Berthing costs in the Med - Majorca

There is plenty of space and nicely sheltered once in the bay but have you seen the entrance to Fornells Bay in bad weather from the North? Nasty in the extreme
Yup from the point of view of shelter, Fornells is fantastic. Last time we were there, I remember it was blowing quite hard from the north and still fairly calm inside which fooled me into heading out to sea (as ever, if the local fishing boats don't go out, its probably for a good reason:eek:). Yes as soon as you get into the channel out of the harbour you do feel the full force of the swell and by that time, its probably quite risky to attempt to turn round. We found the same at Addaya and at Addaya you've got a bit of a dogleg to negotiate to get into the harbour as well
 
Thanks everyone

Right now we are between guests leaving and new ones arriving
But I've looked at the forecast and I was explaining to SWMBO over a quiet cafe dinner that I'd like to go over to Fornells later this week.
So, as long as our new guests are up for it, that's what we will do.

Thanks again everyone
 
Andraitx is pretty full but more important have a look on the 'net generally and youtube in particular for pictures/movies of the storms there in winter. It is a complete non starter as a place to keep a boat imho.

Thus the choice is Palma for those who like it, and Cala D'Or plus Pollenca/Alcudia for those who like prettier marinas. Cala D'Or is still top of my (subjective) list fwiw
 
Thanks everyone

Right now we are between guests leaving and new ones arriving
But I've looked at the forecast and I was explaining to SWMBO over a quiet cafe dinner that I'd like to go over to Fornells later this week.
So, as long as our new guests are up for it, that's what we will do.

Thanks again everyone
Hurricane,
Also consider getting a berth in Cuitadella. Either on the fuel berth side-to (no electricity iirc) or one of the three berths up by restuarant that will fit JW. Call club nautco - really nice helpful people there

In my book Fornells aint that pretty. SW coast much nicer imho. Macarella, Galdana, and that whole strip

And there is plenty of walk-in marina space in Mahon, of course
 
Hurricane,
Also consider getting a berth in Cuitadella. Either on the fuel berth side-to (no electricity iirc) or one of the three berths up by restuarant that will fit JW. Call club nautco - really nice helpful people there

In my book Fornells aint that pretty. SW coast much nicer imho. Macarella, Galdana, and that whole strip

And there is plenty of walk-in marina space in Mahon, of course

Thanks - I'll give Cuitadella a call - I was going to go that way round and it is still early season - weather here is hotting up - too hot at the moment!! - SWMBO doesn't like it too hot
It will be nice to get out of port - it is a "jobs to do day" today - just SWMBO and I at the moment - tomorrow we plan to have lunch out in the bay.
New guests emailed yesterday - they are happy to go as soon as they get here - so, I've told them that breakfast will be under way - en route to Menorca.

We have been into Mahon a few times - mainly as a fuel stop - so we are hoping to find some overnight anchorages on the north coast.
Probably get back to Alcudia over the weekend - can't be away from those steaks for too long!!!
 
Yup from the point of view of shelter, Fornells is fantastic. Last time we were there, I remember it was blowing quite hard from the north and still fairly calm inside which fooled me into heading out to sea (as ever, if the local fishing boats don't go out, its probably for a good reason:eek:). Yes as soon as you get into the channel out of the harbour you do feel the full force of the swell and by that time, its probably quite risky to attempt to turn round. We found the same at Addaya and at Addaya you've got a bit of a dogleg to negotiate to get into the harbour as well

I read somewhere that one of those calas/harbours has a strange phenomena. Under certain circumstances all the water drains out of the bay.
Is this true and which one is it?
 
Andraitx is pretty full but more important have a look on the 'net generally and youtube in particular for pictures/movies of the storms there in winter. It is a complete non starter as a place to keep a boat imho.
No, thats rubbish!. What you see in the vids on You Tube is damage to boats moored on buoys in the outer part of the harbour and damage to boats moored on the town quay. Nobody in their right mind would leave a boat permanently moored in those positions unless you could get it to it pretty quick. The marina on the other hand is on the opposite side of the harbour and protected by 2 breakwaters and is perfectly safe although I don't doubt that it could be subject to swell in storm conditions but then you could say exactly the same about Cala d'Or. If Andraitx was an unsafe place to leave a boat, there wouldn't be nearly 500 boats moored there
What does make Andraitx and a lot of Balearic harbours potentially unsafe, including Cala d' Or, are the very rare but devastating 'seiches' or 'rissagas' which occur during a combination of particular meteorological conditions and which cause a surge of water to enter the harbour and then leave again which I am told can literally drain the harbour dry. But as I say these are very rare (Hurricane might like to know that Cuitadella is known for seiches:eek:). However if this was a factor that concerned anyone thinking about long term mooring in the Balearics, then its another factor in favour of Palma which won't ever experience one of these:)
 
SW coast much nicer imho. Macarella, Galdana, and that whole strip
Yup agree with that although we were often frustrated by a SE wind which seems to be quite common on that coast and causes swell in many anchorages
 
I read somewhere that one of those calas/harbours has a strange phenomena. Under certain circumstances all the water drains out of the bay.
Is this true and which one is it?

