Spain
10th April - 3rd May, 2021
We arrived in Menorca, Spain, 11am local time, April 10th. We had a very fast passage with lots of wind and huge following seas. But overall a fun and good one
As always for the interested, here are some nerdy facts for the passage:
Passage from Bizerte, Tunisia to Menorca, Spain. It took us 48 hours. And we averaged 6.3 Knots. The shortest great circle distance is 304 Nautical Miles. We sailed 334 Nautical Miles to get here. We ran the engine 7 Hours (14.5%) during the passage (lost wind when approaching Menorca). We got 166.7 Ah/day from Solar, 53 Ah/day from Wind, and 173.6 Ah/day from Hydro, a total of 393.3 Ah/day during the passage.
Fun fact is also that our log showed 21635NM during the passage, which is equal to the distance around the world. We haven't circumnavigated yet, but we have sailed the equivalent distance since we started in 2018!
We did a PCR Covid test in Bizerte Tunisia before we left. Got the result via email when we arrived in Menorca. Luckily it was negative. This was our fourth PCR Covid test since January. We are positively some of the most negative persons regarding to Covid ;-)
Very good, not planned, timing with the sunset right when we passed through these Tunisian Galite islands
We had winds steady over 30 knots. Max wind speed 42.5 knots and we topped 15.9 knots speed. A fast and wild ride for sure
Entering the Mahon entrance in Menorca. Pretty big swells crashing onto the rocks
Big ferry coming out going to Ibiza. Our marina is straight in front of us. Nice to get in to calm water again
It is 15 months since we left Spain, before the pandemic. Who knew then what would happen. Time to hoist the Spanish flag again. We are all cleared in and free to sail the Balearic Islands.
We took some Saharan sand with us from Tunisia
Found this very unlucky little bird on the deck :-( We think he might have flown into our wind generator and ended up on our deck
A walk through Mahon (in Spanish), Mao (in Catalan) and also written as Mahon or Port Mahon in English, the capital in Menorca and the second largest city after Ciutadella on the west coast.
MahĂłn has one of the longest natural harbours in the world: 5 km (3.1 mi) long and up to 900 metres (2,953 feet) wide. The water is deep but remains mostly clear due to the port's enclosed nature. Mayonnaise is considered to have originated in MahĂłn.
Love this propeller overlooking the inlet of the harbor. It's huge...
Cool marketplace with lots of old pillars. Beautiful!
This big church was next to the marketplace. I happened to pop in in the middle of Sunday mass. Very good social distancing
This is the museum of Menorca next to the old church of San Francisco, unfortunately closed at the moment.
This is the only remnant of the ancient city wall
Interesting sculpture. I wonder if the horses are laughing about their butt cracks ;-)
Cool house, and typical narrow alleys in Mahon
One day road trip in Menorca. I Love these small islands (and small cars) when you can see almost everything in one day. Menorca is 48 km long and 16 km wide, with only one main road going through the island east to west, the "ME1".
Our cute little rental car, Fiat 500. We stopped at one of the many Taula sites, ancient rock formations. Unfortunately it was closed...
This huge Jesus Statue is standing tall on top of the highest peak in Menorca, El Toro 358m ( 1,175 feet)
Panoramic view from top of El Toro, looking north
Visited the fishing village of Fornells on the north shore. Walked up to this old fort, built by the English to protect this harbor
This is the old part of Ciutadella, the biggest city on the island. Used to be the capital before Mahon
Love all the different colors on these buildings
Found a cute and very good restaurant in one of the alley in the old city
One of the many stunning blue coves, Calas in Spanish.
The road trip ended at Lidl. Perfect to stock up when you happen to have a car :-)
We just had to go to this restaurant! Latitude 40, the same as home in Boulder, Colorado! Up and Down means if you travel over the island east to west you travel up and down around the 40th Latitude!
Spectacular coastline on the south side of Menorca
This is a very popular and famous bar called the Cliff Bar, or Cova d'en Xoroi . It's carved out off the cliff. It's a bar and night club, but unfortunately currently closed. Spectacular views and specially sunsets.
This is our last anchorage in Menorca. The Cliff bar is up on the hill to the left.
View towards the beach in the same anchorage, Cala en Porter. We were the only boat hear for the night. Can't even imagine how this popular anchorage would look like during peak season
I got a very well needed hair cut
Our anchorage in Palmanova bay
We got "Laundry service" from our dear friend Sophie Wachtmeister who currently lives in Palma nova
We paid her back for the laundry service by inviting her for drinks and snacks on Horizon, a Win-Win (wine) :-)
Then we had a nice lunch together at a beach restaurant. Very nice
Sangrias are served, Cheers!
