Ibiza and Formentera

[Sander]

Hola everyone,
We are chartering for 4 weeks and would love to hear from anyone who has experience of the Balearics.
We pick up our Lagoon 400 in Palma and then hope to cross to Ibiza end of June. I've never done this crossing nor visited the islands.
Are there any dangers? Local regulations regarding anchoring? What are the best anchorages? Quietest spots, noisiest spots?!
Thank you,
AM

[edsailing]

Hope you have deep pockets if you plan to stay in any marinas - seriously expensive!

[Sander]

We have booked 1 or 2 nights per week in Marina Sta Eularia and therefore need to know where to anchor on the other days. Expensive indeed but from what we have read the Islands are worth a visit. We'll save money on the next trip!

[jstevens]

Sander,
I'm sure you realize that you are heading into the mother of all destinations for Europeans on holiday. People don't generally go to the Balearics looking for peace and quiet. That said, I did enjoy my time in the Balearics in 2006, and you will be there before the really large crowds arrive. I was there in August - not recommended.

Cala Blanco on the NW side of Ibiza was my favorite anchorage in Ibiza. There are only a couple of homes in the Cala and no beaches or tourist excursions. The bottom is mostly sand with a few rocky patches. Most of the other calas have tourist hotels and/or are very crowded. If there is a tourist beach in a cala it is often roped off about 100M or more from shore forcing boats to anchor in 10-20 M of water. Puerto San Antonio is the largest harbor on Ibiza and an interesting city, but the holding ground is very poor.

I didn't find any secluded anchorages on Mallorca. However I did spend a pleasant week at anchor in Puerto de Andraitx. It and Puerto Colom were the least touristy harbors that provided room to anchor. Puerto Colom is the best natural harbor on Mallorca and the town is very pleasant, although most of the harbor is shallow and filled with moorings.
Cala de la Calobra is very touristy with a public beach at the head, but this is one of few beaches that is not roped off. Also the excursion boats don't go into the anchorage, but into a separate cala. Calobra is a spectacular anchorage in a very deep, almost fjord-like gorge.

Be sure to stop in the central market in Palma and stock up before leaving on your charter. There is an anchorage just outside of Palma at las Illetas. It again has a resort beach and can be crowded, but it is very convenient if you want to get out of Palma without having to go far. It is a good jumping off spot of Ibiza.

With a 4 week charter you should have plenty of time visit both Ibiza and Mallorca.

John

[Sander]

Does anyone know if there is a closer anchorage to leave Mallorca from en route to Ibiza?
If we can cut a couple of hours from the trip it would be easier the next day.
Palma to Sta Eularia in one go may be difficult in daylight.
Thanks again.

[Oliver L.]

Sander,

we are a few weeks ahead of you, so I have researched a bit already. There is a very good German book on the Balears, but that won't help you too much. However, check out the following site:

balearslifeposidonia.eu

They administer numerous mooring buoys which you can rent for one or two days.

Lots of luck...

Oliver

[Sander]

Thanks for that link. We will definitely try those in Formentera!

[barnakiel]

There are new anchoring regulations and fees in the Balearics. Check them out before you commit your time and funds.

b.

[barnakiel]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ers-81273.html

Fondear Islas Baleares

etc

b.

[terra57]

Get the RCC cruising guide to the Balearics 2011 edition. Lots of free anchorages. We bobbed in Ibiza 3 weeks last year and have been in Mallorca for 3 weeks so far this year at anchor. Lots of nice spots. From the mainland head first to the west coast of Formentera. If you need weather protection go to the north end of the island. Big anchorage! If the wind blows from the north pull up the anchor and sail one hour to the south side of Ibiza for protection. In between are about 3 miles of lovely sandbars. If you get spooked Ibiza. harbor is close by. No worries lots of anchorages. Charter boats will frequent the ones closer to Sant Antonio during the day but they leave in the evenings an d you have these anchorages to yourself also. Happy sailing!

[terra57]

Mallorca. Try Port Pollensa. Nice big anchorage, avoid the west side of bay. The big hangar is for sea planes as well as east side of bay. Convenient dinghy dock next to bus stop to visit entire island. Tourist office beside bus stop. Sign up for free bike tour on Wednesdays with free bikes. Eroski grocery one short block from dinghy dock. Beautiful setting with friendly family oriented beaches. Marina also but you don't want to know the prices. Port authority also has dock space here at a discounted price for up to 3 nights.

[Sander]

Thanks for your helpful info. Only 2 weeks to go now!

[lsjaboard]

Originally Posted by edsailing

Hope you have deep pockets if you plan to stay in any marinas - seriously expensive!

And, don't leave your dinghy attached anywhere near the Marina, they will move it & attach it to a boat moored in the bay. (this is despite the pilot saying the marina staff are friendly). We left 2 dinghies plus outboards by the sailing club for 3 1/2 hrs only to find them gone. The marina staff shrugged saying it was not their problem & we should go to the police. They later refused to take us back to our 2 sailboats later. We ended up buying 2 childrens' plastic things & tentatively paddling to the anchorage & our boats despite the lack of freeboard with 3 people, shopping & a dog. Oh what a helpful place. The next day we took one boat & searched around the big bay. One of us spotted both dinghies attached to a strange speedboat in the middle of the bay, complete with outboards. So we knew it wasnt drunken tourists or they would have had a long swim back to shore if they had taken them from the marina. Hence we suspect the staff who are unsociable, unhelpful, uncommunicative, offhand & close to rude when asked for help. Incidently getting water costs €50 at the water pontoon & that is the cost just to be there & not for the water!
San Antonio Ibat - not to be recommended on any account.