The Magic of Ibiza

 

 

William Mills describes how a day’s yacht charter in Ibiza was a truly magical experience and the highlight of his trip to promote his new book which is set on the island.

 

June is a lovely month to visit Ibiza with the weather finally warming up for the start of the season while still not too hot with daytime temperatures in the mid 20’s C.

Ibiza has a wide range of craft to choose from ranging from the mega yachts to beach launched kayaks and for this trip I decided to look at what is available in the mid-range power boats.

I’d contacted Franziska Schreiber, charter manager at Amoyachts, shortly beforehand  and was pleased to find everything I’d asked for all arranged by the time I got there.

 

 

Although their brochure lists charter prices by the day they are quite amenable to tailor prices to individual needs and budgets.

Indeed, when I asked if we could go out for a couple of hours and anchor off a beach for a swim they said they would see what they could arrange.

The following day when I arrived at the appointed hour and all was ready and waiting for me.

Franziska had even arranged for a golf buggy to run me the short distance along the marina’s concourse to the vessel where we were greeted by our skipper on board an Italian built Absolute 40 STL motor yacht.

 

 

 

We left Marina Botafoch, located on Ibiza Town harbour’s western side, with effortless ease in a light breeze and with no tide to worry about.

They had carefully planned the venue for me, so all I had to do was relax back into the wonderfully comfortable seats of a brand new yacht and enjoy the wind in my hair and Franziska’s excellent company.

We could easily hear ourselves speak above the noise of the twin 330 HP inboard engines propelling us along at around 22 knots with the occasional exhilarating bump cresting a wave not being uncomfortable.

After half an hour and passing a few rocky islands we reached our anchorage.

 

No sooner than our skipper had carefully reversed us to within 100 metres off a rocky shoreline and dropped the anchor than a lady in a RIB shot up.

She was there to check that our tackle was embedded in sand and wasn’t damaging the seabed, which she did by leaning over the side with a large underwater viewer.

Jumping off the back of a boat into 5 metres of crystal clear water is one of my defining moments which nothing quite beats.

 

 

The rush of water with eyes shut as I descend, the bottom far below, my breath held so I shoot back up to the surface before opening my eyes.

Anxiously I peer through my mask, circling as I do, to check if Snappy the Shark is coming to take an inquisitive look at my tasty tummy.

 

 

“There are no sharks here!” Franziska smiles as she keeps a careful eye on me swimming in water that is clearly out of my depth.

Since my children’s book is set right here in Ibiza, Snappy and I tend to differ, however right in front of me are some wonderfully colourful fish which are nearly tame and have swum over to be friendly.

 

 

Back on the surface the crew are baiting the water with biodegradable pieces of peach. In my book Snappy likes sardines, but perhaps he likes peaches too?

On board once more, I asked Franziska if she would also help by submerging her toe in order to see which Snappy would prefer!

She obligingly let me photograph her foot tantalisingly close to the piece of peach being enthusiastically gobbled by Snappy’s friends, but fortunately the fish all obeyed the big sign on the seabed which says in fish language;

‘No Eating Humans’.

The atmosphere on board was so wonderful and the crew so attentive that it was easy for an author to slip into make believe as I really didn’t have a care in the world.

 

The yacht’s cabin below is ample to change in with toilet and shower and iced bottled water was plentiful.

 

 

After three swims it was time to go.

The anchor rattled up smoothly and I sat up front with the skipper for the return trip and he explained in good English how their Raymarine chart plotter worked.

 

 

 It had an extremely large, clear screen, and he pointed out nearby rocks which were clearly shown on the screen.

Alas, we were back all too soon, expertly parked and stepping off on to the concourse feeling not so much tired as very relaxed after having had one of my nicest days on holiday ever.

Many thanks to Amoyachts for making it all possible.

 

Yacht charter in Ibiza

‘Snappy The Shark 2  by William Mills’ is now available as a paperback from Amazon.com