Alcudia - Sant Carles
After four days in d'Alcudia we had to make our way to Sant Carles Marina where we had booked Sea Crusader to be stored for the winter. It was about 140 miles so was likely to take between 19 and 25 hours depending upon our boat speed. We decided that we would go to an anchorage on the south side of the peninsular and have lunch there before heading off for an overnight sail to arrive in the morning the next day.
When we approached both Cala Murta and Cala en Gossalba were rammed full of small motorboats which had arrived for the day, there was not possibility of us fitting in so we had no choice but to go around to the northern side. We headed into Cala Bóquer and found a number of boats already at anchor and two following us in from behind. We quickly found a likely spot and dropped our anchor. It was nice and calm in the bay as it was protected from the wind which was coming from the east. We had a drink and afterwards there was some tension in the cockpit as I was anxious about the proximity of the rocks behind Sea Crusader. Wheat neither of us had realised was that the wind had changed to North West and that whilst the anchor was not dragging the chain was being stretched out. Within 15 minutes every boat in the bay was on their way out as the fetch came in with a blast of strong winds.
having pulled up our anchor we had no other options but to start our return journey a little earlier than we had planned. The winds were a good 18 knots at this stage and although you can't get in impression in the video below the seas soon picked up and we were being hit by rouge swells of around 2m. The video looks mad because it really looks like a lovely day and it was but it is hard to believe that we were being pushed right over to the rails every now and again.
When we approached both Cala Murta and Cala en Gossalba were rammed full of small motorboats which had arrived for the day, there was not possibility of us fitting in so we had no choice but to go around to the northern side. We headed into Cala Bóquer and found a number of boats already at anchor and two following us in from behind. We quickly found a likely spot and dropped our anchor. It was nice and calm in the bay as it was protected from the wind which was coming from the east. We had a drink and afterwards there was some tension in the cockpit as I was anxious about the proximity of the rocks behind Sea Crusader. Wheat neither of us had realised was that the wind had changed to North West and that whilst the anchor was not dragging the chain was being stretched out. Within 15 minutes every boat in the bay was on their way out as the fetch came in with a blast of strong winds.
having pulled up our anchor we had no other options but to start our return journey a little earlier than we had planned. The winds were a good 18 knots at this stage and although you can't get in impression in the video below the seas soon picked up and we were being hit by rouge swells of around 2m. The video looks mad because it really looks like a lovely day and it was but it is hard to believe that we were being pushed right over to the rails every now and again.
We arrived in Sant Carles and in spite of being promised a finger berth we were placed on the waiting pontoon. i was not to pleased because there is a large British community in the marina and we were on our own. That evening we were pretty tired so we went to the restaurant for a bite to eat and early to bed.
We had a few days to spare because our lift out was delayed as the marina said that as we are 18m they could not fit us in so we have to re-arrange our flights. However when we took the sails down we were sop pleased we were on the waiting pontoon because it is huge and we were able to fold the sails so well the looked factory fresh by the time they were bagged up.
Linda made good use of the berth holders pool and I went through the boat doing all the jobs I could and ordering all the things I needed for next season lest I should forget once we had returned home. The following evening we decided to eat int he restaurant again and a group of Scandinavians insisted we join their party. By the end of the evening it was quite clear that at least on of their party was in the "import and export" business…
"We have a mouse on board" was the cry as Linda examined her Polos, something had been nibbling them. I was dispatched to the chandlers to buy mouse traps. There is nothing you want less on a boat with lots of expensive soft furnishings than a mouse. On my way I bumped into another owner who informed me that mice are a real problem in the marina because of the fields. I was staggered because we were miles away from the shore and how did he get down the pontoon without being seen, we never say any mice at all during our stay. the chandlers did not sell mouse traps but a trading shop in the town did so off I set. later that evening I removed the dead mouse. It seemed to be the only mouse in residence but we plan to leave set traps whilst we are away.
The next day we had to finish packing up the boat for winter storage. Thoroughly cleaning it all and dealing with the perishables and frozen food in the freezer. The next day we were due to be lifted.
We took the boat around to the hoist at the allotted time only to be sent away and told to come back in an hour! We were lifted out and strapped down and that meant an early start tomorrow to do all the exterior winter jobs in a day. Luckily I had had the foresight to bring some hydrochloric acid with me as this made cleaning the propeller a doddle. After I had removed al the barnicles etc I was able to fit a service kit and grease it, then I replaced all the anodes that needed replacing.
