Equinox_2019

With our full team having assembled yesterday we were ready for the next big step of our trip, to cross from Menorca to Sardinia.  This was calculated as 193 miles and should take about 1 and a half days, not massive but needing to be taken seriously.  Although we had some contingency in or options, the weather forecast indicated that Wednesday would be the day to depart, so after and early night, worrying about the closeness of the cala walls, I was glad to be up and off. The alarm went off at 5:00 and we were on our way by 5:35, just as it was getting light.  We wanted to arrive in daylight, so squeezing every moment we could was going to be important. It was still only half light when we left, and as a result we had the navigation lights on for the first few minutes.  However, soon after we had cleared the cala, and the next couple of small bays, the sun came up and we could start to relax into the journey. With 5 on board, we decided that we only needed ...

Despite the late night yesterday we were up and on the go promptly this morning. We had to move closer to Mahon where we would meet Tom and James, our next guest crew. We had been trying for some time to arrange a berth in Mahon itself but without success, so we had hit on an anchorage that was close to the airport where we would meet.   This necessitated us sailing from the north east corner of the island to just around the south east corner onto the south coast. We had a very enjoyable passage, with good wind, although not from the ideal angle It was great to actually be able to sail with Chris, he has been unlucky with the weather on some of his recent trips. We found the bay that we wanted and realised that it was rather smaller than we had expected. In fact it was the tightest anchorage we have ever been in. We put the anchor down in the middle, with the appropriate amount of chain a-out but then found that with the boat’s length as well, we were only about 8 metres from...

We moved from the anchorage into the marina, so we could fill up the water tanks. After also some food shopping and tidying up, we caught the bus to get us back to Ciutadella. We had missed the morning cavalcade of Caixers and the heats of the medieval style equestrian tournaments. As we arrived, mid afternoon, we were lucky enough to catch the afternoon cavalcade. The horsemen looked absolutely splendid in their black suits, with white shirts, bow ties and almost tricorn hats. Each removed their hat as they entered the square outside the cathedral. The young man at the end of the line was given lots of cheers from the crowd lining the streets and every few metres got his horse to go up onto its hind legs, to even more joyous response. We then saw him up on the balcony of, I think, the mayors house, being saluted with chanting, similar to that at football matches. That young man, who looked about eighteen, was so overcome with the honour and response of his role, that he was in tears a...

Having read all of the background to the festivities of Sant Joan (John the Baptist) in Ciutadella, we were determined to experience as much of it as we could. The festivities date back to the 14 th century although it has been amended a little over the years, and now has a party feel.   There are different elements of society represented, including the nobility, the Caixer Senyor, the clergy, the Caixer Capella, the farmers, Caixer Pagesos and the craftsmen, Caixer Menestrals.   The festivities are spread over a number of days in the week leading up to the saint’s day. On the Saturday before the saint’s day, a lamb is prepared to be spotlessly clean. On the Sunday before, the various members of the Board of Caixers, meet at the Caixer Senyor’s house. Later the Homos des Ba, representing Saint John, carries the lamb on his shoulders through the streets.   This is followed by a “War of Hazelnuts” in one of the streets. On the eve of the saint’s day, the “F...

We continue to enjoy this beautiful bay and the sleepy village of Addaia. We woke to complete peace and tranquillity, with just the sound of bird song. The sailors on the anchored yachts are not early risers in this part of the world, so I feel I can do some token exercises on the deck, before breakfast, without feeling that people are watching. The boat maintenance was directed at fixing two of the toilets. Oh, the joy of marine toilets! However our endeavours have paid off and the, all be it small problems, are now fixed. We enjoyed being able to read this afternoon, some just for pleasure and some for research. We’ve now been at anchor for nine consecutive days, an all time massive record for us. We are delighted with making use of Equinox as she can be and slowly but surely adding things to either make the sailing performance better or make things easier and more comfortable. The next thing on the list is to look at solar panels, so that we will be greener and less d...

