Suddenly unable to manoeuvre
Between Mallorca and the mainland
Text: Christian / Pictures & short films: Carola
The crossing gets off to a promising start with a lovely broad reach, but after the first twenty nautical miles the wind dies down. To make the most of the remaining wind – we don’t fancy motoring – we hoist the gennaker.
In doing so, we make a serious mistake. Whilst handling the rescue hose, a line falls into the water. It gets caught in the running propeller, wraps itself around the shaft and propeller, and finally brings the engine to a standstill. Blimey, we’re unable to manoeuvre.
Fortunately, we are far enough from the coast that we have plenty of time to think things through calmly and tackle the problem.
After countless dives, I finally manage, after 1½ hours, to remove the line completely and free the propeller again.
Twice I’ve been on the verge of throwing in the towel and giving up. But the only alternative – calling the coastguard – always motivates me to carry on and not give up.
At last, after a great deal of effort, the last bit of the rope that had become jammed has been removed, and the engine starts up again. There is a great sense of relief after the scare.
Secured by a rope, Chris dives tirelessly down to the propeller to remove the rope
The culprit
The mission doesn’t leave Chris unscathed
We stowed the gennaker away in the forepeak straight away
What’s definitely more beautiful, though, is something I hadn’t noticed at the time of my dives.
Caro kept trying to show me this: a pod of dolphins that seemed to be watching the whole scene from a safe distance.
After we set off again, they accompany us for a while in our wake. It’s an emotional moment; it feels as though they’re wishing us a safe journey ahead.
Ever since our engine broke down, the dolphins have always been somewhere nearby. And now that everything’s working again, they’re swimming right alongside us. It’s almost as if they’re sharing in our joy 😉.
The rest of the crossing through the night is uneventful and we travel under engine power.
The next morning, whilst at anchor, it becomes apparent, however, that the wave bearing has been damaged as a result of the incident. A small piece of the rubber bearing is sticking out. So it’s clear: we need to go to a shipyard.
So we’re heading into the marina a little earlier than planned. Once there, we’ll arrange for the faulty shaft bearing to be replaced.
As long as it’s possible, we’ll let the wind carry us along.
Dawn
The sea was as smooth as a mirror
Contrary to expectations, our longer-than-planned stay at the marina has its good points. We’re meeting more interesting sailors and spending a few convivial evenings together whilst we get our boat ready to set sail.
Marina Ginesta
New friends – Iman & Karime (SY Antares)
The summer heat is slowly becoming unbearable, and as a result, the desire to explore new places is noticeably waning.
To round things off, though, we’re treating ourselves to a lovely day trip to Barcelona.
Finally, it’s time to say goodbye. We’re flying back to Switzerland from Barcelona.
Barcelona – Sagrada Familia
Casa Milà
Placa Reial
From Barcelona Cathedral, there is a wonderful view over the city
Staying hydrated is very important in hot weather ☝️
And so an unforgettable day in Barcelona comes to an end
We had first made the decision to leave our boat during the hottest weeks of summer last year. This time, too, it’s good to return home for a few weeks and catch up with family and friends. To pursue other hobbies and interests and recharge our batteries before the next chapter of our journey begins.
When we look back on the past few months, it is not just the nautical miles we have covered or the stunning anchorages that stay in our memories. It is just as much the people we have met along the way.
Chance encounters led to friendships, evenings spent together and experiences we will never forget.
It was precisely this combination of nature, mooring in beautiful bays and the many encounters with other sailors that made this part of the journey so special for us – perhaps the most beautiful part of our entire trip.
Und wie der rosarote Panter im Lied so schön zu sagen pflegte: «Heute ist nicht alle Tage – WIR kommen wieder – keine Frage» Für uns gilt das ganz bestimmt ⛵️.