SUP Round Menorca: some sights and sounds

Submitted by jono on 04 Jul 2020.

A video with some cobbled together sights and sounds from a three day paddle round my island home. I set off from Fornells with supplies in a barrel and a 6 litre water bottle. First night I slept on the beach at Son Saura; second night was at Punta Prima (where also refilled water bottle).

It was a fun thing to do, and Menorca wowed me with its beauty, but the final taste was bittersweet, because the Mediterranean's plastic problem is as real as when I last checked. Today, I also went for a surf, and paddled through plastic after every wave, which probably explains why this video gets posted today.

Thanks to John Clark for the extra filming.

** Let's not pretend that filling our world's natural spaces with plastic is normal **

Plastic:

  • Use less
  • Re-use
  • Recycle.

 

Some extra details and pics...

  • Wind: Easterly gentle gradient wind with thermal reinforcement during afternoons
  • 3 days. Start: Fornells 24-6-2020
  • Anticlockwise circumnavigation
  • 1st night: Son Saura
  • 2nd night: Punta Prima
  • total distance: 140km moving: about 36 hours

Arrows keys will cycle through the pictures:

  • The track round the island
    The track round the island
  • Pre-start snap: Cala Tirant (Playas de Fornells)
    Pre-start snap: Cala Tirant (Playas de Fornells)
  • A favourite hat...
    A favourite hat...
  • Cabo de Cavalleria
    Cabo de Cavalleria
  • Illa d'es Porros
    Illa d'es Porros
  • North coast on first day - wind behind
    North coast on first day - wind behind
  • Cabo Nati - NW corner
    Cabo Nati - NW corner
  • Lunch, drifting in the right direction
    Lunch, drifting in the right direction
  • Navettas - Minorca's equivalent to the pyramids
    Navettas - Minorca's equivalent to the pyramids
  • Es Pont d'es Gil
    Es Pont d'es Gil
  • The mountains of Mallorca
    The mountains of Mallorca
  • So many caves, the island is a swiss cheese of them
    So many caves, the island is a swiss cheese of them
  • Cap D'Artrutx - SW corner
    Cap D'Artrutx - SW corner
  • Some welcome shade, but a headwind now, too
    Some welcome shade, but a headwind now, too
  • Looking back to Cap D'Artrutx and Mallorca
    Looking back to Cap D'Artrutx and Mallorca
  • Finding friends at Son Saura was a nice surprise (and refreshing melon followed by sobrasada sandwich just perfect)
    Finding friends at Son Saura was a nice surprise (and refreshing melon followed by sobrasada sandwich just perfect)
  • Before a very pleasant night on the beach
    Before a very pleasant night on the beach
  • Day 2, south coast, waking up.
    Day 2, south coast, waking up.
  • Binigaus. The wind dropped off for a few hours here, allowing an easy paddle to Son Bou
    Binigaus. The wind dropped off for a few hours here, allowing an easy paddle to Son Bou
  • Cliffs and coves beyond Son Bou
    Cliffs and coves beyond Son Bou
  • Colours that pop
    Colours that pop
  • Cales Coves - lunch stop day 2
    Cales Coves - lunch stop day 2
  • More great colours - lots of plastic too sadly, though pictures like this don't show it
    More great colours - lots of plastic too sadly, though pictures like this don't show it
  • A sky that tells of wind. It could be escaped tight in under the high cliffs
    A sky that tells of wind. It could be escaped tight in under the high cliffs
  • In by the cliffs, each back eddies of current, had a pool of plastic
    In by the cliffs, each back eddies of current, had a pool of plastic
  • Most beaches get cleaned, so visitors don't see the problem
    Most beaches get cleaned, so visitors don't see the problem
  • Isla de Aire from Punta Prima (SE corner) where I slept at end of second day
    Isla de Aire from Punta Prima (SE corner) where I slept at end of second day
  • Heading NE, start of 3rd day
    Heading NE, start of 3rd day
  • Crossing Mahón harbour, happy to take a breather before crossing the entrance
    Crossing Mahón harbour, happy to take a breather before crossing the entrance
  • La Mola de Mahón
    La Mola de Mahón
  • Cabo de Favaritz
    Cabo de Favaritz
  • A decent following breeze at the end of day 3
    A decent following breeze at the end of day 3