👉Fishing for compliments
Proof that the best sailing days rarely go to plan. Where a risky harbour stay led to one of our best sails yet
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6/12/20264 min read
Fishing for Compliments
One thing I love about Novera is how many compliments she receives from fellow sailors wherever we go. At 34 years old, she may not be the newest or shiniest boat in the marina, but Amels have a loyal following and command enormous respect within the sailing community.
We always knew an Amel was our dream boat, and we feel incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful example in Novera.
Most of the compliments centre around her reputation as a solid, capable, and exceptionally well-built yacht. So when we arrived at a tiny fishing harbour, the harbour team were determined to do everything they could to ensure we had a safe and damage-free stay.
The forecast wasn’t encouraging. With more than a metre of swell expected, tying up on the outer wall was considered too risky—and unfortunately, that’s where all the visitor berths were located.
The harbour team got to work and eventually spoke to the skipper of a fishing trawler who wasn’t heading back out until Monday.
“We can raft you alongside!”
Well… that was a first.
We’ve rafted up before in flotillas against similar yachts, but never alongside an industrial working vessel. Still, safety comes first.
It wasn’t straightforward. Heavy chains disappeared into the water at every angle, attached to concrete blocks securing the trawlers to the inner harbour wall. Armed with our AirPods and constant communication, off we went to raft alongside.
To our relief, it all went smoothly. We positioned our fenders carefully between the boats and settled in without any bumping or bouncing.
Challenge number two was getting ashore.
Climbing onto the trawler wasn’t too difficult—we could stand on Novera’s guardrails—but fishing boats don’t come equipped with lovely passerelles leading gracefully to shore. Their crews are tough, practical people who simply jump.
And jump we did.
In fact, Tim had to catch me because the gap was about as far as I could leap! It wasn’t exactly the most glamorous way to arrive in such a beautiful place.
“You wanted adventure,” laughed Tim.
We spent the afternoon exploring the harbour and taking photos of Novera tied alongside the much larger trawler, which made her look positively tiny. We must have provided some entertainment too, as locals watched us clambering back and forth over the fishing boat. We may be salty sea dogs these days, but we certainly don’t look quite as rugged as the trawler crews!
As the weather began to calm, we turned our attention to leaving. After a slightly anxious night wondering how we’d navigate the shallow, narrow harbour entrance, we got on the VHF and asked for some local guidance.
The improving forecast seemed like the perfect opportunity to move on.
Breakfast that morning involved one of those familiar cruising debates:
Do we stay where we are because we have water, power, and shops? Do we anchor nearby? Will the anchor hold? Is there enough protection? Should we try another marina? What’s the wind doing? What’s the swell forecast? How high are the waves?
Travelling by yacht is very different from travelling in our campervan. Back then, the decision was usually as simple as, “Which campsite do you fancy?” We could always stop for fuel or lunch along the way.
Life afloat requires a little more planning.
After plenty of research, we decided that if we were going to move, we might as well make the most of the weather window—even though we’d already paid for another night.
And then came some of the best boat handling we’ve managed yet.
Honestly, Captain Tim was AMAZING.
Navigating out of the harbour was tricky, but he made it look effortless.
As we cleared the entrance, we were rewarded with a dolphin sighting. I never get tired of seeing dolphins. Every single time, I feel just as excited as the first.
Even better, the wind was actually in the perfect direction for a change.
The sails filled, Novera came alive, and suddenly we were flying along. A little trimming here and there and we were making 7.5 knots. It was exhilarating—fast enough to feel exciting, but comfortable enough that we weren’t dramatically heeled over.
“Shall we just keep going to Menorca?” Tim asked, full of enthusiasm.
“Yes, yes, yes!” I replied.
Of course, sailing is never perfect for an entire passage, but by the end of the day we’d arrived in Menorca a full day earlier than planned—and without hours of motoring.
Now came the next challenge: anchoring.
For some reason, what sounds like a simple process—drop the anchor, pay out the correct amount of chain, reverse gently, and set it firmly—never seems to go quite as planned for us.
At 7pm we dropped the hook.
At first, it seemed fine.
Then it started dragging.
We tried again.
And again.
On the third attempt it looked promising, so we pulled on our swim gear and jumped in for a refreshing dip and a quick inspection.
Nope.
The anchor was lying upside down on the seabed and hadn’t set at all.
Back onboard—now wet and slightly cold—we tried again.
Eventually, after two more attempts and some very brave inspection dives from Tim, in what was now freezing water, we confirmed it was finally dug in properly.
We absolutely love Novera and have been incredibly fortunate with all the fantastic equipment, upgrades, and new parts she came with.
But perhaps a new anchor deserves a place on the shopping list!
Thankfully, we spent a peaceful evening watching a beautiful sunset and slept soundly without the dreaded anchor alarm going off once.
So, all ended well.
Next stop is Ciutadella for a beer with a friend celebrating a big birthday. We’ll be back in a marina we’ve visited before, giving us a chance to stock up on supplies and prepare for the next adventure.
We have one final stop in Menorca before our 24-hour crossing back to mainland Spain.
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