Festival de Música Clásica Port de Sóller

The "Festival de Música Clásica Port de Sóller" is taking place for its third year through early October up until the 21st. From the very beginning, it has become one of the outstanding events for the lovers of classical music in Mallorca. This season we will have the pleasure of listening to musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the violinist Christian Stadelmann, the soprano Evelina Dobraceva and her accompanists Alexej Petrov and Alexander Malter. So once again, we are able to enjoy classical music at its highest level in Port de Sóller. Check out: www.festivalportdesoller.com or www.bufetefrau.com for full details.

NEW MARINA PROPOSAL FOR MENORCA

An ambitious plan which has been  tentatively proposed before by the  concessionaires of Deportiva Cala en Bosch Marina near Ciutadella, and rejected by the last government, is to be  presented again to the Balearics Port Authority including some renewed arguments for its viability.
(The suggested location is near the lighthouse at Cap d´Artrutx pictured left)The project, estimated to cost 60 million Euros  would involve the construction of a totally new marina at Cap d´Artrutx which lies just to the South West along the coast from the existing marina and would provide 360 additional moorings, an increase of 33% over the current berth availability in the area.
At present Cala en Bosch Marina offers 270 moorings but has some restrictions with regard to the size of yachts it can accommodate, due to the allowable mast height of 6.8 metres under a fixed bridge, and 1.5 metres draft in the approach channel.
The proposed location for the new marina would have ample water depth and could provide moorings for yachts up to 30 metres, but a substantial sea wall would need to be constructed to enable entry in all weather conditions
Port Authority Vice President, Monica Pozuelo has already visited for informal talks on the revamped proposal, which   will no doubt emphasise in its favour the shortage of moorings in The Balearics, and the position of Cap d´Artrutx being the closest point to the North East coast of Mallorca.

THIS MONTHS SPECIAL FEATURES

** "Boating in The Balearics" - An interview with Sr.Juan Gual de Torrella, President of  The Balearics Chamber of Commerce 

** "Everybody´s Friend" - Reflections on the life of a yacht surveyor by Tim Rowe, IIMS /YDSA

Please click on "Features" in the menu on the left of this page to access these articles.

ILONA OF KYLESKU - 100 YEARS OLD

Its not every day that you get invited to 100th birthday party, even more rare if its for a yacht, and definitely a memorable occasion when the yacht in question is such a fine example of workmanship and classical grace as the Motor Schooner “Ilona of Kylesku"
(To see a complete photo gallery of this beautiful yacht - courtesy of specialist yacht photographer Ed Holt, please click on "News" in the  menu on the left of this page, and then on "Ilona Photos".) 

A cocktail party to mark the yachts 100th anniversary was organised by Captain Dave Hayman and his wife Kerry who have lovingly looked after Ilona of Kylescu for her owner  (His Highness, The Duke of Westminster) during the last 6 years, including the 3 year period when she was undergoing an extensive refit programme. This finished in the UK at Southampton Yacht Services (the former Camper & Nicholson yard) during the winter of 2003- 2004.
Since then she has completed 37,000 sea miles and has recently returned to her berth at Pantalan Mediterraneo Marina in Palma, after winning the “Prix de lélegance race, in the La Belle classe , during Monaco Classic Week.
Ilona of Kylesku´s history started back in 1903, when a Lancashire mill owner named Henry Calvert commissioned William Stoba of Camper & Nicholsons to design a gentlemens yacht. After agreeing the plans the building work was commenced in 1905 by James Armour and Son of Fleetwood.The boat was completed and launched on 2nd Oct.1907, originaly named “Muana Loa”, after the Hawaiian volcano which erupted that year.

Incredibly as well as surviving 100 years, and now being presented in pristine condition Ilona has never been out of commission or laid up, although she has had 11 owners including the present one who purchased her in 2001, when Dave Hayman took over as Captain.
She also saw active service during both the World Wars, when Mr Calvert offered her to the Navy, and she was employed towing barges, minesweeping and even converted into an “armed yacht” during the 2nd World War with a large machine gun mounted on her foredeck.
Originally steam powered but fitted with BMC 6 cylinder petrol engines in 1931, she is still running smoothly today on a pair of Gardner 94 hp diesel engines, which have served her well since they were installed in 1947, and are now maintained in perfect working order by Dave Hayman.
The original hull construction materials were pitch pine over oak frames, which have stood the test of time and been skillfully replaced by Shipwrights using the same combination wherever it has been required during her refits. Her accommodation for 5 -7 guests and 4 crew is a joy to behold with exquisite teak woodwork throughout, all finished with a deep gloss varnish and solid brass fittings.
Camper and Nicholson in Palma in keeping with their “lifelong” association with Ilona of Kylesku, are presently offering her for sale through their brokerage division, and of course the invaluable experience and dedication of Dave and Kerry Hayman can also be acquired by a new owner, to ensure that she  continues into her second century in great shape!

NEW MARINA PROPOSAL FOR MENORCA

An ambitious plan which has been  tentatively proposed before by the  concessionaires of Deportiva Cala en Bosch Marina near Ciutadella, and rejected by the last government, is to be  presented again to the Balearics Port Authority including some renewed arguments for its viability.
(The suggested location is near the lighthouse at Cap d´Artrutx pictured above)

The project, estimated to cost 60 million Euros  would involve the construction of a totally new marina at Cap d´Artrutx which lies just to the South West along the coast from the existing marina and would provide 360 additional moorings, an increase of 33% over the current berth availability in the area.
At present Cala en Bosch Marina offers 270 moorings but has some restrictions with regard to the size of yachts it can accommodate, due to the allowable mast height of 6.8 metres under a fixed bridge, and 1.5 metres draft in the approach channel.
The proposed location for the new marina would have ample water depth and could provide moorings for yachts up to 30 metres, but a substantial sea wall would need to be constructed to enable entry in all weather conditions
Port Authority Vice President, Monica Pozuelo has already visited for informal talks on the revamped proposal, which   will no doubt emphasise in its favour the shortage of moorings in The Balearics, and the position of Cap d´Artrutx being the closest point to the North East coast of Mallorca.