After a week of meeting with clients, chores, a bit of design work, some writing and socializing, we have escaped from Palma. Heading east around the island we are hailed on VHF by old friends on the yacht to the right above. Conference, check the chart, reverse course, and here we are. This 27-year-old design has been afloat for 24 years, is on her fifth set of custodians, and about to complete a third circuit of the globe. Any idea of her provenance? We’ll have more in a few days.

Last night we had a gibbous moon hanging low in the west, colored by the Sahara dust. With Venus close by it made for a spectacular sight, but tough to shoot from a moving deck.

The hard part about sharing an anchorage with old friends is getting up early enough to catch the sunrise after a long visit. But when fire and brimstone lighting filters into the cabin it is impossible to ignore.

Moving 20 miles from Palma changes the scale of things. Sunday morning and the race is on. Instead of mega yachts it is the 30 footers.

Nice looking chute.

Here’s a crosscut, something we are familiar with from a long time ago (we had our first crosscut kite with a radial head circa 1958).

Meanwhile, back in the anchorage the bystanders are keeping track of the action.

At the other end of the scale, 47 meters (150 feet) going 4.7 knots on a reach – AIS does not lie.

And 80 feet fetching at seven knots.

All of us are traversing a lovely coastline, enjoying a refreshingly soft, and cool breeze. And sleeping under a blanket for the first time in many months we might add.

There are, of course, a large contingent of fizzboats. But at least today, on this part of the coast, the sailors are doing their part to balance the census.

We’ve learned to arrive late at a new anchorage as the locals tend to head home an hour before sunset. Anchor drill is always good for afternoon entertainment.

Anchor dog is making sure Mom winches home the pick in proper fashion.

The last boat blasts out of the anchorage, close of course to our friends. That leaves three cruising yachts, and two locals, down from 30 an hour before.

More tomorrow.