Bareboat | Skippered | Luxury Crewed

General - Mallorca lies in the western Mediterranean, several hundred kilometres off the eastern coast of Spain. The island is 62 miles long by 47 miles wide. Our base in the marina at Palma is the perfect location for exploring Mallorca and the Balearic Islands. This is a great cruising area renowned for its safe anchorages in stunning bays. The island also has many marinas offering first class facilities. Add a superb climate and it is easy to see why Mallorca is one of the worlds most popular Yacht Charter destinations and most people will find what they are looking for, be it motor or sail, monohull or catamaran, bareboat charter, skippered or crewed yachts.

The islands capital Palma lies on the SW coast. Marinas and anchorages on this part of the coast include; Marina Port de Mallorca; Club de Mar Palma; Real Club Nautico de Palma; Cala Gamba, Club de Vela Puerto Andratx; Club Nautico El Arenal; Club Nautico Santa Ponsa; Port Adriano; Portixol; Portals Vells; Puerto Portals

The NW coast has rugged mountains and rolling hills, these encompass numerous indentations providing spectacular anchorages. Including the following marinas and anchorages; Puerto de Sóller

The best sandy bays and attractive harbors are to be found in the NE many in the large Bahia de Alcudia. Here you will find the marinas and anchorages of; Puerto d'Alcudia; Alcudiamar Marina; Cala Ratjada; Marina de Bonaire; Real Club Náutic Port de Pollensa; Colonia San Pedro; Colonia de Sant Jordi; Club Nautico de Porto Cristo; Club Nautico S'Estanyol; Club Náutico Serra Nova; Puerto Deportivo C'an Picafort

The coast of the "calas" is to be found on the SE, this includes Porto Colom, probably the best natural harbor and anchorage in Mallorca and possibly in the whole of the Balearic Islands. Other marinas and anchorages include; Cala Figuera; Real Club Náutico Porto Petro; Cala d'Or Marina; Club Nautico La Rapita; Club Nautico Porto Colom;

It is also possible to vist both the islands of Ibiza and Formentera to the SW and Menorca to the NW on a charter holiday from Mallorca

Return to Top

What You Need - Experience, Qualifications, Visa Requirements, etc. - The skipper of a charter yacht in Mallorca will need to have an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or equivilant.
Visa requirements for visiting Spain

Return to Top

Charter Season - Yachts can be hired year round but the main season generally runs from April to the end of October.
July and August are the hottest months, tend to have lighter winds and many places are very crowded with holiday makers. July and August are the most expensive months to charter a yacht.
April - June and September-October have a lot of plus points, the temperatures are more comfortable, those sailing are likely to getter better winds, it is not as expensive and while ashore you will avoid crowds of July and August.
The remaining months, November thru March have plenty of lovely days for sailing with sunny skies and good winds. Temperatures are on a par to a typical Northern European summer's day. However be warned, winter has some stormy days as well.

Return to Top

Climate

			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	Air Temp - Mean Daily Maximum	°C	15.2	15.7	17.1	18.7	22.1	25.9	28.9	29.5	27.1	23.4	19.2	16.5
	Air Temp - Mean Daily Minimum	°C	8.3	8.5	9.5	11.3	14.7	18.4	21.3	22.2	19.8	16.1	12.1	9.7
	Water Temp	°C
	Average Daily Sunlight	Hours	5.5	5.6	6.8	7.7	9.3	10.2	11.4	10.4	7.6	6.8	5.5	5.1
	Average Precipitation	mm	43	34	26	43	30	11	5	17	39	68	58	45
	Average Wind Speed at 0800	knots
	Average Wind Speed at 1400	knots

Return to Top

How to Get There - The airport at Palma de Mallorca has flights from many Euoropean cities. Low cost airlines operating daily flights all year round include; Easyjet, Ryanair, Airberlin, Iberia, Thomas Cook, Monarch, Jet2, Flybe and BMIibaby. A regular ferry service operates from from Barcelona, Denia and Valencia on the Spanish mainland.

