The trip clockwise around Mallorca continued without incident.  We had a good F6 blow as we came up to Cap Fomentera – the gusts seemed to come straight out of the sheer cliffs so eventually we dropped the sails completely, worrying what it might be like on the windward side of the point.  Strangely, as we rounded the corner, the wind disappeared.  We tied up in Porto Pollensa, a very pleasant marina with a smart new clubhouse with wifi, all the facilities, and a lively shopping centre with a couple of supermarkets and some pretty squares. 

We follow Rose & Brian's cruise as they sailed from Holyhead in the summer to the Mediterranean, and then onwards...

As planned, we stayed in Almerimar for over two weeks.  The Eberspacher parts were finally ordered from the UK by the chandlers – it would have been faster to do it ourselves so that is a lesson learned.  The Spanish dealer in Madrid helpfully emailed parts lists which we were given, but they didn’t seem to match up with what we wanted.  Anyway the exhaust tube kit and outlet tube, filters and plug finally arrived and Brian spent an uncomfortable afternoon and morning fitting it all back together.  We tested it and it worked much better than before as the glow plug filter had been all but completely encrusted in scale.

Paul Cook, former Royal Navy terrorism expert, and now Managing Director of International Superyacht Management Limited (www.ism-ltd.com ) and PRC Maritime (Consultancy) Limited (www.prc-maritime.com ) shares some expert advice on piracy avoidance for small yachts.

The continuing abduction of Rachel and Paul Chandler is a bleak reminder that piracy is on the increase, not only in the waters around Somalia, but across the globe.  And yachtsmen and women should be prepared to take avoiding action no matter which waters they sail in, says former Royal Navy Commander Paul Cook. 

Paul spent 25 years working in naval anti-terrorism.  He specialised in anti-piracy measures, and now as a Superyacht Captain, he advises on piracy prevention to owners and crew of all shapes and sizes of vessel.