David's Diary: Sunday, March 24, 2002

Isla de Cabrera, Spain

Our goal today is Isla de Cabrera. This island is part of a group that are a short distance to the south of Mallorca. The area was declared a National Maritime-Terrestial Park in April, 1991. During the summer you are only allowed to stay for a maximum of one night, but since we are traveling outside the peak cruising season we have obtained permission to stay for four nights. No one is allowed to stay in the park without advance permission from ICONA (Instituto Nacional para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza). A special form, along with a copy of our boat registration papers and my passport had to be faxed to ICONA while we were in Palma in order for us to get permission to stay and the form faxed back to us is our ticket to stay in the park.

Prehistoric remains have been found on the island, including Roman and Byzantine ceramics and coins. At one time 9,000 French prisoners were kept on the island, although it couldn't have been pleasant -- more than two-thirds died of disease or starvation. The island eventually fell into private hands, but the Spanish government requisitioned it in 1915 and set up an army garrison which still exists today.

Dragonsinger Moored

We set off from La Rapita with a north wind blowing us straight downwind to Isla de Cabrera. With the wind blowing fifteen knots we decided to experiment and sailed the entire way with a full Genoa and no mainsail. Dragonsinger was well balanced and we kept up a steady four and a half knots that had us there in no time.

There is no anchoring in the park. Mooring buoys are laid, color-coded to the size of your boat. We tied to one of the yellow buoys (for 12-15 meter boats) and had to experiment with our arrangements to insure that our mooring line was not chafing against the anchor. With two more things learned about Dragonsinger we settled in for the night under the imposing cliffs and hills that surround the harbour.