Any advice for cruising Ibiza in a 10.5m boat?

Right, flights booked so we'll be heading for Ibiza in June. I've registered on the IB Ports website so will book a few days in San Antonio if I can. I've also registered for the Posidonia buoys scheme but it's showing no availability. Does anyone know if it is open for bookings yet and whether they accept bookings for their buoys in June?

Regarding the beach club / restaurant buoys, are these first come / first served? With the rather draconian anchoring restrictions I suspect that finding good spots for lunch will be challenging.
 
Regarding the beach club / restaurant buoys, are these first come / first served? With the rather draconian anchoring restrictions I suspect that finding good spots for lunch will be challenging.


What few there are, are first come first served. They do exist, but bear in mind they are few and far between and in practice you will find anchoring far simpler.

There is a set of Poseidon bouys next to one of the main eating areas.

Ibiza is not that busy if you avoid Formentera. Even close to Ibiza Town ( big bays to the east) yes it is busy, but not to the extent you can't anchor. Formentera is a zoo and there are huge wakes all the time from the ferries - and this " island paradise" is bursting with people.

Ask on the radio and they will collect you - but bear in mind those places charge a lot for lunch! My daughter had a think a E35 hamburger ( and was promptly unwell - not to do with the burger) so lunch will hit your wallet.

I have also witnessed your capacity to down cava ! Sparkling Water anyone ?
 
Which one's that?

there are 3 areas of Posidonia buoys
1. Espalmador - small island to the North of Formentera (almost attached to Playa de illetas). It absolutely stunning however it does suffer hugely from the endless wake during the day. Also the beach restaurants are a trek unless you tender is robust.
2, Calo de s'Oli - bay to the west of Savina Marinas on Formentera, very tranquil, no wake and the southern beach bars are not so far in the tender albeit take care across the port entrance - Tiburon is the best imo.
3. Ses Salinas - Southern tip of main island. several beach bars. You can only drop of in your tender - they do have a pick up service.

All 3 are exposed to swell. I would book last minute (48hours) after a quick check of the weather. In June you will be fine, Espalmador is likely to be the most pre booked but that suffers from wake rather than wind/swell.

The buoys in San Antonio bay are owned by the marina and won't be busy in June.
I think the big bay to the east of Ibiza Town that jrudge mentioned (cala Talamanca) is now completely under the new exclusion.
I really like port de Santa Eulalia, similar price to San Antonio, nice town, all local bays obviously exposed to easterly, Formentera is quite easy for a day trip about 15nm.
 
I agree re Sta Eulalia and I always found the marina there efficient and with friendly people. San Antonio as a town in my humble view is a dump and the marina not as efficient but maybe I am biased as I was directed on to a berth that turned out to be occupied despite the fact that I had made clear i was only on one engine and the cross wind was the wrong direction! Should have seen the panic ensue. It was almost funny. Spend a night in Binirras which is awesome if wind direction ok. Very laid back.
 
I agree re Sta Eulalia and I always found the marina there efficient and with friendly people. San Antonio as a town in my humble view is a dump and the marina not as efficient but maybe I am biased as I was directed on to a berth that turned out to be occupied despite the fact that I had made clear i was only on one engine and the cross wind was the wrong direction! Should have seen the panic ensue. It was almost funny. Spend a night in Binirras which is awesome if wind direction ok. Very laid back.

Thanks (and to NGM, Jez too).

I've just looked at the Posidonia exclusion maps and it looks like the whole Benirras bay is marked in Amber (other than the area very close to the shore which I suspect is within the swimming buoys). Indeed, I have just checked the Navionics online chart and that's showing the whole bay as anchoring forbidden.

Pete
 
Hi Pete

Can you please post a link to the Benirras Bay anchoring restrictions that you refer to.

Are there more Buoys available now that the anchoring restrictions are being rigidly enforced?

Thanks

Graham

You should pop round for a cup of tea and I'll show you!

In the meantime, you can see the latest chart online on the Navionics website (or SCMCHAT) https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@15&key=_{qmFgezG.

The Posidonia maps are linked to in this thread - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...aw-effective-from-today&p=6694645#post6694645.
 
Not only Benirras but Portinaxt and Cala Salada too. Ironically, probably 90% of the boats anchored in those calas are yachts rather than motor boats.
If the authorities are serious about preserving Posidonia the solution should be to install more anchoring bouys and have them priced sensibly or foc during the daytime. Unlike sailing boats or those on a cruise, most of the people that I know who are based on the island with motor boats don’t specifically plan ahead - it is usually a spontaneous decision on whether to go out or not and where to go, so booking bouys ahead is not really practical.
 
Thanks (and to NGM, Jez too).

I've just looked at the Posidonia exclusion maps and it looks like the whole Benirras bay is marked in Amber (other than the area very close to the shore which I suspect is within the swimming buoys). Indeed, I have just checked the Navionics online chart and that's showing the whole bay as anchoring forbidden.

Pete

That is beyond a shame as I think Benniras is one of the nicest bays to anchor in Ibiza. As mentioned I was there last year and had no issues at all and there were lots of other boats around and no one had an issue but it all sounds like it will kick off seriously this year. Could not agree more re Formentera. the anchorage there is a nightmare even on a flat sea day as there are thousands of boats and the wake is like a wave of Tsunamis hitting you every few minutes. Avoid. On a good day sea wise go down to the very end of Formentera ie the far end of the island, and the beach is fabulous, less crowded. Needs to be a good day though and if you stay overnight check the forecast. And no weed if I recall correctly!!
 
You should pop round for a cup of tea and I'll show you!

In the meantime, you can see the latest chart online on the Navionics website (or SCMCHAT) https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@15&key=_{qmFgezG.

The Posidonia maps are linked to in this thread - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...aw-effective-from-today&p=6694645#post6694645.


Wow, that is the single nicest place in Ibiza. It is very deep so you can't see the bottom - I was not aware there was any weed.
 
Makes me wonder if it's worth the effort. Fortunately, forward booking spaces in marinas and on buoys isn't prohibitively expensive for me (even if I end up not going due to the weather) but that removes all the spontaneity. Also, I can see there being a right bun fight for the few buoys that there are, even if you pre-book.

I have no idea what Hurricane and others will do on longer cruises where they depend on anchoring, not least to avoid the weather and stay safe.
 
I have no idea what Hurricane and others will do on longer cruises where they depend on anchoring, not least to avoid the weather and stay safe.

The regs do say that you can use your anchor in an emergency - wonder what constitutes an emergency
 
Is anybody aware if the will be an increase in the number of buoys to be laid the year.

Graham

Suspect the lack of response suggests that no one knows but given that this would require some forward thinking on the part of authorities as well as some funding upfront to lay more buoys I think the answer you should expect is to not expect there to be more buoys! Apologies for the cynicism.
 
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