Port Ginesta to Puerto Soller

Saturday 5th July 2014

Being the great skipper that he is, BT was up with the larks for one final check of the weather online, and a look out to sea before deciding that, ‘Yes’, now was the time to set sail!

[caption id="attachment_1161" align="aligncenter" width="427"] A still calm morning…a perfect time to leave...[/caption]



 

We had a healthy breakfast of fruit and yoghurt and some coffee...mainly to wake Billy up....before casting off, filling up with fuel and waving goodbye to Port Ginesta for a couple of months.



[caption id="attachment_1164" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Leaving the fuel dock...[/caption]

The sun was low in the sky, leaving a trail of twinkling diamonds skimming across the top of the water towards us as we motor sailed away from mainland Spain. Fishing boats were racing out to sea to set their first catches of the day and BT and Billy settled in for the 24hour journey ahead.

[caption id="attachment_1165" align="aligncenter" width="427"] A very happy skipper![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1167" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Saying goodbye to the port[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_1169" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Our exit to the sea….[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_1166" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Leaving Port Ginesta..[/caption]

The sea was still a little muddled up and was a little bumpy, especially when we left the marina as it was bouncing off the land and back out to sea again.For those of you who know me...Billy...you will have heard the stories about how it takes me a while to find my ‘sea legs’. Well, I was hoping this time that I wouldn’t have any problems with sea sickness..but, it wasn’t to be. 3 hours into our trip was all I managed to last. I was so upset at being so weak, I really wanted to be able to participate in this journey together, but instead,I spent the next few hours, huddled up on the bow sleeping...my body just shutting down! BT beetled about putting sails up and down, tidying, making lunch and looking after Billy...he was an absolute star! A few hours later the sea settled and I began to feel so much better....at last.

[caption id="attachment_1171" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A happy BT…on our way at last...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1172" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We did manage to bring Mango Tango….this is the moment she went overboard to be towed the rest of the way….[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1173" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Mango Tango following on behind...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1101" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Diamonds on the sea….[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1102" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Setting the sails[/caption]

Half way through the journey, the weather changed and the wind picked up, as predicted, but it meant that the last half of our journey was not really a pleasant one at all. Towards evening, as the sun went down, we donned waterproof coats...the waves were beginning to crash up over the bow...life jackets and safety harnesses...just in case one of us should fall overboard during the night!! (Don’t worry mum...we were very safe!!) I would like to be able to tell you what a fantastic, awesome night it was,  but unfortunately, I was ill again and spent the remainder of the journey scrunched up on the back deck, wrapped up in enormous waterproof trousers and an oversized, grubby jacket, feeling the sea land all over me as it flung itself over the bow and occasionally hauling myself out over the side feeling very sorry for myself.

[caption id="attachment_1103" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Putting on a brave face...[/caption]

I was imagining what I would write in the blog, feeling very silly for being so ill, wondering whether BT would want to change his girlfriend on arrival in Mallorca and being so cross at not seeing the the nighttime activities. Every now and then I was aware of BT checking the boat, changing sails and generally beavering away. How he kept going all through the night I don’t know...I just think he is absolutely amazing! At one point in the night I did however see our surroundings. The moon was low in the sky and bright orange, the stars were glorious...like little holes of light shining through from another world to ours, and as we disturbed them in their quiet watery world, the jellyfish glowed phosphorescent in a trail behind us. BT saw many shooting stars leaving sparkly trails behind them as they departed this world...whoever said there was nothing to see in the dark???

We eventually arrived at our destination of Puerto Soller at 4.40 am. It had taken us almost 21 hours to complete the crossing. BT was beside himself with tiredness, so after finding a safe anchorage we went to bed.