Shakedown Cruise from Hell … my best laid plans 👎@Sailing Adventures with Grandad|E3

After six months preparing my sailing yacht Vayu for our departure to the Eastern Mediterranean, I planned a shakedown cruise over the weekend with my girlfriend. The forecast was for perfect weather and the two of us where excited by the fun weekend we were going to share. And in the process I would make sure all was in working order for our departure for Sicily in the coming week. We set out from the port of Pollenca in the northern part of the Island of Mallorca and headed south along the North coast toward Palma de Mallorca which is on the opposite Southern tip of the Island. A comfortable two day sail with an overnighter in one of the many bays available. About one hour after departure she started to feel sea sick. And we continued in the hope that she would get better. In fact she got worse. And so bad that I had to find a place to get her off the boat so she could be on land and recover. I chose Cala San Vicente, a two beach cove. By then the weather had deteriorated against all forecasts. Fortunately there were some life guards on the beach who helped us get ashore in the dingy without a catastrophy. They subsequently tended to Isabel and eventually called an ambulance. She was taken to the hospital where she recovered quickly and was then sent home. In the meantime I headed out to finish my shakedown cruise. With the wind strength growing the spinnaker got loose and wound itself around the forestay. I could not leave it like that and go anywhere so I had to get it down somehow. Two hours later after an escrusiatingly difficult wrestling of the spinnaker to the sail locker I was on my way. I stopped for the night in the port of Soller to rest and recover. Had a restful but short nite and was on my way the following day. I had a nice motor sail and the opportunity to test out most of my gear on the way therefore fulfilling my goal of making this a shakedown cruise. Less romantic, enjoyable or fun but non the less a success. @Sailing Adventures with Grandad