V:  We arrived safely into Palma Mallorca in the early hours of yesterday.  Limping in with a very leaky stern gland and no more thread left to tighten. We are in a marina near the old town and it's still leaking a lot but we have the bilge pump set to auto and our fingers crossed.  Like a patient admitted to a&e, we are now stabilised and on the ward and awaiting our operation to put things right.  We managed to book a hoist for Friday where they will life the boat out of the water for an hour while we do the repairs.  We also have found friendly chandleries and have the right spares needed to change the packing.  Phew!  Relax and a beer at last!

Today is the one month anniversary of our departure from the UK. So much has happened!  And we’ve got 11x that to come!!  

The one thing that all the places we’ve visited, since we left our familiar ‘home turf’ of the Ionian cruising ground in Greece, have in common is that I didn't purchase a pilot (guide) books for them before leaving England.  Albania and Mallorca were not on the planned route.  The Italian and French pilot guides that I chewed through have gone untouched and skipped over, this was not the armchair plan!! So Im a little worried how the rest of the year will unfold! 

Consequently for a skipper it’s been a mad few weeks of researching new cruising grounds, new local weather, new countries entry formalities and harbours.  I'm quite exhausted and I can't rest yet.

Turns out the Balearics are very busy this time of year. We have a marina hearth by the skin of our teeth - think S who now looks like a proper urchin - helps with the 'please let us stay till we fix our ship'.  And it’s not cheap.  After making some saving from being at sea for over a week, it’s all now gone on moorings and lifts! But we are right in the old town of Palma which the kids and I have been exploring today.  After a morning of cleaning and tidying, including J doing his first mast climb to clean the rig, we hit the parks and back streets of the old town.  Testing out the tapas menus, finding the markets. A chance Miro sculpture exhibition.  Lots of fun.  The laundry run took us to several places which were long closed so when we finally dragged the bags of stinky clothes in to an open laundrette an amazing lady took pity on us and washed it all in super quick time and two super yacht crew who were walking back our way offered to carry our bags.  They were from Mexico and the kids told them all about the journey and the boat and how it sails as they were motor superyachties! 

In the background today I’ve been frantically trying to find the next nights accommoration as we are being kicked out on Friday when the owner of this berth returns.  Anchorage’s are reported to be very full or untenable

due to a strict no anchoring on sea grass law.  Marinas are mostly private and full.  Mooring bouys are booked up long in advance.  What is the nautical equivalent of a manger?  

What has also happened in the past 24hrs is Ls departure from the boat on a plane to Geneva. No he’s not throwing in the towel, he’s gone to pick up the dog.  I will let him tell you the epic tale of getting O to the boat, once he arrives safely!