Our sail from Mallorca to Sardinia 🐟

Julie

It’s still pretty early when we lift up the anchor. The sky is just starting to lighten, but the sun isn’t up yet. First, we hoist the dinghy onto the deck, then quietly slip out of Port de Pollença bay. Everything is quiet on the other boats. Everyone is probably still asleep. The sea is calm, almost glassy at times. Not long after, the sun rises behind the mountains, casting a warm orange glow over our faces, the boat and the water around us.
We glance back at Mallorca one last time. What a beautiful island. It feels a little strange to be leaving it behind. After a few hours, Menorca shows up on the horizon. It is much flatter compared to the mountainous Mallorca. We are making good progress with both the mainsail and jib up.
If you were tracking us on AIS through Vesselfinder or MarineTraffic, it probably looked like we were heading for Menorca for a quick stop. But just before sunset, we tack and set a straight course for Sardinia. At nine in the evening, our watch schedule kicks in. We take turns with three hours on and three hours off. I start the first watch while the sea is still calm. Greg takes over around midnight.
Thanks to the autopilot, we do not have to steer, but we stay alert, regularly checking for other boats or floating debris. We sail a bit south of our planned route. Luckily, the wind shifts a few hours later, and we can get back on track. Just before three in the morning, my alarm goes off. It is time for the watch swap. The sea has gotten a bit rougher. The waves make it feel like we are riding a rocking horse.
I look up at the incredible starry sky. There are tons of stars, the Milky Way is clearly visible and even a train of Starlink satellites passes by. The sea is magical too. Tiny flashes of bioluminescent plankton light up with every wave. It reminds me of a scene from Life of Pi. It feels almost dreamlike. Around six in the morning, as dawn breaks, I crawl into bed. The constant rocking makes it hard to fall asleep. When I wake up around nine, I am anything but rested. I have a stiff neck, sore back and a slight headache. The sea stays rough all morning. Between the rocking, I sneak in short naps, read my book (Host by Peter James) and stare out at the water, hoping a dolphin will pop up any second. I am totally hooked on the book. The story is about artificial intelligence and cryonics. Time flies as I get caught up in the twists and turns. It has been ages since a story pulled me in like this. In a few days, I finish the whole six hundred page book. Day two is pretty chill. By afternoon, the waves finally calm down enough so we can open the fridge without everything flying out. It is hot, a bit too hot, and finding relief is tough. Luckily, we have our watermaker, so we can enjoy a refreshing shower in the evening. Still no dolphins or other sea life. At sunset, I play some music to try and lure them out, but no luck.
During my watch, I start watching the series The Boys to pass the time. Day three and the trip is getting a bit monotonous. We are still sailing most of the time, but honestly, we were hoping to see dolphins by now. Nope. Just endless blue water all around. No other boats in sight either. We decide to tweak our route. Rather than heading to Carloforte, we aim for Poetto bay. If we had stuck to the original plan, we would arrive in the middle of the night, which is not ideal given the many nearly invisible fishing buoys along the Sardinian coast. Also, it is time to swap our Spanish flag for the Italian one. After another sticky hot day, I hop in the shower. Still half wet and wrapped in just a towel, I go out to water the plants. Right then, I hear the bait clicker rattling. Something is on the line.
Wearing just the towel, I try to reel it in. It is not easy and soon I realize it is a big one. It is a tuna. After about half an hour of wrestling, Greg takes over while I throw on some clothes. Finn pokes his head out, curious. He knows exactly what fishing means by now.
When the fish finally surfaces, I grab the net and haul it onboard with a big effort. My heart is racing with adrenaline. What a catch. A ten-kilo, eighty-centimeter tuna. The biggest we have ever caught. One thing is for sure. We have plenty to eat for the next few days. Greg handles the filleting. It is something I definitely cannot stomach. Just the smell of fish and blood makes me gag. Greg is surprised. He cannot believe how strong my nose is. Yes, filleting fish is definitely not my thing. Day four and we are almost at our destination. I start tidying up on deck while Greg hoists the parasailor. When we arrive, we dodge a big container ship, lower the parasailor, and get greeted by Thomas from New Hope, who is anchored in the bay too. He points us to a great spot to drop anchor. After 317 miles and 82 hours at sea, it feels amazing to finally be here.
After a refreshing nap, we invite Thomas aboard for sushi, ceviche and grilled fish. We hang out for hours, enjoying the food and each other’s company.
Feeling happy and content, we finally crawl into bed, ready for new adventures in Sardinia.

Boat & Crew

El Burro

Swallow Craft Design Group, Swift 33

Gregory Ramis Ferriol

Owner

Finn

Pet, Male

Nelly

Pet, Female

Julie

Owner