Spain, Balearic Islands
Mallorca has the biggest charter fleet in the Balearics, most of it in Palma, 15 minutes from the airport: a week runs west to Andratx and Sa Dragonera, then south to the Cabrera national park, under one rule that applies everywhere, no anchor on the Posidonia seagrass.
YACHT TYPES
Sailing yachts 38 to 46 ft and catamarans 37 to 45 ft make up most of the bookable fleet; Palma also has a large motor yacht fleet for skippered weeks.
A typical week from Palma
Saturday to Saturday: the west coast first, Cabrera mid-week on the buoy you booked the day bookings opened, 20 days ahead, and the south coast on the way home.
Day 1, Palma to Port d'Andratx (17 NM). Out of the Bay of Palma on the afternoon sea breeze, a swim at Cala Portals Vells, then the long bay of Andratx for the night, at anchor or on a berth booked ahead.
Day 2, round Sa Dragonera to Sant Elm (10 NM). The natural park lets boats into three coves by day, Cala Lledó among them, and keeps them 50 m off the rest of the coast; the night is on the Sant Elm buoy field, where anchoring is not allowed.
Day 3, to Cala Portals Vells (12 NM). Back round Cap de Cala Figuera in the morning calm, to the coves on the west side of the bay, the jumping-off point for Cabrera.
Day 4, to Cabrera (27 NM). The longest leg, across open water to Es Port, where the national park allows buoys only: one night with the free navigation permit and your booked buoy, and a walk up to the castle.
Day 5, to Colònia de Sant Jordi and Es Trenc (11 NM). North to the long beach of Es Trenc, anchoring on sand only, and the small harbour of Colònia de Sant Jordi.
Day 6, to Cala Pi (8 NM). West along the cliffs of the south coast to Cala Pi, a narrow cove best kept for a settled night.
Day 7, to Palma (16 NM). Round Cap Blanc and across the bay, back on the base by Friday afternoon.
Two weeks, or a Pollença start, open the north: Sóller, 25 NM beyond Andratx and the only shelter on that coast, the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia, Cala Ratjada, and the 35 to 40 NM passage to Ciutadella on Menorca.
Practical points for a Mallorca charter
Licences and park permits
Spain accepts a skipper's licence from your country of nationality or residence in the EEA, or a title on the Spanish list, such as the ICC or the RYA Coastal Skipper; most operators also ask for a VHF certificate aboard. Cabrera needs a free navigation permit and an overnight buoy booked online, at most 20 days ahead and for two nights at most in July and August; Sa Dragonera limits boats to three coves by day.
Wind and sea
From April to October the embat, a sea breeze, fills in around 10 am in the bays of Palma, Pollença and Alcúdia, builds to about 16 knots and fades after 5 pm. The Tramuntana from the north is the wind to watch: it turns the north coast and Formentor into a lee shore, so Sóller and the crossing to Menorca wait for a settled forecast.
Moorings and fees
Anchoring on Posidonia is banned throughout the Balearics, fines start at 300 euros and 20 patrol boats work from June to October. The Ports IB buoy fields cost about 36 euros a night for 12 m and 53 euros for 15 m, three nights at most; a Cabrera buoy costs 18.60 euros up to 12 m and 40 euros from 12 to 15 m between May and September. Public harbour berths stop at 15 m long and 4.46 m wide, which rules out most catamarans; Alcudiamar charges about 66 euros a night for a 12 m monohull in summer, before VAT.
Getting there
Palma airport is about 15 minutes from the Palma marinas and 45 to 50 minutes from the bases on the north and east coasts; ferries reach Palma from Barcelona and Valencia. Provision in Palma before the first night.
Can we include Menorca?
Yes, at the cost of two long days: Ciutadella is 35 to 40 NM from the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia, which suits a Pollença start or a two-week charter. Menorca has only a handful of charter boats, so it is a destination rather than a base.
Catamaran or monohull?
Catamaran for the coves, the buoy fields and a family; monohull for the open legs to Cabrera and Menorca, and for public harbour berths, which take boats up to 4.46 m wide.
Is August a mistake?
Not for the water, which is at its warmest, but the buoy fields and Cabrera fill up, so book them the day bookings open. June and September give the same coves with fewer boats.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, cabins, licence held, skipper or not, Cabrera or Menorca, and we shortlist three yachts from Palma, Andratx or Pollença with a recommendation.
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