Saturday 4 May 2019

After 3 or 4 days largely confined to the boat, we actually made it to dry land today.  Yesterday we did not get further than the pontoons. We have probably said this about many of the places that we have been, but we really like it here. We read the reviews on some of the sailing forums, and they were a bit sniffy about Sant Antonio, but we have been very impressed by what we have seen.  The town has a number of vibes, there is big a party scene, and we have seen large groups of 20 somethings, clearly preparing to go clubbing.  For some reason we have not been accosted by the people pushing tickets to the various establishments. There is also a hippy / bohemian culture and this seems to coexist happily with the brasher, clubbing group.  The town seems to be upmarket, well presented and maintained.

The marina is one of the best that we have visited. Clean, efficient, well managed, and with excellent facilities. There is some (relatively) high tech elements, we have chipped bracelets to give access to the secured facilities and at least one of the marinaros has a Segway to go around on.  Right outside there is one of the best stocked chandlers that we have seen for a long time, full of things that matter for the boat, rather than books or clothing. They also have a large amount fishing tackle and diving equipment. We spoke to them about what is needed for our windlass and also restocked our cooking gas supplies.

We managed to get some much-needed exercise, running along the sea front. Some of the hotels were fully in action, but we saw others that were still gearing up for the season’s start. Some had empty swimming pools and others were in the process of filling them.

There is plenty going on in the marina to keep us entertained.  On the other side of the pontoon from our berth are two boats, Baloo I and Baloo III, we don’t know what happened to Baloo II. These are large, identically liveried motor cruisers. When we arrived yesterday, they were being meticulously cleaned outside, and this process continued for a while this morning.  However, today the “cleaners” were in uniform and before long were joined by a captain for each of the boats, similarly uniformed.  All the preparations to leave were made, and then another couple, presumably the owners or charterers appeared on deck of one.  These latter two made no effort to help the process.  Before long both boats departed, in common with many of the other boats around us, but they reappeared in the evening.  They must have gone off to pick up other folks and spend the day at a beach somewhere.

We also had what one of our friend calls “port theatre”.  We are far from the perfect in our coming and goings from marinas, but one boat set a high standard of incompetence. It was a large yacht with eleven folks on board. The departure should have been the simplest possible, the wind was slightly behind them and blowing them away from the pontoon.  There was no boat alongside, so there was plenty of space.  All that was required was to release the mooring lines, drift away from the pontoon and then motor away.  Somehow, they managed to first get all the lines released, but still have 3 people on the quay and unable to get back on board, and then they pulled the boat back to the pontoon and used the bow thruster and the rudder to ensure that they scrapped all along the pontoon as they left.  We hope they never have to park next to us.

We had been given a voucher for welcome drinks at the marina restaurant, so in the evening we headed there.  One of the things that we are seeing often is whole extended families out eating together, it is a very attractive part of Spanish culture. In the restaurant there was a much larger group than we usually seen, 4 long 20+ people tables, rather than the 1 table version that is common. We think it was a particular celebration. The various families have a dozen or so pre school age children, and spent quite a time trying to get them all together for a photograph. Not an easy task when some did not want to stay still, or smile or be held by another slightly older child that they did not know well. And then just when the picture was taken, another child would arrive and the whole performance had to be repeated.

Finally, on our return to the boat, the elastic which holds the passerelle (boarding plank) slightly off the ground snapped and the halliard (rope form the mast head) that held it was left hanging half way up the mast.  We didn’t want to leave this dangling and there was not enough weight on the line to make it come down, so a quick trip up the mast was called for.  I donned the bosun’s chair and Tricia winched me up the mast to grab the line and return to deck level.

Distance covered today	0	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	328	nautical miles
Distance covered 2019	328	nautical miles
Steve (and Tricia)