Porto Colom, Mallorca.

Not much to write home about, except I had a great sail from Santa Ponca to Porto Colom, which I think was a good 60 Nm and I arrived here at 18:00 two days ago.

Then we had strong wind and thunder, as well as dirty rain (again). I was at anchor and as the wind increased to 28 kn, I felt it better to move away from the mooring blogs. They have in June put mooring blogs almost everywhere in the bay and would be charging me EUR 52/day, which is a negative correlation with what I pay while at anchor; read EUR nil.

The trouble is that there is hardly any anchoring space left, for the poor sailors. In any case I moved in the strong wind and anchored on the far E side of the bay, where the holding, in my opinion, is not great and I had to re-anchor three times. And again this morning I re-anchored three times to get a better position.

I have polished for two days above the decks and still have the toe rail glass fibre to do and the SS list around the yacht; as well as the cockpit. It is a big job and I wonder how many hours I have spend on it. But the result is good.

When the wind calmed a bit I went to the supermarket and the bank, which was badly needed. Still need to go once more, if time permits. Impossible to get the mobile Spanish phone (Orange) recharged in this town, so I have lid up the Luxembourg number.

Each year on 16 July Porto Colom celebrate their Saint for the fishers. The party consist of making a procession of the fishing boats, all tied together, proceeded by the Church Staff. Some play music and sign and most boats are dressed up and its participants dressed for the occasion. They start at the inside of the harbour and sail slowly out to the exit, where I was anchored, and then round the last yachts before returning back to the harbour, for the fire works and some partying. At the end they all come zooming at full speed and it is impressive to see all these boats come pass New Dawn at full speed; it felt like I was in the middle of a storm with waves splashing on my decks. But it was fun. In fact, Chris and I was also in Port Colom on that same day in 2004 and it was the same show.

The weather in the Golf of Lion, is a total mess, with NNW winds of 35-45 kn and one system after the other coming across. At least  the next 2-3 days I have to stay put. Then I hope for a window that can get me to Menorca's S coast and then wait there till the next storm will pass. But then there seems to be a gab, which seems to have no wind in it for my passage. But by end week it will blow again like mad. So can I make it in between, and with the risk that Auto will not work, is a big question for me at the moment. We shall see. But it is, as usual, very unpredictable, as well as dangerous to cross the Golf of Lion.

This Solar Driven Boat Anchored Behind New Dawn.

Well look at this solar driven boat that came in yesterday and anchored behind me. I believe it is or has sailed around the world at a slow speed and apparently using only solar energy to power it. More information on: http://www.planetsolar.org/ and also: https://www.google.es/search?q=turanor+planetsolar&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PE78T__OOM368QPT55WWBw&sqi=2&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643

Back In Cala Santa Ponca.

Well after the storm last night I went back to Cala Santa Ponca, to pick up the Simrad chap so he could install the Drive Motor. After he left I still have to order/decide on the replacement of the instruments and get them here and installed, before I can get ready for France. In the meantime, I polished the SB side of the blue line and it has now received 3 times care. Left are the Port side and then the rust spots and SS, etc, etc. Will it ever stop?

As I was waiting for the Auto Pilot, Wind Instrument and Freezer to be fixed, I could not move away from Santa Ponsa. Lise & HJ arrived Mallorca the day after the storm and the following week they visited my briefly.

 A little chat with HJ in the cockpit, while Lise acts as the photographer.

Cala Fornells, Mallorca.

For the third day we have had a nasty W swell and have done a non stop Rock'n Roll. It rolled so much that I, in the end, gave up polishing. Today as we were Rocking and Rolling, we had a thunderstorm and a great clean rain which washed New Dawn wonderfully well. 

Late PM the wind dropped, but within 30 sec it sounded like a freight train running wild down a hill and we received 55 kn wind right into the bay. Panic all over. Fortunately I don't like to be squeezed in between all the other yacht and was anchored well out from them. That paid well for me again. Most yachts dragged, many banged into each other and dragged together. It was only a question about time before we all would be in a big mess. I started the engine as a precaution and to take off the pressure of the anchor. 

But it became clear that I had to move, so with great difficulty - remember I have no Auto working - I lifted anchor, but was unable to lower the anchor riding sail, and sailed slowly up against the wind. The waves were large enough to roll over the deck and bye bye clean New Dawn, as she is now covered again in salt. Many of the yacht that also tried to leave, did not have the engine power to sail against such a strong wind and the waves were quickly building up.

I dropped anchor on the other side of the bay in Cala Fornells, where it is deep at 12 m and also has poor holding, so I let out 65 m chain. The sun shines again as I write this at 19:10, and the wind moderated. So we can hopefully get a good nights rest. About ten other yachts followed my example and are now anchored around me.

What an evening; ugh, that was a close call.

I will have to move back to Santa Ponca early Monday morning as the Simrad chaps will arrive hopefully with yet another Drive Motor.

 My new Anchorage for just a night as the wind was moderating.