it took a couple of weeks to come.
Great bit of kit.
You only need to have a smart phone on.
A few years ago, I wired some 12v cigarette style outlets beside our bed.
At anchor, I plug my mobile phone into one of these outlets and it runs both the anchor watch and the wind monitor.
A mobile phone takes very little power from the service batteries but the 12v outlet keeps the device running without its internal battery running out.
A much better solution than running the full nav system through the night.

Mike, thanks for this. Please excuse my ignorance on these matters. The builder installed a stereo radio next to our berth which has a USB socket. If I plug my iPhone into that overnight with these apps running, will it maintain the battery charge? Does the radio have to be switched on to do this? Similarly could I leave the iPhone plugged into my laptop USB socket overnight to maintain the charge?

 

[BartW]

If I plug my iPhone into that overnight with these apps running, will it maintain the battery charge? Does the radio have to be switched on to do this? Similarly could I leave the iPhone plugged into my laptop USB socket overnight to maintain the charge?

the radio's and laptops that I'm aware of have to remain switched on , there might exist models that work without being switched on (?)
Hurricane's solution with the cigarette adaptor is a nice one,
best solution imo is to install a invertor, all 230V sockets on the boat work all day / night

 

[Hurricane]

Rather than using the inverter, why not install something like this next to your new stereo radio next to your bed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Car-...wer-Adapter-/161357591921?hash=item2591a97571

Assuming that the new stereo is like a car radio and uses a 12v supply, you could simply pick up the supply off the back of the new stereo.
Best to install a new inline fuse.
The one above is superior to my solution in that it has USB outlets as well as a cigarette lighter output.
I installed two simple 12v cigarette lighter outlets and then put one of these in them.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Dual-...S3-Black-HC-/281620455486?hash=item4191e3203e

You will also need the correct lead to connect to the phone or tablet.
All this works on Androids - if it doesn't work on iXxx then you should change and have a REAL tablet/phone.

The item in the first link might be a better solution.
Remember that a phone or tablet connected like this uses very little power from the service batteries.

With these outlets installed, you can charge tablets and phones whenever you want.
I recommend fitting one to SWMBO's side of the bed as well - I often find my outlets with SWMBO's phone plugged in.

BTW
This is the anchor watch software that I use
http://www.slimjimsoftware.co.uk

 

[Cheery]

The anti-boat theft software is a good bonus too.

'Seriously dude, where's my boat?'

 

[davids0865]

Mike, Thank you for a fab trip thread, a real marathon, I have read and enjoyed every post.

 

[Hurricane]

Mike, Thank you for a fab trip thread, a real marathon, I have read and enjoyed every post.

No problem
I've really enjoyed sharing it with you all.
This year, I have learned so much.
Everything we do in life can be either experience or learning.
The trick is to balance the learning with experience.
And then keep that balance.

This morning, we popped over to the fuel berth.
Remember, no stern thruster to get me out of trouble!
Approach to the fuel berth was faultless so to make it even slicker, I put the rudders hard over - it is really easy with "fly by wire" rudder systems.
The result was a perfect approach.
But when we left, I forgot that the rudders were hard over and the bathing platform wacked one of the fuel dock fenders.
Everything would have been fine if the rudders were in the mid position.
In fact at low speed everything was great - it was only when we pulled completely away that we caught the stern
No damage though but it is an example of yet another experience that will make me think again in the future.
We all learn new things every day.