We finally had a weather window to leave Menorca, so spent the day getting ready for the passage - dingy packed away, hot meals ready to go, weather checked & checked & checked again! We decided to wait until late in the day hoping that the swell from the days of northerlies would have calmed.
We excitedly set of from Mahon around 6.30pm on Wednesday 23rd May, we optimistically hoisted the mainsail in the harbour. Whilst motoring out we saw a sail boat on the horizon with no sails up being swung from side to side by the swell. We motored into the swell desperately trying to keep down our dinner!
A few hours in & the wind started to fill in with force 4 from north west, engine off. The night was long but we both managed to sleep but there was little to see, one cargo ship on AIS which was over 5 miles away but a super yacht 215 feet long passes within less than a mile.
Rest of the sail was uneventful apart from seeing 2 whales the size of Magnum & having an owl land on Magnum, tired & 100 miles from the nearest land. (they are not as wise as they make out) & there was no sign of a cat or a green boat.
Made landfall in Cala Yacca (North West Coast) at 10.30 the next morning (Friday) in thick fog.
Magnum is a Wauquiez Centurion 36. She was designed by Ed Dubois and was the last of 34 yachts of this type off the production line in 1994. We have spent the last 5 years sailing around the English Channel and in May 2011 we are heading off to warmer climates. You can follow our adventures below....
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