Ibiza VIII: Portinatx ⚓

In Portinatx almost our entire Dutch fleet , and more, from Sines is reunited. We are welcomed by Square One and Simon Hendrick when we enter the bay. We saw SH for the last time in Villa Real in Portugal and Square One in Gibraltar, it has been a while. We quickly get invited for a hike to the Lighthouse later that day with the both of them. The cliffs are impressive again and the views amazing. The way back turns out to be quite adventurous as we're slipping and sliding our way back down to sea level again. Still pretty impressed by five year old crew member of the Simon Hendrick for sticking with us! 😉 Obviously, we had to cheers to our accomplishments at the local terrace in the sun.

On Sunday we take on the invitation of Square One to go on another hike to the other side of the bay. Over there it looks like we have travelled to the moon. The rock formations are very pointy and there are crater like holes in the cliffs. At some point we think we see a lookout point and we decided to follow a trail that turned out not to be a trail at all... We're doing fine climbing over the rocks and through the bushes but at some point, and at this point we had already passed the point of no return, we have to go pretty much straight up. I don't remember how but I somehow find my way up there and soon I am followed by Bart, Harmen and Kiki. We're glad we didn't look down on our way up, let's leave it at that.

The next day Beautje, Noordster and Watertuin join our Dutch party. It is pretty cool to have 6 Dutch boats anchored in a bay in Ibiza, but at the same time it also feels kind off invasive.. But, the fun part is that Simon Hendrick invited all of us! over to their boat for a fun night of drinks, good conversations and lots of laughs. Bart joins the party a couple of hours before I do as I get stuck, willingly, working on our website www.bartandbel.com!

The next day Beautje and us leave to go to just one bay around the corner, over there we should get better protections against the wind and swell. Beautje gets there, of course, before us and lets us know over the VHF that there isn't enough space seagrass and depth wise. So we both turn around and sail the 2,5 miles back to Portinatx. It was a beautiful day for a sail, so no harm done.

The last two days we spend playing football and volleyball on the beach, hiking to the anchorage around the corner we didn't go to and enjoying each others company. On the last night together we share our travel plans. Simon Hendrick and Square One are going southeast, Beautje West and Noordster and us are debating whether we will leave for Mallorca the next day. Around 4pm the next day the forecast warns for gusts of 55 knots near Palma de Mallorca. Additionally there is some thunder on its way. We both decide to wait for tomorrow morning's weather update and decide then...Read more