Ibiza - more ferries than the Solent

The Denia drizzle cleared up quite quickly, and we had an uneventful sail across to Ibiza - by the time we reached Cala Vella bay it was blowing about 25kts and there was quite a big sea.  Anchoring is forbidden on much of the Ibiza coastline in order to protect the Posidonia Sea Grass so we picked up a mooring buoy - and found we were facing in a different direction to all other vessels and were very close to our neighbour!  So - some advise from our neighbour, who as it happened was Scarlet Lady from Eastbourne - and we discovered the aft line on the buoy and all was peaceful.

Cala Vella Bay, Ibiza (we are the yacht on the right & Scarlet Lady is in the middle)

We went ashore in Cala Vella to check out the WiFi, which does involve having a beer at a local cafe, then kayaked round the bay.  The inflatable kayak was a great success - surprisingly easy to paddle.  Having experienced all that Cala Vella had to offer, we set off for Formentera Island at the Southern tip of Ibiza - a Unesco World Heritage Site because of the sea grass so no anchoring allowed.

The local fishing fleet

Fishing boat sheds

One of the more rustic sheds - the roof is a huge lump of fossil rock

I'm thinking this guy has retired!  (and that's our kayak)

One of the bays - the crystal clear water paying testament to the powers of the Posidonian Sea Grass, which somehow cleans it.

More of those lovely fishing boats

The coastline - VERY unforgiving rocks

The island itself - very inhospitable!  Ibiza visible in the distance

We also went along to the town of Formentera - a busy little place, with dozens of places where you can rent a bicycle, moped or quad bike.  Lots of evidence of fishing, and also a large area of salt pans in various stages of dehydration.

Formentera salt pans

After a couple of days in Formentera we decided to move on - we initially planned to stop in a bay near Ibiza town itself, but as more and more high speed ferries went past us and we got close enough to see the town properly we decided to go almost anywhere else!

Ibiza Town - a huge mass of blocks of flats and ferries!

Instead, we went to the tip of the island and spent the night moored up off Tagomago Island - beautiful.

Posidonia Sea Grass still doing its job

The island is deserted, apart from the Ibiza Port Authority which seem to have some headquarters here.  The cafe is derelict.

We now plan to head on to Mallorca and then Menorca - to check out the activities of Menorca Sailing.

Note: For anyone following us on our tracker, there seems to be a blip in its working. When you log on: under "Device List" you will see there are 3 devices listed all with the same reference. If you select the last one on the list.....and then go to "Live tracking" or " Show Journeys" it will work.

Denia - visiting friends

This area of Spain has a very rocky coastline, you can be sailing 20m from the shore in 40m depth - the houses seem to cling to the cliffs, clearly not afraid of coastal erosion in these parts!

The headland between Javea and Denia

We are visiting Denia because we have some friends here (they live in Javea, just round the corner) - John and Elli.  A brush with civilisation!  They drove us to a large supermarket where we stocked up on ‘heavy essentials’ like beer, and showed us round the area.  It’s lovely, the hills are covered with ancient stone terracing and there is a local steel artist who has adorned various public areas with large artwork (no photos!  Must do better)

We're in a Marina, so have to get the bikes out for the obligatory cycle ride along the coast ...

The Beach:  There is a little strip of sand, but it quickly turns to rock.

We cycled along until we came to the end of the road - quite literally!

The hill was a bit of a monster, but this Watch Tower was at the top - Torre del Getto, XVII

Lovely views from the top - Denia Marina and breakwater visible in the distance, along with the Balearic Ferry that seems to be in perpetual motion between Denia and the Balearic Islands

You do have to be careful on these roads though, and not get distracted by the views - you never know when the road will just stop!

The other end of the road!

Denia Marina is very well appointed, the showers are individual rooms, each one bigger than our bathroom at home!  It’s a huge place.

The old town of Denia is quaint - hundreds of restaurants along the street, and any patch of road or pavement can clearly be used as a dining room.  We may have been early for a meal in Spain, but there were not a lot of diners in evidence here!

