Andratx advice....

CLOUD9

CLOUD9

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7 Apr 2005
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Home in Bath, Boat in Cala d'Or, Mallorca
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A question for the Med crew.....I'm hoping to drop one of my sons off at his girlfriends family Villa in Andratx at the end of August. We would like to stay for a couple of nights to do the In-Law thing.
Weather permitting we will do this by boat (from Cala d'Or) and make it part of a cruise around the island.
This has got me thinking about booking marina berths and mooring bouys generally.
I realise that finding space in the most popular marinas may be tricky in high season and we may just need to turn up on the day and call on VHF. We will stay out of the marinas and at anchor as much as possible, but any advice or tips would be much appreciated to avoid novice mistakes...
How far in advance might a booking generally be taken?
Do I use Portbooker.com or is it best to contact marinas directly?
Are there other online portals?
Any specific Andratx advice would be particularly useful.
Thanks
 
We chartered a mobo in Palma a few days ago (one day only) and decided to lunch in Andratx, had no trouble getting onto the visitor moll for a few hours. Skipper called ahead. Might be very much busier in August of course. It was a 15 minute walk to the other side of the bay.

There were also a number of boats anchored just outside, including a couple of very sizeable ones. Short rib / tender ride from there into the town and there's a slip and (some) jetty space where you could leave the rib.

Was a lovely place, never been there before and had a superb lazy lunch, and then revisited on another day by car and spent a lazy day by the water watching the boats.
 
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Andratx is lovely - if you can get in at that time of the year.
Don't expect to get into the actual marina - thats an impossibility.
If there are spaces, they will be beside the travel hoist at the furthest (from the sea) point.
Nothing wrong with those berths at this time of the year but are very exposed for the winter months.
Andratx is VERY exposed to south westerlies - just search on Youtube!!
Having said that, the marina has a lovely pool and club - well worth the fees if you can get a berth.

Alternatively, you might like to do what all of us do when in that area - anchor in Santa Ponsa.
Easy but busy anchorage (but anything in Mallorca will be busy at the moment).
There is a well marked reef in the middle of Santa Ponsa - everyone anchors to the south of the reef.
We have stayed many nights on anchor in Santa Ponsa - nice restaurants on the south side of the bay - loads of horrible Irish pubs on the north.
Other than that it is a lovely safe place to anchor.

I have this pic already on photobucket - a chartlet of Santa Ponsa
Unfortunately doesn't show the south side but you can see the reef in the middle.

Mallorca_zps98124a6d.jpg
 
You should have no trouble finding a space especially if you call them and book it now.

I would go direct, there is no benefit in using an agent in my view.

I have only been turned down for a berth once in Mallorca in the past 4 years. Portals was full so I went to Adriano about 10 mins down the coast.

If I know where I am going I do book by phone a day in advance.

If heading Cala Dor - Andraxt I would stop at Cabrerra on the way :-)

Andraxt has bouys as well which are nice as you get a sea view and the come and collect the rubbish from the boat!
 
We found there was plenty of space to anchor outside Andratx port, on the south side of the bay, although it is quite deep.

I wouldn't bother with portbooker. They take your money when you book, but that doesn't mean you have a berth. In our case (in Ibiza), on the day we had booked the berth for they told us they couldn't arrange one and sent our money back.
 
Thanks for the info guys. All very helpful.
I had a look at the PortsIB website for the town quay, but as Jrudge says, 15m is the largest option it gives, so if it came to it I would need to give them a call. Will probably try to book a mooring buoy.
 
I have moored on the public quay in Pollenca a turn up basis but the official limit is 15m to enable you to pre book etc on line ... which is a pain as when I was 12m it was really useful!
 
This is the worst, "my lad's had a right result & managed to sort himself out with a girlfriend who's family are loaded and own some magnificent property in the sun so I'm going to rock up in my boat to let them know we're not binners" thread ever. :)

I'm beginning to think a bolt hole in Gosport might not have been the wisest investment for Emily's future ;)


Henry :)
 
We are on the public quay in pollenca as I type this. There's plenty of room despite all the live a boards and charter boats that live here on the transit moll !!!! It seems to help if the marinero recognises you as he hangs reserved boards over the quay but they stay empty overnight. I always call in here on channel 8. Which will usually get you a berth just turning up outside his office usually is greeted with arm waving and no berth available .......
 
henryf said:
This is the worst, "my lad's had a right result & managed to sort himself out with a girlfriend who's family are loaded and own some magnificent property in the sun so I'm going to rock up in my boat to let them know we're not binners" thread ever. :)

I'm beginning to think a bolt hole in Gosport might not have been the wisest investment for Emily's future ;)

Not the most friendly of replys Henry.

Henry :)
Click to expand...
 
henryf said:
This is the worst, "my lad's had a right result" thread ever. :) Henry :)
Click to expand...

Don't you mean "the best" Henry? :-)

If it's the worst I'll have to try harder with the next post... His identical twin brother has found a lovely young lady who's family seem to own a large chunk of Hertfordshire... perhaps I could mention that..... although less sunny than Andratx, it is closer to Gosport which makes the bolt hole seem a better investment perhaps??
Worst thread drift ever? :-)
 
jrudge said:
It's a shame the cafe on the end is so depressing ! Reserved is usually for people who book on line with I suspect a dose of local custom!
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Yes the cafe has a lot of potential but they don't open until lunch missing a great breakfast opportunity in the summer months lol. I have never managed to book online for pollenca there always seems to be a prob with the online booking system ! And Friday night is always busy with cm charters boats in for sat turn around . How are they allowed to run a charter business off a transit moll ?
 
We have just spent a week in Andratx. Tried to book by phone but was told to book by e-mail.

I did just ask at the time what the chances were. Good, he said, but send an email.

Yea, yea, I thought. Some chance. But, sent an email. Got a reply within half an hour confirming booking.

Very impressed with their service. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Good marineros, good swimming pool, excellent service. (Good berth too)

Peter.
Yacht "Cloud 9". Yes - another Cloud 9
 
Nick_H said:
We found there was plenty of space to anchor outside Andratx port, on the south side of the bay, although it is quite deep.
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Thats where we used to anchor when visiting Andraitx and it is the recognised anchorage in the bay with good holding despite being relatively deep. But it is open to the west so if there is any W in the forecast (quite rare) its not ideal. We stopped in the marina a few times too and I don't recall ever being turned away. It is a nice marina but expensive and a bit of a schlap from the main drag where the bars and restaurants are
 
CLOUD9 said:
Don't you mean "the best" Henry? :-)
Click to expand...

Sorry. On previous forums it was always, "the worst" which ironically meant the best. :)

I know you shouldn't judge but if Em's comes back from a trip into Gosport and says she's just met the boy of her dreams I shall not be best pleased. :) Do as I say not as I did at your age....

Henry :)
 
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