Well, we are still in Soller – currently sitting with the mechanic who is installing the new impeller unit. So, perhaps, finally the issue may be resolved – he said “with this new one you’ll be good for another 5 or 6 years” !! So – that left us confused since our engine is less than 3 years old. That will be something to look into for another day – for now, with Gemini J fixed we can look at our onward plans.
It has to be said the weather is a little unusual at the moment – ask any sailor currently around these parts and they tell tales of having to change all their plans and routes due to the weather. It is very unsettled and if you look in the sky in the photos you’ll see it’s been really stormy whilst we have been here. Looking forwards the forecast is still not good with heavy seas for the next few days. Frustratingly this means that although the engine might the fixed – the weather isn’t so we probably won’t be able to depart just yet.
It does mean more time in this beautiful place so no real hardship – especially when in the bay it’s calm enough to swim and paddle board.
I also took advantage of a cloudy afternoon and walked up to the lighthouse.
I spotted Barbie’s boat in the bay – we haven’t seen her around town yet, we will keep an eye out 😉
We had a slightly stressful half an hour on Wednesday when the wind suddenly picked up.to 20-30 knots and lots of boats started trying to come onto the pontoon for the night. As you know from the previous blog there are no marineros to help with tying up here so I jumped off to try and help. Every boat was struggling with the conditions and they started to get in the way of each other. We spotted Costa Blanca Sailing with our old sailing instructor Walter at the helm. We realised how difficult it was when we saw him abort his first attempt to berth. There was another boat trying to get into the space next to us and Skipper Nigel was helping them. I jumped off and went to help Walter and his crew who were battling to get their boat into berth in ridiculously gusty winds. In the meantime there was another guy helping other boats and when we sat down later I counted that 7 boats had all come in within the space of twenty minutes – it was crazy, but also a reminder that the conditions really weren’t good for going out (as much as we wanted them to be). It was really nice to see Walter and have a catch up later on that evening before they headed off for a quick tram trip.
As for our onward plans we have also had chance to do a lot of soul searching and considering all our options. We are in no doubt we could continue our journey onwards to Malta – but looking at the forecast ahead our adventure is in danger of turning into a slog – and we definitely want to enjoy it. We have thought about getting part way and leaving Gemini J but that would mean an unknown port and lots of hopping backwards and forwards. Our original plans included a “checkpoint” in Menorca as to weather we would go ahead with 2 long crossings between Menorca and Sardinia then Sardinia to Sicily. The delay caused by our impeller problems and the weather has brought forward that decision and it’s back to Cartagena we go.
This enables us to enjoy our time and not feel stressed about the up-coming long crossings. Now, some other sailors might just wait for a weather window and hop the 600 nautical miles – 5 day crossing to Malta but that’s not us. With only us two aboard and no particular need to get there we would rather enjoy our time and make the rest of our journey a holiday. With that in mind, on this very windy day, I did a quick fuel supply trip then wandered off to take the tram only to find everyone had the same idea – it was crazy, so busy that I gave up and came back to enjoy relaxing aboard.
So, tomorrow we aim to set sail once more – at a relaxed pace and see where the conditions take us, we will be very happy to be on the move again (weather permitting of course ;-))
The Adventures of Gemini J 