With the dinghy replaced we finally left the floating pontoon at Porto Colom this morning and motored (because we have now missed our nice easterlies) to the anchorage on the southernmost tip of Mallorca. Sunday morning so it was busy in the anchorage where we planned to stay til 6pm when the winds were due to go southerly again.
The anchor was not well dug in as we were on sand over rock but it was benign to start with and we were not pulling on the anchor so we weren't too worried. By 4pm it was up to 15k though and we were on a lee shore so we decided to leave immediately. I pulled the chain in to 10m and then BANG we were hard on the bottom and pitching like crazy in the 1m swell. Not good for the windlass. Tried to approach from different angles, let more chain out, crank it in. Nothing worked. We just kept banging into a stuck anchor. Gill went in and could see the chain was round a rock. She talked me round it and we were free but caught again and again as I could not bring the chain in fast enough. It was getting dangerous with bits of windlass flying off the gypsy and the chain in danger of stripping the gypsy. Q: Would the shank of the Chinese import Rocna hold? Apparently it did but I need to check later when I can get more safely to the bow.
Finally our saviours, Spanish guys on the next boat, came to help out. With Gill on the wheel, me on the windlass and them putting rope around the anchor and pulling it clear we finally managed to free the anchor and get it on board. The remaining 13 Spaniards, most of them young children, on board our 'rescue boat' burst into applause as Dad, big son and big daughter returned to their boat. We heartily joined in.
So now we are hot and sweaty motoring westwards yet again towards Ibiza. 70 miles to go. With luck we should arrive at our meeting place with Linda tomorrow about lunchtime. So it's another night sail for us. Not as far this time but boy will be glad to get to Ibiza ready for the final run to Gibraltar and La Linea before we return to the UK for a month to catch up with my Mum and Dad and the girls and Gill's 60th on 28th August.
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1 comment:
Nasty experience! Hopefully no further damage.
Thanks for the entertaining and informative blog!
Although not commenting very often we follow your stories with much interest and a bit of jalousie
Bert and Aagje
sy Boya
home during a great summer
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