Mallorca Cruising

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Can anyone familiar with these waters tell me:
1. Which are the best charts/pilot books to buy?
2. Are there any good websites giving marine type weather forecasts for a few days ahead?
3. If you had a week at half term in February with an 9yr old, where would you go?

 

[Tiger Rag]

Dear Mike,

As far as araes to visit go all I would say is avoid the north end of the island (Pollensa, Alcudia, Cala Ratjada etc) as all of these places are 90% closed until later in the season. Being based in Palma I always go direct to the meteological institute (next to the Club de Mar in Palma )where for about £20 you can sit down with one of their forecasters for a good twenty minutes and get an excellent, detailed forecast for the next five days, I realise this does not help much but if you want to call me (+34 606 44 8686) or ask on the forum nearer the time I will get a local forecast for you.

Hope this is of some asistance. regards, Russell.

 

[tcm]

Wel,, if it was *just* a nine year iold, i'd go skiing. But if determined to have a boat, then i wd probabaly stay around the south coast, more sheltered at most times of the year, and sod all open on the north side as Russell the Berth- man says.

Palma old town is pretty good for hours or days of wandering about. arenal firther west in that bay is a nice marina, Club nautico one the west of that bay also a good pool but i bet the free pools are closed in feb. Further down the coast is Rapitya, not great in its own roight but you can anbchor, colect forewood and have a barbecue on the beach. No idea how legal this is but nine-year olds love it.

West from palma town is the poncy resort of Puerto Portals (with some good restaurtants) and the so-called awful resorts of Palma Nova and and Magaluf, whcihwill be okay out of season with greasy spoons selling proper food for nine olds and showing footy on TV. I bet that Russell chap will be able to sort you out with a berth for a nite or two. Or just bung it on the fuel berth and see how you go. You can anchor overnite just outside portals in calmish weather, like ccscott did for a weeks or so. I was goin to callim a skinflint but ion high season it was 200 quid a blimmin nite for us, so actually he was a sensible chap.

ccscott will also know places, and stewart too.

I went in Jan and it was surprisingly decent weather.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

You know my 9 yr old then. He's already bleating about going skiing instead so I've had to bribe him with the promise of a X Box or PS2 on the boat (any views on which is better for life afloat?). Personally, I've had enough of sharing les pistes with a million other Brits at half term so the plan is to get the T48 to SoF in early March, have another week off at the end of March and have the odd day skiing using the boat as a base. I'm told there is good skiing about 1 1/2hrs drive from Cannes/Nice. Is that correct?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks, Russell. Actually 'closed' sounds quite appealing. All I need is a bar and all the offspring needs is sand
I'll call you nearer the time if I may for a forecast

 

[tcm]

you are correct about the driving up to ski from Nice. Isola 2000 i think 90mins drive. It's ultra-trendy to snow ski in the morning and waterski in the afternoon.

You don't share the pistes if you go somewhere mindboggling expensive like zermatt. But this leaves plenty of space to rip your legs to bits like swmbo did.

The PS2 is the one to have. Cos there are far more games. We have PS1 in town, so no outlandish promises please, if you still plan to dump him for an evening soon.

If you need crew, i am around any time early march.