3rd July

Anchor angst! Up until 9pm all was tranquil. Then a strong wind arose blowing from the shore. As darkness fell it became even stronger. Then sirens and hooters sounded. Shadowy figures appeared on decks all around. Opposite a large monohull was sliding in a stately fashion between two other boats as its anchor dragged. People rushed out in dinghies to save it. A large bright moon rose over the hill behind the port. The wind speed increased. Other boats started dragging. The beam of the lighthouse swept over the scene as boats put on navigation lights and started moving. Eventually about 15 boats, about a third of those at anchor, dragged or were moved. It was mayhem. I stood watch until nearly one am by which time the wind was subsiding. By two it was flat calm with an oily sea rocking us with the swell left over from the storm. In the morning boats were scattered throughout the anchorage with large gaps showing where vessels had upped anchor and disappeared.

In the morning we took a bus to Deia. The road clung to the mountainside giving glimpses of the sea. This time Robert Graves's house was open. We learned a bit about his life and works and admired the tranquil garden. The lady at the kiosk said we might die if, as planned, we walked back to Soller in the midday sun. So we had a drink and took the bus back to the boat.

Later a French couple came by in their dinghy. A runaway British boat had hit them in the night causing damage. The offending boat had done an early morning flit. Did we know them? They also said it would blow up again tonight. I will be standing by with my foghorn and searchlight although a good night's sleep would be wonderful.