I had discovered my paddling gears and powered up through
the arch into a stiff head wind. I could
see the wind was stronger off the the final headland Punta Nati, 5km away. There were white caps, with a perfect blue
sky and blowing Beaufort f4 (14-16mph) NE.
We had come close to the NW point but there was no going on and we were
5km on from the last possible wild bivi spot.
We chatted briefly but turning and running back made sense and to be
honest for me on a SUP was the only option!
Two days earlier, we had been in a taxi on our way to Kayak
en Menorca, to hire a sea kayak for Sonja, who was going support me on my SUP
around the Mediterranean island of Menorca.
The island is a distance of between 180 – 220 km depending on how much
of the coastline is explored or hugged. The second largest of Spain’s three
Belariac islands, with a mellow and laid back feel.
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| Tramuntana wind |
For me it was the first time doing an expedition on a
Paddleboard. I had done a number of sea
kayak expeditions, so I had gone with the idea of one bigger holdall, like my
bow or stern hatch on a sea kayak. Then
other dry bags, with items such as my sleeping bag and mat, spare clothes and
food. While I had another smaller
holdall with snacks, first aid, snorkel/mask, sun tan cream, water proof jacket
and trousers, money/passport and items that would normally be in my day hatch,
that I want to be able to access. Sonja
had the tarp, stove/fuel and extra food.
I carried 22 litres of water on the tail of my Paddleboard
in 3 x MSR water bags and two SUP paddles, one as a spare and the other as my
main. I had a medium sized blade made by
VE paddles and the other was a larger blade by McConks. I was going to start with the medium blade
and as I got stronger and all was good, I would move across to the larger blade,
for more power.
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| working hard to keep the noose in and on track |
I was aware of a Bristol team headed up by Katie who were
going the other way around in sea kayaks.
A few of them I had met and worked with before. They were heading for Cales Coves another 9km
on and this seemed like a good place to aim for. It was a beautiful evening, yet we had some
kilometres to cover before we could fully relax.
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| Truly stunning |
The Bristol team, gave us lovely welcome and soon thanks to
Dave we were drinking mugs of tea and settling into the evening. Now with any trip it’s about finding the
balance between purpose and holiday. Too
much of a holiday and if the winds picked up, could mean game over and for me
this was new ground on a SUP. I wasn’t
sure exactly what I could do. Yes, I had
covered the length of loch Awe (40 km) a year previously, yet it was calm with
little to no swell. I’d put in time on
the Anglesey coast since so I was in a better technical place, but there still
was a lot to learn and develop. I was
keen to take it steady and pace myself so we headed out just before 10.00.
One of the lovely things about starting where we did was
despite being in a small cove, beside houses, it seemed quiet and those
buildings we soon left behind. We were
now leaving the remote cliffs and about to approach Son Bou. Swimming zones, deck chairs and the works.
It surprised me how busy it all was.
Our initial thought of heading in for a coffee, was replaced by ‘let’s
cut across the bay’. Sant Tomas seemed quieter
and a nice looking restaurant on the beach had some places. It was lunch time after all!
The rest of the day was mainly about me trying different
techniques with my forward paddling, which kept my mind busy as I was keen to
get as close as reasonable to the SW point, the Cap d’ Artrutx. We decide to pull into Cala en Turqueta with
28 km done. It was a busy attractive bay
and Sonja spotted the fisherman’s cave on the left, which meant we were out of
the sand and it was a little more peaceful.
On the water for 08.00 the next morning with about 8km to
the point, still trying to find the balance between holiday or expedition, we decide
after a couple of hours it was brunch time!
One tortilla and a couple of coffee’s later we were around the Cap with
a surprised, although welcomed tail wind.
We moved along the coast offshore and after a 30 minutes or so we decide
to aim for the headland West of Ciudadela.
Keeping an eye open for any ferry or big boat traffic in or approaching
the port. We had made good progress and were nicely established on the West
coast now.
The NW corner is one of the cruxes of the trip, with 14 km
of no landing due to cliffs and a rocky exposed shore and we were now
approaching this section. We now had a
head wind that seemed to be accelerating off each headland. But I had found my gears and was enjoying
powering up into each wind eddy. We
could see Punta Nati, with white caps flowing towards us, with a perfect blue
sky. We quickly chatted and it was an
easy decision, to turn and run back around to the edge of Ciudadela, 5 km away. At least we could enjoy the wind on our
backs. It was strange as we paddled into
Cala en Blanes, with a high rise hotel one side, a couple of bars playing music
and lots of people crammed into a small beach. I initially felt at odds and out
of place. Yet soon with unpacking and
sorting kit, I relaxed and joined Sonja at one of the bars, as well as David Bowie!
