Buzzing around the Balearics

We left Torrevieja to head up to Denia overnight, 80 miles. Mandy had food poisoning so spent the 16 hours on the bed leaving me to stay awake all night. I was a little tired when arrived in Denia marina. We came to Denia to see an old school friend, Pete and his wife Alison. Pete and me lost our sailing virginity together when we were 17 on a cold, windy, winters day in Crosby marina. We got in the enterprise and flew across the lake and capsized while trying to turn. How can you go so fast without an engine? That was it, I was hooked. We had a lovely night out in Denia with Pete and Alison.

The next day, while Mandy was working, I spent the day with Pete. We travelled around Denia getting spares for my boat in his car, Many thanks Pete. Then went back to his enormous campervan for a look around. Headroom all the way along for a 6ft 5inch person. Lovely van. Great to catch up and we'll be back.

Onwards to Mallorca to pick up my evil sister in law. We stopped off on the north coast of Ibiza to shelter from some crappy weather. The weather was so bad we couldn't get ashore but the anchorages were beautiful, no one around and an amazing sandy coloured post apocalyptic sunset.

We left the calm anchorage at sunrise with a lovely moon rising, and the international space station racing across the sky. Then ensued a wild, exhilarating ride across to Mallorca. Three metre waves, gusting to 30 knots we flew across at 8 knots. It was exhausting, my hands ached from holding on against the swell, great exercise. Another loony in his 60ft boat was also doing the crossing and his boom was going in the water.

It makes you feel better when you see other people out there.

We arrived in palmanova at sunset and it felt like the summer had arrived. We moved anchorages before Sandra arrived but moved back the next day as it was a bit rolly. I drove the 3 miles in the dinghy and Mandy took the boat. I love my new dinghy it's a real rocket ship, I never thought we'd have such a fast machine.

Then the evil sister in law arrived, the sun came out, as well as the speed demons on their jet skis. Look at this guy, I have never seen anything go so fast on the water.

And then the fun began.

 Sandra tried and failed at fishing, all my fault, I didn't have the correct gear.. 

We went for 2 especially delicious meals, great finds by Sandra considering most places are burgers and chips.

One day the girls cleaned the hull of the boat.

The next day we all cleaned the beard off the waterline.

We sailed around to the next bay

The girls cooked some splendid meals

We were told off by my sister for not using factor 50.

I helped with clicky clicky pain relief for Sandra's mossy bites.

I wasn't harassed at all

Then it was time to leave.

Time for mandy to work for 3 days and me to do some boat jobs before Karen and Sue arrive.