After more than 6,000 NM in the Med, we are now back in Ibiza where we were in January 2020. That means we have crossed our own path in the Med, kind of Cool
Since then we have visited nine Med-countries, even though we were locked down in St Tropez for 73 days. We feel very blessed that we have been able to navigate, not only the waters responsibly, but also the ever changing rules and precautions around Covid-19.
Our first anchorage back on mainland Spain, La Azohia, close to Cartagena.
We hiked up to this old tower, Torre de Santa Elena. Built at the end of the 16th century. Stunning views from the top
The trail winds along this rugged coastline. In one of the small coves we anchored on our way east in the Mediterranean, 1.5 years ago.
Lots of Lavendel along the trail. We picked some to have as air freshener
View over the anchorage through the window in the tower
Spectacular trails along the coast
It was a little windy in the anchorage last night
The neighbor's boat heeled over a lot in the gusts
This is in a marina in Almeria. Anders is up in the mast trying to get rid of some Sahara sand with the hose and a brush, on the shrouds. We have some noise from them so we thought this could help, but it didn't really.
The Spanish Guardia Civil came up to us to check on our papers. All good and we could proceed. Always a little nerve-racking though
Back in the anchorage Punta de la Mona, where we anchored on our way in, 1.5 years ago.
Why do fishermen always fish from the most weird, scariest spots?
Full moon in Punta de la Mona
Leaving our anchorage in Punta de la Mona. On the other side of the big cliff is La Herredura. This is on the south coast of Spain.
Leaving Fuengirola in the early morning to time the tide and currants to cross over Gibraltar Strait
Very nice protected anchorage inside the breakwater, just outside the marina
A little busy going through the shipping lanes of the Gibraltar Strait
Approaching Ceuta. We're back in Africa!
Wow, the last 24 hours has been exhausting, but good. Started with us getting into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave south of the strait of Gibraltar, in Africa. Happy to be there, but was soon informed that the city was closed due to the Ramadan impact on Covid-19 (just like Turkey). Unfortunately the Covid-19 cases sky-rocketed and they had to close the city to all non-residents. We were allowed to stay the night, and we left at high tide this morning to negotiate the Strait of Gibraltar. It's hard to get out of the med, since the Atlantic is filling the Med all the time. Which is due to the evaporation in the Med (that's also why the Med is more salty than the Atlantic).
Nevertheless we started the day crossing the busy shipping channel. This is like playing a computer game, where you only have one life left. We found a good spot to cross and just dodged through. All well and fun to do. We continued up the coast and are now anchored under the big suspension bridge in Cadiz, where we anchored late in 2019, before entering the Med.
We are happy to have experienced the Med, and to be able to "get out". We've met a lot of people in the Med, that "happily stayed ever after". They told us that they entered to stay a year, and are still in there 15 years later. Good for them, but we want to move on.. so here we are, in the Atlantic again, having to relearn that tide and tidal currents are now back, and needs to be accounted for.
When we entered the Med, we knew about the British Gibraltar, annoying the Spanish... But we were not aware of the Spanish Ceuta, annoying the Moroccans... So we had to pay a visit...
Lovely city, wish we could have experienced it closer. But with the number of Covid-19 cases that had, we were happy to pass...
Lovely marina. But we had to stay on the boat. But we love the boat, and each other, so that's OK.
Left on the morning tide, leaving Africa, leaving the Med, heading for new Horizons...
The cliff of Gibraltar in the morning mist, seen from Ceuta
Clouds over the mountain. On our way from Ceuta going west. Hugging the coast of Africa to avoid currents
The border between Ceuta, Spain, and Morocco
Tanger, Morocco. Hope to sail back and explore Morocco at some point
Crossing Gibraltar Strait and the shipping lanes. 90 degree turn to starboard, then just go for it...
Time past, and the current increased (in the wrong direction) as expected. (purple arrow, in knots).
Bye, Bye Mediterranean for this time...Tanger lighthouse is slowly disappearing...
I only caught one fish in the Med. But right away when we got back in the Atlantic I caught this Atlantic Needle fish
A bridge!! Guess what was served on the boat?
Of course, Jägermeister :-)
Great anchorages next to this impressive bridge in Cadiz
We're back in our favorite restaurant in Cadiz. Why our favorit? Ha ha, because they have very good free WiFi ;-) When we sat down our cell phones automatically connected to their WiFi. Still the same password since 1.5 years ago
A stroll along the beautiful beaches in Cadiz
Sailing up the river Umbria
Our last anchorage in Spain for this time. In the river Umbria, with lots of fishing boats
We got groceries delivered to the boat in Finike marina when we stayed there in February. It was an amazing service and all so fresh and local. This is the last of it white cabbage, carrots and leak. They have lasted two and a half months. Thanks to everyone in Finike marina who organized this. Can definitely recommend Finike marina to anyone in the area.