The morning began crisp and bright. For the first time in days, it has been warm enough to leave the ship in a Tshirt and we enjoyed the warm sunlight.

Martin and Corinne descended into the engine room to work on the cooling water pump for the hydraulics that control our bow and stern thrusters. The main engine gearbox received a routine oil change and genset 1 had the fuel filter replaced that was still suffering from a load of dirty fuel that we took aboard in Senegal. With ears ringing, they emerged at 1300 hours in time for passage around to Santa Ponça where we spent the afternoon.

It is a pleasure to introduce a new STARSHIP crewmember. Odetta jumped the gap between STARSHIP and the dock to join us as deckhand. For the last two days she has been working like a trooper; polishing, wiping, hosing, stocking, stashing and entertaining us all with her sharp Australian wit. Born and bred in the land downunder, she made a foray into the world of fine art with painting and drawing before submitting to the rational of a Science degree. She graduated with Honours then left on a world trip that would take her backpacking for 14 months through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Turkey, Morocco, Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain.

Odetta.

She comes with all the richness of travel stories; those bizarre encounters, unusual people, strange customs and faraway places. Given enough public pressure I’m sure she could be coerced into sharing some of those moments. Drop her a welcome note - odetta@ms-starship.com

We rounded the southern tip of the island and into the bay of Palma de Mallorca. The skyline is dominated by a towering Mediterranean Gothic cathedral, popularly referred to as La Seo. As the story goes, in 1229 King James I was en route to wrestle the island from Saracen rule, when his vessels were caught in a terrible storm. He appealed to the Virgin Mary (as you do in those conditions) and promised the construction of a magnificent church on the island. It was taken soon afterward and building began. However the workers were clearly enjoying the Mallorcan night-life as the cathedral was not completed until the late 16th century.

La Seo.
[ photo - James Frankham ]

300 000 people call Palma home but the transient population of tourists far exceeds this number. They flock from northern Europe in more than 20 flights a day to enjoy the fineries of Spanish cuisine, culture, bars and beaches. It is a surprisingly vast city, sprawling out over the flat southern area of the island and accounts for more than half of the permanent population of the island.

We are tied alongside a dock again and will refuel tomorrow morning. Tonight the crew will go ashore for a meal and enjoy the company of our guests and the best of Spanish cuisine. Until tomorrow,

STARSHIP standing by 16, 73

James