Yacht JACK TAR

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Season 2011 draws to a close

Jack Tar is at present at lovely Cartagena on the south coast of Spain, sheltering from the wind, having spent about seven weeks in the Balearics. In Majorca Jim, Sue and Jools joined us as we continued to slowly make our way west, crossing to Ibeza before they departed. Ibeza, the so-called hedonist playground, as well as being a beautiful island, lived up to its reputation, particularly on the nearby islands of Espalmedor and Formentera. In places nudity was de rigeur as was some behaviour not normally seen in public. We had a good though lumpy downwind sail across from Ibeza and will soon sail on again to Almerimar, our base for the yacht for the winter.

On the rugged north coast of Majorca we found a lovely anchorage off a narrow stone beach situated at the end of a gorge.

It was acessed through a tunnel in the cliff.......

from this stoney beach village

The Victorian era tram from the port at Soller to the town inland

The locals loved these beaut little boats and everyone seemed to have one

Market day at Soller town

Just having touched the display

We went by Victorian era train across the island to the capital Palma

Palma

Palma cathedral

We walked to a hillside village near Soller

Soller town in the valley. The train wound its way up and over the pass in the distance

Waterfront at Andratx where Chris Skase used to live

Package tour HQ at Santa Ponza

Palma

Inside the castle atop Palma

Santa Eulalia on Ibeza

Early morning ride to the beaches on Formentera

Beach bar

What happens when you build in a slip area

Our berth downtown Ibeza next to the customs boat

and across the road from the old town

Up in Ibeza old town

Ibeza harbour

Bali Hai, actually Isla Vedra off Ibeza

Cartagena waterfront

Replica of a prototype submarine built here in 1884

Roman theartre Cartagena

Cartagena harbour one of the few natural harbours on this part of the Spanish coast

We found "A" last seen at Cape Ferrat near Monaco

Cartagena

Friday, September 9, 2011

Hola from the Balearics

After sheltering from the mistral for three days in the old port at Marseille we had an uneventful but uncomfortable downwind sail, swell on the beam, to Mahon on the island of Menorca. The harbour there – real Patrick O`Brien territory – is just wonderful. It is no wonder the old powers fought so often to control it. After a week there we sailed to explore the island before crossing to Majorca where we are now anchored at Porto Soller on the north coast.

Marseille old port

A sad reminder of times past

The cathedral high on the hill dominates the city

Street scene - Mahon on Menorca

Marseille old port from up at the Cathedral

Hordes of tourists at Mahon

Our anchorage in Mahon harbour

Yacht leaving the anchorage at Mahon

The inner harbour at Ciutadella - Menorca

Cuitadella old town

Princess in the garden at Ciutadella

The anchorage at Ciutadella

More of the harbour at Mahon

Mahon inner harbour

Waterfront at Fornells - Menorca

Tric & Phil have a new cat

Marina at Alcudia - Majorca

Alcudia restaurant

Alcudia old town market

Sheltering from the heat at Alcudia

Monday, August 8, 2011

On to Marseille

Jack Tar has essentially completed the planned westward transit of the south coast of France, being now at anchor in the lee of an island just off the port of Marseille. While at Juan les Pins on the Cap d`Antibe peninsula we made a trip into Cannes and to the small high village of Biot. Next to Ile St Marguerite off Cannes port for another fantastic fireworks display. It was then on to St Tropez. It is now school holiday time and the crowds of boats and people are almost overwhelming; yet it is fun to see the activity. Entering the gulf of St Tropez there were so many large motor yachts moving at speed that the whole gulf, three miles wide and five long, was completely chopped up and we were flung about like a cork in a washing machine. Anchored off the entrance to the port we were surrounded by more large boats apparently all wanting to see yet another fireworks display. We then sailed to the Porquorelles islands near Toulon and found an anchorage off Port Cros, a lovely national park island. All these anchorages have kept us on our toes, as it seems that the French, like the Italians, are not very good at anchoring safely. Our salvage score to date is two untended yachts rescued after dragging free into deep water and two people in a broken down runabout having been blown to sea by the mistral. From there we sailed on to Bandol and then lovely Cassis but were forced to run away back downwind to La Ciotat, another pretty town. Tomorrow we will head into Marseille as a strong mistral is forecast to blow for a few days. After that, it is on across to the Balearics, when the weather suits, a two day passage.

The blog editor still seems place some photos seemingly at random.

Two story merrygoround St Tropez

Waterfront Port Cros Is

Acrobat sculpture Cannes

Port Cros anchorage - the main issue is finding water shallow enough to anchor in. We were routinely anchoring in 20-30 mtrs. From up here we counted 200 yachts under sail within 10 mls.