Old Town, Denia - one of the many Restaurant Alleys

On our last day, John and Elli took us to Javea and we had dinner with the Costa Blanca Yacht Association - this is known as a virtual yacht club, as none of the members actually have a yacht!  Many of them sail, and they regularly race the local fleet of Toms, but the Marina is in the rather unique position of being able to select whose boat they will accommodate:  Unless you have inherited a mooring, you have to pay the €100,000 joining fee to the local yacht club first! Clearly not a club that struggles for membership!!!

Ian, Elli and John - Happiness in Spain, Javea Marina

Anyway, we left after a lovely dinner armed with loads of local knowledge regarding anchorages and moorings in the Balearic Islands, so off we go ...

Just in case any of you are thinking that the sun always shines in the Costa Brava - It doesn't!!  Before we left, there was a huge thunder storm and torrential rain - the boat ended up covered with fine Saharan (?) dust.  We left in light drizzle and very light winds, fortunately the Spanish Sun won the day and the wind picked up for our journey on to the Balearic Islands - Ibiza calls

Cartagena - where even the Plant Pots are Beautiful

We left Fuengirola in lovely sailing conditions, very relaxed - Ian kept close watch for dolphins, which duly obliged and played around the boat for a half hour or so.

The wind gradually built in the middle of the day and we ended up fully reefed, surfing along in 45 kts, the snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountains visible in the distance.

After a small difference of opinion as to the suitability of learning the new skill of goose winging in these conditions we opted to gybe down the coast until the wind died completely at about midnight and we motored towards Almeira where we anchored outside the Marina.  We were just settling into our anchorage when we were boarded by Spanish Customs - they arrived in a black RIB, fully kitted out in black and conducted a cursory search of the boat and paperwork before setting off again, back to the mothership. Very 007.


We had a gentle start the next morning, passing a fish farm on a float.

Again the wind increased during the day, and we were used as mark rounding practice by some very large, very fast trimarans that appeared out of nowhere doing 15 kts in about 15 kts of breeze!

We now know what it feel like to be a race mark!

Another night at anchor, no Customs this time.

A peaceful night at anchor

Cartagena itself is a beautiful town - where ever there is an opportunity to install some art, it’s there!

One of the Harbours

Large scale Art

Pensive Art

Sprigs mingling with the Academics

The Postie?

Even the plant pots are beautiful!  Nautilus in centre of pontoon.

The obligatory cycle trip along the (beautiful) high street past the town hall

And, of course, no town would be complete with out it’s own Amphitheater!



So, to finish off - some sunsets - quite a few, but who doesn’t love a sunset?

So - Next stop:  Denia - a big flash marina, and more friends to catch up with.

We had planned to get the engine serviced to extend the warranty, but at €650 for an oil and filter change, we decided to risk letting the warranty lapse!!!

Back in Spain - Meeting Friends

We made a short leisurely trip along to Marbella where found the cheapest marina available, unpacked the bikes and set off along the promenade to Puerto Banus where the Rich come to be seen, and the others just to dream!!

Marbella - First, Build Your Beach

Then - Build the People!

Then - Do your Stretches

Then we checked out Puerto Banus, where you take to Roller to the Ice Cream Shop:  The place to be seen.

Puerto Banus - The Rich come to be Seen, the others, just to Dream

All that money worked up an appetite - time for a BBQ

Lunch?

The next day we met up with Richard who was over from the UK and my Cousin Paul and Stephanie who live in a beautiful 300 year house in the hills behind Fuengerola.

The first challenge was getting on and off the boat - the pontoons were not exactly ‘Yacht Friendly’

It really was a big step for man!  Luckily, there were several there to help.

Lunch on the Beach, well almost,  Thank you very much Paul

And then the next day, we sailed Paul and Stephanie over from Marbella to Fuengirola - actually Stephanie sailed us over - for someone who hadn’t sailed before, she was a natural!

Paul and Stephanie became Tourist Guides and after a drive through Fuengirola we set off inland to the picturesque village of Mijas

We immediately felt welcome - even the plant pots matched us!

Mijas really is a very pretty village

Ian, surrounded by Stephanies!!!

Shop Security, Mijas style - could Selfridges learn from this??

So we'll sign off with a big thank you to Paul and Stephanie for being such wonderful hosts in Marbella and Fuengirola.

We've now spent 6 weeks on the boat together - run out of conversation so resorted to texting each other!

Next Stop:  Heading North - towards Cartagena