Ben and Nicole left us in Ibiza where we did some errands, explored a bit further and headed off to find an anchorage.

Exploring some less crowded areas of Ibiza…
with our friends
Very much enjoying ourselves. No clubbing required.

When we arrived in Ibiza, there were 2 friendly faces waiting for us! Unbeknownst to us, Castella, had been tracking us for weeks and were moored in the marina opposite. We last saw them in Scotland!

We had met the crew of Castella (built at the same yard as Away) in Oban as they headed for the US. It was a surprise to find them waiting on the dock for us in Ibiza!
We arranged to meet up for BBQ on Castella at a nearby anchorage and catch up on our stories.
Happily I picked up the mooring ball first go because Castella had their handy camera out. I’m quite proud!

After some brilliant time catching up over a delicious BBQ, the next morning we said our goodbyes and both headed north. Castella found a tight anchorage on the east of the island, however we were looking for more relaxed climes and headed further north to find more remote anchorages.

Heading north round the island we passed this arch which jet skis and ribs pass through at high speed. We were going to give it a go, but realised that Away was not fast enough to generate much excitement.

After a few recon missions, we found a cliff lined bay – quite deep but okay. We were the only boat there for the evening. But the next day…

We found a nice quiet anchorage in a cliff lined bay. Soon the other super yachts worked out where we were and joined us in the bay.
The bay had intriguing inlets to explore and
Turquoise water

After a couple of days enjoying the tranquillity, we realised that Bernie needed more than a quick swim and paddle board. We couldn’t get off the boat in this anchorage as it was sharp rocky cliffs everywhere. Beautiful, but not great for doggos. We decided it was time to look to the north.

We took an early morning opportunity to jump north to Mallorca
While sailing along, we spotted a Sperm Whale hanging out on the surface before it dived towards the deep trenches that are found in this area.

We had an anchorage in mind for Mallorca. It was supposed to be absolutely beautiful and it was. It was just, really swelly. So we left, and found this place.

Our chosen anchorage was full but just around the corner this protected anchorage was almost empty. At least it was sheltered according to our weather forecasts.

But, on the second day a nice man in a dinghy informed us the mooring field was closed and we had to leave due to 80-90km winds that were due! Some research revealed that Spanish weather had released a thunderstorm warning with possible high winds. All the charter boats were called in and filled up the marinas. Our forecasts didn’t have anything that bad, so we figured we’d need to get other data for the med. Lesson learned.

After a rush replan, we found a marina that would take us on their visitors dock for the night. And the next day we went to Palma for a proper berth and rest.

We found a spot in Palma. Away felt at home amongst the other metal sailing boats
Palma was a fun town and even had a special place for Adrians to have a quiet glass of wine.

We headed towards the north side of the island stopping off at a few anchorages on the way. On the East side of the island we managed to enter a harbour for the evening, only to be told we had arrived at the wrong harbour and were booked at the next harbour along the coast. Oops…we wondered if our navigation skills would be up to finding France?

Arriving in the north of the island we enjoyed a sunset snack before the forecast bad weather set in.
Tucked Away behind a big wall we spent the next two days being smashed against the dock. It may have seemed violent to other boats, but we had survived (just) Guernsey in a south easter…nothing seems so bad now.

After the blow in this marina, we headed the 30 minutes across the bay for another mooring. This time we enjoyed swimming and paddleboarding around the beautiful rock formations.

Tranquility was restored in a nearby anchorage whilst we waited for weather to jump north to Menorca which would be our last stop for the year.

The sail to Menorca was straightforward. Again we had an anchorage in mind, and when we got there, we saw how popular it was, even in October. It was full of swimmers and boats. There was no way we could sleep in such a crowded place, edged by sharp cliffs, so we headed back west and found this essentially empty spacious bay.

We surveyed the popular, but cosy anchorages along the south coast of Menorca before settling on this almost empty sand bottomed bay.
We sniffed the coastline
And became reacquainted with the swimming concept
Before some thunderstorms passing along the coast prompted a hasty departure
We almost missed the storm cells and several oncoming boats, but the weather gods determined Away needed a wash and obliged with a pressure wash and rinse.

After the storm and our traverse along the coast in the rain with the lighting just a kilometre away, we settled into a berth in one of the main towns on Menorca called Ciutadella. We figured it was time to stock up on supplies, and start seriously watching the weather for a good window to cross to France.

Ciutadella provided some protection and an opportunity to look very serious with the locals
We wandered around the old town streets before returning to our favorite anchorage.

After 4 days in the marina, the storms abated, and we decided, given it was the end of the season, why not just go somewhere we were comfortable and knew, and wait for our weather window for France. So we went back to that beautiful anchorage.

It seemed the summer would never end
We soaked up all the relaxings
Before a nice downwind run to Toulon was forecast between the ever more frequent Mistral winds.

We took our last swim, this time, sans bathers in the sunset, and prepared the boat for a 2 day crossing to Toulon, France, our winter berth for this season.

Meals prepared, sails to the ready – we were off.

Good bye Menorca. Good bye summer, Good bye 2025 season. Big red appeared briefly as Menorca disappeared over the horizon. The forecast dry and comfortable conditions were replaced with squalls, 28+ knots and the horizon disappeared behind rolly waves approaching from 3 directions. It was the last sail of the season after all.

The sail to Toulon started off lovely. Flat seas, light winds with big red pushing us along fast. Wait – too fast. We were going to arrive at a new port, a new marina and a new country in the middle of the night. Not ideal. Big red was put away, and the main and the headsails were reefed.

We saw squalls, 4 metre waves, lightning. If you want to see a video let me know and I’ll post it.

Early on the second morning the lights of Toulon appeared out of the night
We slowed down to rendezvous with dawn at the marina
Tied up in our winter berth. Happily protected from the prevailing weather, and with 2 supermarkets, a boulangerie and a Saturday fresh food market even in winter. Happiness is France.

It seemed a lifetime ago that we had left Falmouth, crossed the channel once again and headed south. We had crossed Biscay, avoided the orcas and discovered Portugal. Lingered in Gibraltar, and entered the Mediterranean. Followed the Spanish holiday coasts and finally found warm water in the Balearics. And now, all of sudden, our 2025 cruise had come to end…