Port Soller, Mallorca

[NoIllusion]

Do any forumites keep their boats at Port Soller, Mallorca??. Are there any pros/cons with the location??....i.e being on the northern coast/distance to other ports, weather/wind etc.
Boat lift looked limited (20 tonnes) and only a small chandlery in the port. Rest of the place I was impressed with...........lots of good restaurants and bars and in easy reach of other small towns if variety needed.

 

[BGS]

I've visited many times. Lovely port. Beautiful calas nearbye at Cala Tuent and Cala Calabra. Both fantastic for a day at anchor.

North coast is spectacular. Especially north of Soller. Easy and beautify trips to Pollenca North, and Andratx South. Also lovely ports. Both approx 25 miles so easy commute in hour or two.

Only potential issue is the frequent Tramuntana winds 200m north which send swell of meter to 2 meters down North coast making anchoring uncomfortable or impossible.

I would also consider Club De Vela at Andratx. It's a very beautiful port with lovely restaurants and lots of local anchorages. Soller is easy day trip from there.

Enjoy.

 

[Hurricane]

Only been into Soller once and then onoy to anchor overnight.

But I have a few friends who got "holed up" there earlier this summer.
Apparently the swell rolles in there - even in the marina.
They got stuck there for 3 days with the boat bouncing all the time.

Alternatively, and I agree with BGS, Club De Vela at Andratx seems much more appropriate. We were in Andratx last week and the club/pool area was really comfortable. In fact, the whole Andratx bay was nice - town and its restaurants were great.

We liked it so much that we are thinking of pre-booking a month at Andratx next year. Perhaps a good safe berth where we can base ourselves to explore from both the land and the sea.

 

[jfm]

Gorgeous place and nice local anchorages but only a few of them. Anything else is a 50nm round trip. So I wouldn't base my boat there

 

[NoIllusion]

Thanks for your thoughts/observations.
We were there last week during which the weather was still and hot (for the time of year). I noted that not many "larger" boats seemed to be permanent. On Friday and Saturday the port was visited by quite a few boats (British owned)......I believe they came up from Andraitx.......a Monte Fino and and a Elegance amongst them.....very nice!!!!!
What was nice to see was how the boats were not rammed in i.e. fender to fender. I agree though....a stunning place and one which we will be visiting again soon.

 

[jrudge]

We are in club de mar in Palma bear in mind this is 15 mins from the airport by cab and about 15 euro. I would guess soller is an hour / hire car which will add to the hassle factor. Soller is lovely but to base a boat.... To far from stuff in my view.

 

[Hurricane]

We are in club de mar in Palma bear in mind this is 15 mins from the airport by cab and about 15 euro. I would guess dolled is an hour / hire car which will add to the hassle factor. Soller is lovely but to base a boat.... To far from stuff in my view.

Earlier this month, we went across to Mallorca from our base on the mainland.
Spent just over 2 weeks - three nights of which were in marinas.
2 of the nights were in Marina Port de Mallorca (Palma) and one night in Club De Vela at Andratx.
Palma seems very safe but I dont think we would berth there full time. It's a bit too busy for me - I prefer a quieter atmosphere. However, from what I remember of Soller, it's a bit cut off from anything else.
Andratx on the other hand has a nice quiet town - didn't see any Irish Pubs - and it's close to some great bays.
Having said that, nowhere in Mallorca is very far away in a boat.

The southern ports, like Cala Dor, Petro, Colom and Cristo etc are beautiful but seem to me to be a bit exposed.

I dunno - it's all beautiful

 

[DougH]

The southern ports, like Cala Dor, Petro, Colom and Cristo etc are beautiful but seem to me to be a bit exposed.

I dunno - it's all beautiful

Cala d'Or exposed Mike It's the most protected Marina on the island.

Very pretty place with good places to eat and the town 10 mins walk away.

If there is a easterly wind it is a short hop to Cabrera or Es Trenc where things will be very calm.

Best location in Mallorca.

Of course I am not biased.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We visited Soller quite a few times during our 5 years in Majorca and whilst it is a lovely harbour to visit, I certainly wouldn't base a boat there simply because the NW coastline of Majorca is too exposed to W and N (mistral) winds which can blow hard on that coast and which could keep you stuck in port when boaters on the S coast of Majorca are able to get out
Andraitx is v nice but the problem there is (or at least was) a long waiting list for berths there compared to marinas in Palma. Santa Ponsa worth a look as well if you like a quieter marina but again availability could be an issue. Agree that all Palma marinas feel busy but the upsides are short distance from airport, easy access to facilities in Palma and sheltered location allows boating in most any wind conditions except strong southerlies which are unusual

 

[ELJAY]

We visited Soller quite a few times during our 5 years in Majorca and whilst it is a lovely harbour to visit, I certainly wouldn't base a boat there simply because the NW coastline of Majorca is too exposed to W and N (mistral) winds which can blow hard on that coast and which could keep you stuck in port when boaters on the S coast of Majorca are able to get out
Andraitx is v nice but the problem there is (or at least was) a long waiting list for berths there compared to marinas in Palma. Santa Ponsa worth a look as well if you like a quieter marina but again availability could be an issue. Agree that all Palma marinas feel busy but the upsides are short distance from airport, easy access to facilities in Palma and sheltered location allows boating in most any wind conditions except strong southerlies which are unusual

I have been offered a permanent (12m) berth at Puerto Andratx during the last few weeks. Apparently the economic situation and recent extension have finally had an effect! Decided to stay at Portals though - better shelter, more facilities and more central....