Lastly was to deal with the hull we had the boat re-coppercoated in 2020 and it had not gone completely green some parts were still brown and needed abraiding, hopefully for the last time. The coppercoat on Diamond Blue was a huge sucesess but on Sea Crusader it has been harder to believe it is working as it should. Diamond Blue was kept in Ocean Village marina and we got very little growth, Sea Crusader was kept in Hamble and unfortunately after two month in the water it was covered in long green grass everywhere. You can see photos if you check my Plymouth blog in June. The boat was lifted in Plymouth and the weed blasted off, to say I was less than impressed is an understatement. We lost our bow thruster in Baiona and we have the boat lifted in Lagos to fit a new one and the growth was much less but still more than I would expect to see, was that because of a change in the waters or because we had been moving, i don't know. So when the boat was lifted in Sant Carles there was no weed at all, it looked exactly as I would expect it to if it was working, Why was this, was it because the water is cleaner with fewer particulates or is it because the water is so much warmer i don't know. What I do know is the problem has gone away for the time being.
Tomorrow we get the bus and return to the UK leaving Sea Crusader to the elements until April. We might come out mid-winter but nothing is set in stone we will see.
We had a few days to spare because our lift out was delayed as the marina said that as we are 18m they could not fit us in so we have to re-arrange our flights. However when we took the sails down we were sop pleased we were on the waiting pontoon because it is huge and we were able to fold the sails so well the looked factory fresh by the time they were bagged up.
Linda made good use of the berth holders pool and I went through the boat doing all the jobs I could and ordering all the things I needed for next season lest I should forget once we had returned home. The following evening we decided to eat int he restaurant again and a group of Scandinavians insisted we join their party. By the end of the evening it was quite clear that at least on of their party was in the "import and export" business…
"We have a mouse on board" was the cry as Linda examined her Polos, something had been nibbling them. I was dispatched to the chandlers to buy mouse traps. There is nothing you want less on a boat with lots of expensive soft furnishings than a mouse. On my way I bumped into another owner who informed me that mice are a real problem in the marina because of the fields. I was staggered because we were miles away from the shore and how did he get down the pontoon without being seen, we never say any mice at all during our stay. the chandlers did not sell mouse traps but a trading shop in the town did so off I set. later that evening I removed the dead mouse. It seemed to be the only mouse in residence but we plan to leave set traps whilst we are away.
The next day we had to finish packing up the boat for winter storage. Thoroughly cleaning it all and dealing with the perishables and frozen food in the freezer. The next day we were due to be lifted.
We took the boat around to the hoist at the allotted time only to be sent away and told to come back in an hour! We were lifted out and strapped down and that meant an early start tomorrow to do all the exterior winter jobs in a day. Luckily I had had the foresight to bring some hydrochloric acid with me as this made cleaning the propeller a doddle. After I had removed al the barnicles etc I was able to fit a service kit and grease it, then I replaced all the anodes that needed replacing.
Lastly was to deal with the hull we had the boat re-coppercoated in 2020 and it had not gone completely green some parts were still brown and needed abraiding, hopefully for the last time. The coppercoat on Diamond Blue was a huge sucesess but on Sea Crusader it has been harder to believe it is working as it should. Diamond Blue was kept in Ocean Village marina and we got very little growth, Sea Crusader was kept in Hamble and unfortunately after two month in the water it was covered in long green grass everywhere. You can see photos if you check my Plymouth blog in June. The boat was lifted in Plymouth and the weed blasted off, to say I was less than impressed is an understatement. We lost our bow thruster in Baiona and we have the boat lifted in Lagos to fit a new one and the growth was much less but still more than I would expect to see, was that because of a change in the waters or because we had been moving, i don't know. So when the boat was lifted in Sant Carles there was no weed at all, it looked exactly as I would expect it to if it was working, Why was this, was it because the water is cleaner with fewer particulates or is it because the water is so much warmer i don't know. What I do know is the problem has gone away for the time being.
Tomorrow we get the bus and return to the UK leaving Sea Crusader to the elements until April. We might come out mid-winter but nothing is set in stone we will see.
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Where better to pack your sails away? -
The berth holders pool -
Strapped down for the winter.