See my post §47 in reply to jfm
 
No, thats rubbish!. What you see in the vids on You Tube is damage to boats moored on buoys in the outer part of the harbour and damage to boats moored on the town quay. Nobody in their right mind would leave a boat permanently moored in those positions unless you could get it to it pretty quick. The marina on the other hand is on the opposite side of the harbour and protected by 2 breakwaters and is perfectly safe although I don't doubt that it could be subject to swell in storm conditions but then you could say exactly the same about Cala d'Or. If Andraitx was an unsafe place to leave a boat, there wouldn't be nearly 500 boats moored there
What does make Andraitx and a lot of Balearic harbours potentially unsafe, including Cala d' Or, are the very rare but devastating 'seiches' or 'rissagas' which occur during a combination of particular meteorological conditions and which cause a surge of water to enter the harbour and then leave again which I am told can literally drain the harbour dry. But as I say these are very rare (Hurricane might like to know that Cuitadella is known for seiches:eek:). However if this was a factor that concerned anyone thinking about long term mooring in the Balearics, then its another factor in favour of Palma which won't ever experience one of these:)

Ah ok. Happy to stand corrected
 
Mike,
Hope you are well.
We are based in Mahon at the moment. On your way around the island try and spend a night at Es Grau. It's on the East coast, north of Mahon. Anchor or book a buoy (http://www.balearslifeposidonia.eu/index.php?iduser=&sessio=) behind Illa de Colom and tender ashore for dinner. its a lovely setting.
We are not over again until the 21st so will probably miss you, although we may be over in Alcudia at some point, so will look if your still there.
Simon (Sir Brian).
 
Hi John

There seems to be at least 4 different spellings! When our children were young they started referring to it as "Squeezy Jelly" and that's what we have called it ever since

I'm well thanks John, been following your boat build thread with much interest, she is a work of art, congratulations. I know you will get much pleasure from her.
 
Mike,
Hope you are well.
We are based in Mahon at the moment. On your way around the island try and spend a night at Es Grau. It's on the East coast, north of Mahon. Anchor or book a buoy (http://www.balearslifeposidonia.eu/index.php?iduser=&sessio=) behind Illa de Colom and tender ashore for dinner. its a lovely setting.
We are not over again until the 21st so will probably miss you, although we may be over in Alcudia at some point, so will look if your still there.
Simon (Sir Brian).

Hi Simon
Long time since we last met
A friend of yours passed by the quay this morning and said hello
He said you sere in Menorca
Maybe we will see you again before we head back to SC
Mike
 
Judging by the long range weather forecast this idea's becoming more certain by the day. I think everyone's been hoping for a good summer and blimey we deserve it too! Looks like another washout on the way but I'm ever hopeful:rolleyes:
 
Have you thought about Mahon. I have been there 3 years and costs about 50% of Palma where I have just moved to for this season. I am hoping the attraction of Palma offsets limited local cruising in my Menorquin (cruising speed 12 knots) and cost. Much quieter in Mahon though, particularly out of high season.
 
Mike,
Hope you are well.
We are based in Mahon at the moment. On your way around the island try and spend a night at Es Grau. It's on the East coast, north of Mahon. Anchor or book a buoy (http://www.balearslifeposidonia.eu/index.php?iduser=&sessio=) behind Illa de Colom and tender ashore for dinner. its a lovely setting.
We are not over again until the 21st so will probably miss you, although we may be over in Alcudia at some point, so will look if your still there.
Simon (Sir Brian).

In Addaia right now - probably going to try Es Grau tomorrow
If it is too exposed, we will just pop into Mahon instead

Cruising round Mallorca is good but Menorca is fantastic
Agree with jfm - Fornells wasn't as nice as we had hoped - scenery was a bit too open - nice lunch though.
We have been popping in to lots of little Calas on the north side
Didn't stat in Cituidella - just popped in to have a look

Addaia is fantastic though
Currently on the anchor right up at the end - no wind - no waves - no clouds

Nothing like it in the UK - OP - you have just got to get out here

I will post some Menorca pics when I get back to Alcudia at the end of the weekend if anyone is interested
 
If you go to Es Grau make sure you have lunch in the cafe (can't remember the name) on the front. Try the calamari and/or fried fish with of course a bottle of rose. I have yet to have better! Cheers
 
Hurricane,

Thanks for your tips. I'm in Menorca in July on hols as have abandoned holiday on the boat in the UK. Problem with Menorca is there are no cheap flights from Bournemouth only Thomson and their prices are eye watering for 4 people!! For this relocation to work we need to use Bournemouth airport as it's only 30 mins from home so a no brainer to place boat somewhere utilising that airport along with cheap flights and Majorca happens to fit the bill.
Cala D'Or seems to me, after all the helpful comments on here :cool:, to be a good fit although quite expensive.
 
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