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| Break time! |
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| A gentle headwind |
Food and liquid refreshment all went down well and the crowds
soon disappeared and I had that good glow of 36 km, even if 5km was in
retreat. By 20.00 it was dark and it was
us and a few in the bar left. We had a
super light forecast for the next 2 two days.
Still North to North East, so a head or side wind, but it was light!
We were on the water for 08.00 and I had now changed to the
bigger blade. I felt we needed to do
what we could and get some mileage in the bank on the exposed North coast. It was a beautiful morning and we were soon
back at our previous day’s location. No
breeze this time though and making super progress. Punta Nati was soon behind and far in the
distance was the most Northerly point of Cavalleria. The second crux, which if possible I was keen
to get beyond as well. I wondered if I
could do that in the same day. Box the
two main crux points. We looked at the
map and decided it was realistic.
Bay after bay we passed, again trying to find that thin line
between gaining shelter from a headland to making progress across the bay,
against a light wind. Yep another headwind. I took dips in the sea, on the hour
today. My ankles had swollen up and in
particularly my right one. Just being
off my legs and floating felt great and I had also put the compression socks
and tights on hoping they would help too.
We took lunch floating in a small bay and I could have easily said ‘let’s
head towards that beautiful beach’ one of many.
I was tired. Yet I also felt we
had been given a gift F2 N/NE and less than 1 ft. swell on the North
coast!! It felt amazing passing beneath
the small light house, but significant cliffs of Cavalleria. Sonja did a super job of guiding me into our
new camp, that was a further 4km around the head. I was bushed, yet we had been afloat for over
10 hours and I had achieved my personal best with 46 km. Happy days!
 |
| The most Northerly point, with Sonja on the left |
Sonja found a super little cove with a lovely sheltered
area. Sorting kit and a super swim to
leave the day behind, before a big pot of sweet corn soup and small pasta
shells, then bed.
We were up at 05.00, and
soon I had the super porridge mix from Tent meals ready. 800 calories, that are well thought through,
tasty and had been fuelling me for the first few hours each morning. I was feeling surprisingly good and It was an
amazing sunrise, which stoked me further.
East coast here we come!
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| Magical sunrise start |
This was day five and this was probably the hardest part of the trip
for me, a gentle head wind, that grinded away at me and headlands that stuck
out further. Meaning, it was better to
paddle across the bay. The lighthouse of
Favaritx stood still. I guess I was
tired and tried to focus on being more effective with my stroke. Floating each break time in the water, next
to my board became essential and part of my break each hour. We were eventually around Favaritx and
heading further South towards Es Grau.
Yep, coffee time and some lunch felt good. I had that second wave of ‘we could stay
here’. Yet I was also aware we could, just
may be complete the loop. We had around
20 km to go!
We headed on out with Mahon as the focus and I found a 2nd
wind. I felt efficient, excited and
strong. Maybe it was the coffee! It was
just as well as the entrance to Mahon saw a few small sailing boats and motor
boats, moving about. The latter setting
up an exciting inshore swell, while I dodged the sailing boats!
Illa de L’Aire, is the island of the SE tip, seeing it meant
we were getting closer! At Cala Alcalfar
we had one of those tough decisions, with 6km to go but with one hour of
daylight. I had no real reason to take a
risk and aim to finish in 5 days, so after a brief discussion we headed in to
the natural harbour to take a look. A
lovely little village with a flat rocky area which would be ideal for our camp
and what sounded like a restaurant or a hotel at the back of the bay. It was a hotel so Gin & Tonics soon
arrived, as we decide on what to eat for the evening. 49 km and my personal best!
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| Leaving and the protected harbour of Alcaufar and the last 6km! |
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| Pausing ... |
 |
| Time for coffee |
Up and on the water early, as the wind was due to
increase. We headed on to Punta Prima
for coffee and as it happened a full English, cooked breakfast! 20 minutes’ later we were back at the start,
unpacking and laying out kit. Soon the
restaurant was open and we were sitting down to another tasty meal. I could get used to this, I thought!
Big thanks to Sonja for the support, McConks for the
paddleboard and paddle, VE paddles, Kokatat for clothing and Kayak en Menorca for being so helpful.
Roger
You can read here, a shorter version that I wrote for Stand Up Paddle Mag UK.
To see my video of the adventure on YouTube
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| Job done now time for some food! |
Roger
You can read here, a shorter version that I wrote for Stand Up Paddle Mag UK.
To see my video of the adventure on YouTube
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