Return to Top

Time Difference - GMT+1

Return to Top

Currency - Mallorca is part of Spain and so uses the Euro as its currency. All major credit cards are widely accepted and you will have no trouble obtaining money from an extensive network of ATMs

Return to Top

Language - Catalan & Spanish. Both English and German are spoken widely

Return to Top

Food & Drink - Due to the islands popularity with tourists you will find plenty of restaurants catering to every almost every taste.
Traditional Balearic cuisine is rich in vegetables, cereal and legumes as well as being low in fats. Typically Mallorcan dishes are; Sobrassada, a raw, cured sausage made with ground pork, paprika and salt and other spices; Sopes Mallorquines, a vegetable soup; Arros Brut, saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables; Tombet, a Catalan ratatouille and the sweet pastry Ensaïmada, made with strong flour, water, sugar, eggs and a kind of reduced pork lard named saïm.
Local red wines from the Binissalem and Plà i Llevant areas are good

Return to Top

Suggested Itineraries & Routes

1 Week
Day 1 : Embark at the marina in Palma. In the afternoon sail to Puerto Andraitx (17nm)
Day 2 : Puerto Soller (25nm) is carved out between spectacular mountains and the only port on the rocky west coast. Take the tram to the old town up in the mountains.
Day 3 : Puerto Pollensa (35nm) is set at the head of a beautiful wide bay. The water is on the shallow side and attention must be paid to the depth when approaching and entering the marina. The old town of Pollensa is worth a visit. The area is good walking country with a 1 mile stroll N to Cala Vincente worthwhile.
Day 4 : Cala Rajada (25nm) is small fishing village and on a longer trip the gateway to Menorca, just 21nm away.
Day 5 : Cala D'Or (18nm) is a beautiful triple bay with pine covered hills and white sandy beaches.
Day 6 : Cabrera Island (30nm) is south of Mallorca, now a Nature Reserve with a beautiful bay for excellent snorkelling
Day 7 : Return to Palma (35 nm).

Return to Top

Marinas - Detailed reports and information on Yacht Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages in the Balearic Islands can be found in our Cruising Guide

Return to Top

Feedback - We would welcome any comments you may have about your in charter holiday in Mallorca

Return to Top

History of the Area - The Balearic Islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times, around 5000 BC, and there are many Cyclopean remains. These show the communities constructed dwellings of stone. There is evidence of primitive agriculture including the keeping of domesticated animals. Jewelry, pottery and tools appear to have been manufactured. Later Phoenician traders frequently visited them. In 654 BC the Carthaginians founded what is today Ibiza city. Roman occupation followed and the Visigoths in turn evicted them. The Moors invaded the islands during the 8th century and there is still evidence of their 300 year occupation to be found in the islands architecture and the customs of the islanders themselves. Christians reconquered the islands during the 13th century. Mallorca falling first in 1229, followed by Ibiza six years later. Minorca was the last to fall in 1287. Initially the islands flourished as Catalan colonies but famines and raids by pirates encouraged by isolation from the mainland saw the Balearic Islands decline. The Bourbons following the conclusion of the Spanish War of Succession in 1715 occupied Mallorca and Ibiza. Minorca however was ceded to the British under the treaty of Utrecht along with Gibraltar on the Spanish mainland. British rule over Minorca continued until 1802. In the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39, Mallorca and Ibiza were soon under the control of Franco's forces enabling the Italian fleet to use Mallorca as it's base and offer support to the insurgents. Minorca remained Loyalist until 1939. The 1950's saw the first charter flights land in the islands bringing the tourists that have in turn bought prosperity to the islands and their peoples involved in this lucrative trade.

Return to Top

Terms & Conditions - These vary depending on the individual boat. Normally a deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance due a month before the date of your charter. Please contact us if you require further information.

Return to Top