jfm
Well-Known Member
I'm just back from Menorca and here's a quick write up of the trip, done on the plane . Mostly pics rahter than words. Beautiful place!
Saturday (27 June) was windy so I just did the 50mile run from Antibes to Porquerolles (an island off the coast of S France, near Toulon), anchored there for the night and topped up with fuel. Sunday’s weather was much better, as predicted. This Golfe du Lion is an awkward bit of water to cross, prone to strong winds and confused seas, but the wind was as forecast - F3 in the morning for a few hours then dropping off to F2, so I could easily do the crossing to Mahon in one go, without the need to go around the sides. So, one waypoint, 205nm, and we set off at 18kts. Here’s the route. (Antibes is roughly where the V of "NAV" is, top right of chart)
And here were the sea conditions.
It was just flat sea the whole way and strangely quiet. We saw a fishing boat 5 miles off France and then nothing till we got to Mahon. Not a single boat, in 205nm. However we saw lots of dolphins, in 3 pods, then this beautiful whale. Dunno what species – anyone know? It was about 60nm NNE of Mahon, in a depth of 2500m. We stopped and he/she swam aroubnd us taking in lots of air. Only about 50m from the boat.
Finally landfall Mahon, Sunday evening.
Fairline Menorca arranged this fab berth, thanks guys, next to Marmalade of Manchester. The berths are along the harbour edge, no marina as such, facing passing ships
GSkip, sorry not to catch up. I saw you talking to lots of people sorting out Mr BlueSky, then I was away from the boat when you dropped by. See you Thursday or Friday – I’m back in London now but flying back Thursday
Then Monday we sailed out of Mahon (first pic below) and cruised some lovely calas N coast of Menorca. All beautiful, and very quiet compared with S of F, and sea glossy flat. By about 6pm the few boats that were out and about cleared off and we had the calas to ourselves. We went to Pudenta, and a rocky cala just N of it. In most places you could take the tender ashore to a beach – no “no entry” buoys like Cote D’Azur
Today we nipped along the N coast, a slight chop on the sea now...
...and arrived in Pregonda, middle of N coast, a cala with a couple of beaches you can tender to
Then coming back to Mahon again today (Tuesday), eastbound along the N coast of Menorca, we passed the scouts (I think)
and finally entering Mahon harbour again, about 6.30 this evening
Beautiful place eh?. More later!
Saturday (27 June) was windy so I just did the 50mile run from Antibes to Porquerolles (an island off the coast of S France, near Toulon), anchored there for the night and topped up with fuel. Sunday’s weather was much better, as predicted. This Golfe du Lion is an awkward bit of water to cross, prone to strong winds and confused seas, but the wind was as forecast - F3 in the morning for a few hours then dropping off to F2, so I could easily do the crossing to Mahon in one go, without the need to go around the sides. So, one waypoint, 205nm, and we set off at 18kts. Here’s the route. (Antibes is roughly where the V of "NAV" is, top right of chart)
And here were the sea conditions.
It was just flat sea the whole way and strangely quiet. We saw a fishing boat 5 miles off France and then nothing till we got to Mahon. Not a single boat, in 205nm. However we saw lots of dolphins, in 3 pods, then this beautiful whale. Dunno what species – anyone know? It was about 60nm NNE of Mahon, in a depth of 2500m. We stopped and he/she swam aroubnd us taking in lots of air. Only about 50m from the boat.
Finally landfall Mahon, Sunday evening.
Fairline Menorca arranged this fab berth, thanks guys, next to Marmalade of Manchester. The berths are along the harbour edge, no marina as such, facing passing ships
GSkip, sorry not to catch up. I saw you talking to lots of people sorting out Mr BlueSky, then I was away from the boat when you dropped by. See you Thursday or Friday – I’m back in London now but flying back Thursday
Then Monday we sailed out of Mahon (first pic below) and cruised some lovely calas N coast of Menorca. All beautiful, and very quiet compared with S of F, and sea glossy flat. By about 6pm the few boats that were out and about cleared off and we had the calas to ourselves. We went to Pudenta, and a rocky cala just N of it. In most places you could take the tender ashore to a beach – no “no entry” buoys like Cote D’Azur
Today we nipped along the N coast, a slight chop on the sea now...
...and arrived in Pregonda, middle of N coast, a cala with a couple of beaches you can tender to
Then coming back to Mahon again today (Tuesday), eastbound along the N coast of Menorca, we passed the scouts (I think)
and finally entering Mahon harbour again, about 6.30 this evening
Beautiful place eh?. More later!
