A calm, unremarkable afternoon hop brought us into Sant Antoni in broad daylight, a welcome change after the long, dark, weakening-wind crossing to Cala Portinatx the night before. We were barely made fast to the pontoon before Melusina One pulled in behind us and rafted up practically on top of our own stern cleat. The only Luxembourg-flagged boat this crew has ever met, twice now, the second time by nothing but sheer bad odds.

I do not believe in coincidence, professionally speaking. A spirit who has spent centuries reading currents and crossings learns that the sea is smaller than it looks and considerably more repetitive than sailors like to admit. Boats on similar routes, at similar speeds, chasing similar weather windows, tend to keep bumping into one another whether either crew intends it or not. That is not fate. That is just how currents and calendars work.

Still, I will allow that it was a pleasant surprise, and that Vicky and Laurent are good company for a crew that has been mostly talking to itself and one moody helmsman for the past several days. The marinero here, a fellow named Leo, deserves a mention too, for getting everyone sorted without incident, though this time in broad daylight rather than by torchlight. Sant Antoni itself I will reserve judgment on. A town built entirely around the young and the loud is not my usual haunt, but then again, neither was any port until someone built one there.

Logbook

• Departure: Cala Portinatx (39.1140, 1.5125), Friday, June 5, 2026 at 13:49 UTC
• Arrival: Sant Antoni de Portmany (38.9761, 1.3009), Friday, June 5, 2026 at 19:07 UTC
• Duration: 5.3 h
• Distance: 17.3 nm
• Average speed: 3.3 kn
• Hours & Distance under Motor: 0.7 h / 1.6 nm
• Miles under Sail: 15.8 nm
• Crew: Tobi, Anatol

Left Cala Portinatx and made for Sant Antoni de Portmany, a modest half-day’s sail covering 17 nautical miles at an average of 3.3 knots. Wind 6–9 kn from the ESE, gusting to 22 kn. Seas up to 1.0m. The reception at Marina Es Nàutic in Sant Antoni was great, a marinero named Leo helped us a lot. Shortly after we tied up, Melusina One surprised us by pulling into a berth on the same pontoon. The town itself was a bit bizarre and very party-oriented.

Logbook

• Departure: Portals Vells (39.4727, 2.5244), Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 08:33 UTC
• Arrival: Cala Portinatx (39.1125, 1.5139), Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 02:38 UTC
• Duration: 18.1 h
• Distance: 60.2 nm
• Average speed: 3.3 kn
• Hours & Distance under Motor: 7.8 h / 19.5 nm
• Miles under Sail: 40.7 nm
• Crew: Tobi, Anatol

Slipped the lines at Portals Vells and pointed the bow toward Cala Portinatx, a long day that ran past sunset covering 60 nautical miles at an average of 3.3 knots. Wind 0–13 kn from the SSE, gusting to 16 kn. It veered from NE to S. Seas up to 1.4m. Current up to 0.5 kn setting NNE. Partway across, briefly considered turning back for Port d’Andratx to wait out weakening wind, but talked ourselves out of it and held course for Ibiza. Long overnight passage: arrived in the dark and had to dodge mooring balls to get to an anchoring spot near the beach.

Logbook

• Departure: Palma de Mallorca (39.5609, 2.6327), Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 09:46 UTC
• Arrival: Portals Vells (39.4735, 2.5256), Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 16:16 UTC
• Duration: 6.5 h
• Distance: 10.5 nm
• Average speed: 1.6 kn
• Hours & Distance under Motor: 5.2 h / 6.5 nm
• Miles under Sail: 4.0 nm
• Crew: Tobi, Anatol

Palma de Mallorca to Portals Vells: a modest half-day’s sail, 10 nautical miles at an average of 1.6 knots. Wind 5–6 kn from the SW, gusting to 16 kn. It veered from SSE to WNW. Current up to 0.7 kn setting ESE. On the way back toward the mainland, decided not to make the hop to Ibiza in nasty weather, and instead waited it out in this forked bay with little caves in the cliffs.

Logbook

• Departure: Ses Illetes (39.5277, 2.5847), Monday, June 1, 2026 at 07:48 UTC
• Arrival: Palma de Mallorca (39.5630, 2.6340), Monday, June 1, 2026 at 10:37 UTC
• Duration: 2.8 h
• Distance: 4.4 nm
• Average speed: 1.6 kn
• Hours & Distance under Motor: 1.4 h / 3.7 nm
• Miles under Sail: 0.7 nm
• Crew: Tobi, Anatol

Slipped the lines at Ses Illetes and pointed the bow toward Palma de Mallorca, a short hop covering 4 nautical miles at an average of 1.6 knots. Wind 3 kn from the SSE, gusting to 12 kn. It veered from ESE to S. Motoring into the huge harbor at Palma is always a bit exciting. The reception at RCNP (Real Club Náutico de Palma) was great as always, and Anatol, a friend of Tobi and Anna’s, came aboard here as welcome reinforcement.