Crossing to Port Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza

On Monday we set the alarm for 5:30. Last look at the weather for the course. The day before it had already become apparent that it would be better to start at 8:00. This turned out to be the case.

Waves 30, wind 11-13 km/h, slightly gusty. The middle stretch was supposed to be fairly calm and towards the end of the trip gusty winds were forecast again.

Nothing was going to go wrong and in the first 3-4 hours the weather gods kept their promise. From the 5th hour onwards, however, we were confronted with significantly higher waves and significantly stronger wind for 2 hours. Our course crossed the waves at an angle of 30° and there was hardly any movement in a second direction, so the trip was still quite pleasant.

Before setting off, we naturally asked ourselves whether we would be able to see the coast during the entire trip. Montbu should be visible from Ibiza in clear weather, but on our crossing it disappeared in the haze after 80 km. The coast of Ibiza, with its highest point, Cim de sa Talaia, 475 m above sea level, should also be visible when we set off. After 30 km, the silhouette of Ibiza slowly emerged on the horizon and soon became clearly visible. The Isla de es Vedrà, off the western coast, is particularly impressive with its bizarrely steep towers rising into the sky.

Long before reaching the bay of Sant Antonie, we head for the Faro Bleda Plana and the island of Isla de es Vedrà, which we circumnavigate to the northwest. At the end of Isla de es Vedrà, we head towards the bay to our imaginary harbor, Port de Sant Antoni.

Once we got there, we decided that the best place to moor was the jetty in front of the Kapitanerie.

But it was already occupied, so we were left with only a jetty in the spacious petrol station. The way to the captain's office was only a few metres, the petrol station attendant was very friendly, but no one was waiting for us in the captain's office. Our first response was that the harbour was full, wait outside, we'll be able to tell you something in half an hour. There were a few spaces free along jetty C, but the jetties were a bit too big for our Gustav. We had to convince the petrol station attendant that we should wait and that we had permission to do so.

After half an hour everything happened very quickly. My first officer received the information from the Marinero to moor C20, but hurry up.

We started the engines, checked and cast off. It felt like 100 m to the jetty and the help to moor was already there. The mooring line was half as thick as my arm, the cleats on the Gustav were not designed for that. But I was still able to secure it just about.

We were rewarded with an impressive view of the bay and the sprawling beach opposite. My first location report was acknowledged as party island, and we soon knew what that meant. But our distance from the clearly audible sources of noise, others call it music, was large enough that we didn't feel disturbed.

I have to give a big shout out to the ladies of the captaincy; they tried very hard. At first we were forced to report in every day, but on the second day they came to their senses and we were given a permanent place after all.

Thanks.

The jetty is brilliant, we have a covered parking space for the bikes on the jetty, distance max. 50 m, the jetty is the same height as our bow, so we can get out without any problems.

At the reception, we received a voucher for a welcome print at the harbor restaurant. We accepted it gratefully, of course. When we visited, the restaurant was festively set in our honor until we noticed that the tables were prepared for a wedding party. We then took our seats next door in the economy class and enjoyed the end of the day.

Ibiza, here we come, a crossing to the south by bike 20 km, the extension from east to west is somewhat larger, but manageable.

Let’s see what happens!