For my PCS leave, everyone was going to be in the field or had already left Germany. So I decided to do something that was long overdue...get my sailing license. I found a school in Mallorca, a Spanish island in the Med (more specifically the Balearic Sea) that had a reasonable price and good weather. It was call Solaris Sea School and was run but
My home for the week. A Beneteau Oceanis 34 named Southerly Gael.
Port d'Andratx
The first day was theory on the boat with Dennis and I learned a few things I didn't know. U.S. navigational signs are different than pretty much everywhere else in the world. It was also the first time I had ever worked with tidal charts, although my certification was for "Coastal Skipper Non-Tidal."
The next morning we headed out to go through some of the basics like man overboard drills and basic maneuvers. We sailed around to the harbor at Peguera for lunch.
Headed back to Port d' Andratx
My instructor, Eric, who is retired from the British equivalent of the Secret Service.
One night, Eric invited me into his home for dinner and to take a break from sleeping on the boat. I didn't mind the boat, but once I saw his place I was very grateful he invited me. His wife is German and made us a fantastic dinner.
Kitchen
Backyard
Pool
View from my room
Eric had an affinity for older cars, specifically Alfa Romeo's. My favorite was the Lotus Super Seven which he took me for a beer run in. It was probably the most fun ride I've ever had in a car. No doors, side (loud) exhaust, and the bare minimum for the instrument panel. You literally felt like your ass was on the ground as we flew through the one vehicle mountain road back into town. He had to take even the littlest bumps (hardly a speed bump) with care or the bottom would scrape. I loved it and it was the perfect car for the great roads of Mallorca. I only wish I would've taken video to capture the sound of the exhaust.
The next day we sailed to the Isla de Cabrera off the southern coast of Mallorca.
I hiked up to the tower on the top of the island while Eric hung out at the small "Marina"
Our harbor for the night
Southerly Gael
The water was pretty clear, but a little too cold to swim
The next morning we sailed into the wealthy port of Palma de Mallorca
Cool looking Aussie racing yachts
Interesting signage for a marina
More big boats
We had lunch in Magaluf before sailing out at sunset for the night leg back to Port d' Andratx
The next morning we sailed around the island of Dragonera before heading for lunch in St Elm. Eric's wife's family owns one of the waterfront houses in this small town...only for holiday of course.
My last night in Port d' Andratx was a quiet one before heading out to Palma for a day of sightseeing.
I did make it to the Hard Rock Cafe in Palma and thought I took pictures of the city but I can't find them...oh well.
