Storm

9th-10th June

I woke up in the wee small hours. The wind was howling all around us but that wasn't what woke me up. We were tossing around, up and down... BANG... up and DOWN... bang... up and BANG BANG BANG... down. The bad weather that had started to move in the previous afternoon had hit us with a vengeance. The wind was blowing right into the cala bringing with it very heavy seas. We could almost feel the anchor, holding us against the wind and waves, the chain stretching, keeping us off the shore. It felt strong, stronger than the wind. But there was nothing to protect us from the battering the waves were giving us. Up and down went Ganymede and each time she hit the water... BANG. Tony was awake, listening, ready to jump at a moment's warning. He got up several times in the night, to check, to look around. That anchor was holding fast. Oh, how we love our anchor! All night long it continued. Oh, I really don't like this.

Morning was no better. Little peaks out the window showed waves pounding in towards the shore. And up and down went Ganymede, up... and DOWN... up and DOWN . There was one other boat in the cala, further in than us and it was faring no better, tossing around, up and down, swerving this way then that. Oh, this was not a day to be out on the sea! There was no ferry service that day and very little activity on the beach - a few brave souls were wandering around, in the bars and restaurants all the doors and windows were closed.

All day long the wind howled at us, the waves pounded us. I broke some rules: I tried to read a glossy magazine. Not a good idea. I soon had a headache, soon had that familiar sick feeling. I tried sitting in the cockpit, sitting in the saloon, going to bed. Bed is definitely the best place in these conditions. All day long I moved, cockpit, saloon, bed, fitful sleep trying to shut out what was going on out there in the real world. Tony found himself some lunch. There was no way I could eat.

Evening came and still the wind was blowing straight up the cala and the sea was, if anything, even angrier than before. We could perhaps have got ashore in the dinghy but getting back to Ganymede would have been a very wet, slow experience, the wind and the waves conspiring to push us back in to shore, the waves washing over us, soaking us. And as for getting out of the dinghy and on to Ganymede, that would have been well nigh impossible. No, I was not doing that. I decided to be brave and started to prepare some dinner but no sooner started than I knew there was no way I could eat it. I got it almost done, admitted defeat, handed over to Tony and went back to bed. Oh, where is the romance in this kind of experience? Why am I subjecting myself to this?

At the same time, we had the worry of Alistair, Gill and Eva arriving next day. In fact, it wasn't next day... it was 2.00am the day after that. Even worse. We couldn't have them arrive at that time and not be in a marina. We certainly couldn't have them arrive with us stuck in this cala with no way to get ashore... or them to us. We made a plan... if we couldn't get into Santa Eulalia we would book a hotel room for them. Only problem... we couldn't get ashore and didn't know the names of any hotels. Well, I am sure we could have solved the problem, had it become necessary.

Slowly, oh so slowly, the wind died down. Not a lot and the waves continued to pound us, but there was hope that this would be over soon. That night was slightly better, the bangs less hard, less loud. I think we got some sleep. Anyway, next morning seemed calmer although there was still no possibility of getting ashore. Nine o'clock came and I phoned the marina... they had a place for us. Oh, life was good again. We couldn't get into the marina before four o'clock so we sat in the bay, watching the weather. I still didn't feel wonderful, still couldn't eat. But conditions were improving, there were people on the beach again.

Just before we left to go round to the marina another boat came into the cala. Soon, there were people diving into the sea... we noticed the sun was shining. WoW, when did that happen?

We headed round to the marina. I could tell you about the berth we were given. A berth that was 50 cms too narrow for Ganymede to get into comfortably. Enough to say that there was a major disagreement about even trying to get in and that fenders on Ganymede and the boats either side were all pressed flat. I was NOT happy. Again.

A glass of wine, an wifi access onboard and an excellent dinner - Dutch/Indonesian influence this time. Okay, I was happy again.

We went to bed with the alarm set for 2.00 am.