Calas, Portos and ilas of Mallorca

San Jordi is a quiet, little resort town with an unrolly, protected anchorage and a great dinghy dock. It's difficult to pull our new super dinghy up on beaches, as it it much heavier than the Zodiac, so dinghy docks have become quite the necessity. We decided to stay here for a week and wait for our mate Dave to come and visit. So we went ashore to resupply, get rid of our rubbish and have a couple of long walks.

Tried out the drone from the boat for the first time. Very nerve-racking trying to get it back on board without crashing into stuff. Even on a boat at anchor in a flat calm sea, one tiny mistake and the drone is in the drink and destroyed. You can see the anchor just below the boat near the end of the clip which I find amazing every time coming from the murky waters of the UK.

Got some good still piccies of the boat, San Jordi and the dinghy dock from the drone.

Getting to and from the shore is now a really easy, fast and dry task with our new dinghy. This is me getting up on the plane. As you can see I 💗 my new dinghy and outboard.

And this is Mandy getting up on the plane. Stop, stop, stop 😀

The wind got up from the south and the anchorage became a bit uncomfortable so we decided to move from San Jordi to the a protected bay on the stunning island of Cabrera, a protected national park that only allows 50 boats to visit per day. We arrived with only 2 other boats, as it's out of season, in the most calm bay we have ever been in. £12 a night for a mooring ball and one cantina bar on the island where all the local workers meet after work. What a location, probably the most peaceful quiet place we have visited so far. It's got a very sad history though, prisoners left to starve and eat each other, failed farming communities and an invasion by the Ottomans to make a base to attack Mallorca. We walked up to the castle and got some great photos of the bay with our boat. Drones not allowed :-(

The smallest spiral staircase ever.

Then we walked uphill for miles to the lighthouse which unfortunately was not open for visitors but jolly good exercise.

Time for a swim after the scorcio long walk. We didn't see a soul all day and it was so so quiet.

Then of course back to the cantina for a beer where we met the most wonderful Danish couple, Sanne and Brian. Same as us, similar ages, rented out their house, bought a boat and here we all are. The only difference is that they are from Denmark and can speak proper English. We spoke so long we missed the sunset but still the twilight sky with the lights of San Jordi in the distance was gorgeous.

 The next day we left Cabrera heading north to Porto Cristo to meet up with Dave and stopped off for the night in Cala Sa Nau. Another beautiful location but a very tight, rolly rolly anchorage and very noisy due to the swell hitting the surrounding cliffs. One of the great things about cruising, one minute you're in the most peaceful, flat, safe anchorage then the next you're in madness. I was up most of the night on anchor watch as we were about 10 metres from the cliffs at one point when the wind changed direction. All was good though, great practice for tight spot anchoring and as I said another stunning location.

Then it was on to Porto Cristo. First time in a marina for us in over a month. Unlimited electricity and water - luxury. Good job too as it rained in Cala Sa Nau and the boat was orange with Saharan sand and needed a really good clean.