A fairly brief blog today covering both yesterday and today. We are deep into the preparations for the arrival of our crew and the journey on to Sardinia.   I’ll spare you the details but much of the time has been on cleaning, maintenance and shopping.   Yesterday we were back and forth to the laundry facilities in the marina (much to the annoyance of one of the other boat owners, who thought he was going to put his washing in, when we were still putting in our second load). There is only one washer and one dryer. Today we were up early again to go to the supermarket in Mahon for sufficient supplies to last until the end of next week with 5 people on board.   We had plenty of time to do this within the schedule bus times, so we walked further around the town and did some other shopping.  While all this was happening a little rain fell.  Fortunately we did not get wet.  First rain in days, probably weeks. As we had landed outside the marina ...

We have heard about the Camí de Cavalls, (literally: ‘Way of Horses’), a 185 km path that circles around Menorca, and today we set off early, before it got too hot, to explore a part of it. it is believed that the Camí de Cavalls was built in order to connect the  watchtowers ,  fortresses  and cannons distributed along the coast of the island and to make the transport of troops and artillery easier. The date of its origin is not clear, although the most accepted theory attributes it to the French invaders during the different periods they lived in the island. Others think it may date back to the 14th century. Since its original function was the defence and the control of the island, it was patrolled by soldiers mounted on  Menorquin horses , hence the word “cavalls” (meaning "horses" in Catalan) in the name of the path. The Cami de Cavalls survived for centuries and was used for defence from numerous enemies. But it was also used by residents for commun...

We were up and out early to go to Mahon, by bus, which takes 45 mins inward and 15 mins back to Addaia, because of the pickup and drop off points. Mahon is one of the largest natural harbours in Europe, being six kilometres long. This with its position in the Med made it of strategic importance and hence fought over by several nations, during the 18th century. Each left it’s mark on the architecture and fortifications in the port. It is said that the British left the legacy of Menorca’s most popular drink: gin. The Golden Farm on the north shore of the port is thought to have been where Lord Nelson spent time with Lady Hamilton. There is a lot of marina capacity, but next weekend, when we would want to go in with Equinox, there is regatta, so berths are at an expensive premium. We decided we can do our larder restocking on two bus trips in. We will then only need to go in on passing, to get fuel, next week. The organ at Iglesia de Santa Maria Typical narro...

As we made our preparations to move on today, our French friend, Peter, came past in his tender again.   He asked another question about Equinox and then came close enough to hand over his card.   He said to contact him if we were ever thinking about selling Equinox. It was a very good validation of how much he must have liked our boat.   I said that we had no thoughts about doing so in the near term, but we would take his card and bear him in mind if our plans changed for any reason. I was sad to leave Fornells, it is a beautiful spot and we had felt very safe and secure there. The atmosphere ashore was also laid back and relaxed. We left the entrance and soon had the sails set for our short trip to Addaya. The wind came largely from behind and in what seemed like no time flat we were at the entrance to Addaya.   This is a rather different entrance to those that we have experienced lately.   I think it must be a partly submerged valley.   T...

Tranquil evening scene Fornells (pronounced Fornays) is absolutely delightful. It is also a natural enclosed water and therefore perfect for dinghy sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. It boasts that it is one of the best places in Europe to learn to sail. I expect that could be debated by others, but today the bay was being used to its full. All these craft were out with all levels from beginners to expert sailers. I missed getting a photo of an RS800, a very tippy dinghy, being sailed superbly, at at some speed, with the two crew both out of the trapezes, and their spinnaker up. That requires good skills. A crew of two in the smaller RS200 were being coached by an instructor in a rib close behind them. The windsurfers, including one on a foiling windsurfer, were blasting up and down in the good breeze. It was all good entertainment during the morning. Fornells history dates back to time immemorial, as a fishing village. During the Middle Ages the bay was fought over ...

Within the Balearics, in addition to the wider commitment to clean the seas and remove the plastic waste that  contaminates them, there seems to be a big effort to protect some of the unique marine environments, specifically the Posidonia grasses that are a breeding ground for various types of fish, including sea horses.   There is a quango established to manage the use of the areas where these grasses occur.   In some places there is a ban on boats entering, in others you can’t fish, and where the grasses are found, you cannot anchor. The persistent use of anchors digs up the grass, wrecking it for some time.   To help the yachtsmen, in some of these places, buoys have been laid so that you can actually visit. The booking system for the buoys has been a challenge for us, we have tried multiple times to reserve a buoy, but the website and the app that you use are not as good as we would hope.   Over the last few days we have been trying again, and after a number...