 

[jfm]

Cala d'Or exposed Mike It's the most protected Marina on the island.

Very pretty place with good places to eat and the town 10 mins walk away.

If there is a easterly wind it is a short hop to Cabrera or Es Trenc where things will be very calm.

Best location in Mallorca.

Of course I am not biased.

+1 to all that. If I were going to base myself in Mallorca I would pick Cala D'Or. Very sheltered, nice facilities, fun restuarants, lots of helpful folks around the port. Yacht club if needed, overlooking your boat. Then zillions of wonderful nearby anchorages, plus others further afield. If it's windy there's a lovely cala (called cala gran, iirc) which is 2 miles away as the crow doesn't fly and you dont even have to go out to the proper sea to get there. Only complaint about the port is that the hosepipe water is salty so it's hard to wash your boat. Trick must be to make your own water at sea and not use the mains water. But that's a minor complaint.

Much nicer than Palma as a home berth, imho, which is nice to visit but a bit shippy and industrial for me

But also imho the South of France and Corsica are nicer than all these places, though of course we're choosing here between two very nice regions and to compare Cote D'Azur with Balearics is like comparing Angelina Jolie with Keira Knightley or whatever

 

[stiknstring]

How to book ahead for long term marina spaces?

Very difficult looking at the websites for some of these marinas in Mallorca to know what the tariffs are and how to book. Is it better to visit and speak to them face to face? Can one buy season by season or do they only sell very long term leases?

Thanks any replies

 

[DougH]

Very difficult looking at the websites for some of these marinas in Mallorca to know what the tariffs are and how to book. Is it better to visit and speak to them face to face? Can one buy season by season or do they only sell very long term leases?

Thanks any replies

Very few (if any) new long term leases on offer.

All leases that I have heard of are old ones with the residue period being offered.

Much easier to ask for a permanent rental 12 month rolling contract which is more the norm.

There are not that many marinas that would give you the facilities I imagine you would seek, Cala d'Or, Alcudia. Pollensa, Adriano, Andraix, Portals and Palma are the main ones.

Nearly all of the others (inc Soller) are mainly for small boats, for the locals, and difficult to get a berth in.

Best idea is to have a short holiday in Mallorca and visit the marinas and talk to the marina management to get the best price.

You will get good prices for winter berths but you must depart by early April.

Some people have tried to be clever and gone for the cheapest winter berth and then been upset when their origonal marina refuses to give them their cherished berth back for the summer.

You can try to haggle on price but remenber that the Germans pay the price given and get the best berths accordingly.

We have been berthed in Cala d'Or for four seasons and would not consider any other Mallorcan alternatives having visited all of the others.

 

[Monique]

My boat was located in both Andratx then into Santa Ponsa.

Andratx can have horrendous swells and each year numerous boats go to the bottom.

Santa Ponsa is better especially if you can get a berth near the yard at the back of the harbour. My boat is 46 feet and draws 2.28 meters and was always safe there. Even in F11 storms...

Saw 6 moorings for sale yesterday... dont know the size for your boat though ...

Cala d'Oro is dead... DEAD in winter whereas SP and Portals keep some entertainment going.

GL

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Andratx can have horrendous swells and each year numerous boats go to the bottom.

Yup, thats true. I remember seeing pics of boats washed up on the shore in Andraitx after a particularly bad storm a few years ago. The bay is completely open to the West. In that respect, Santa Ponsa marina is far more sheltered

 

[DougH]

Cala d'Oro is dead... DEAD in winter whereas SP and Portals keep some entertainment going.

GL

I agree that Cala d'Or is dead in the winter as it is a holiday resort but to say 'Cal d'Oro is dead' makes me wonder if you have been there.

Things warm up activity wise in May and continue until October with this year picking up nicely.

Winter in Mallorca is not great anywhere and all the activity in Santa Ponsa and Portals seems to be around the older generations of German residents.

No way would I consider that some 'entertainments' continue'.

Certainly the inner area of Santa Ponsa is very safe but I have always found the marina rather gloomy.

Just shows that we all like different things.

 

[Monique]

I agree that Cala d'Or is dead in the winter as it is a holiday resort but to say 'Cal d'Oro is dead' makes me wonder if you have been there.

Things warm up activity wise in May and continue until October with this year picking up nicely.

Winter in Mallorca is not great anywhere and all the activity in Santa Ponsa and Portals seems to be around the older generations of German residents.

No way would I consider that some 'entertainments' continue'.

Certainly the inner area of Santa Ponsa is very safe but I have always found the marina rather gloomy.

Just shows that we all like different things.

Think you have it wrong... Andratx is the German enclave.

(Remember..... I live in Majorca)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Think you have it wrong... Andratx is the German enclave.

True, Andraitx is full of Germans but so is Portals. The only difference is that the Germans in Portals are all a peculiar orange colour. I think they all use the same fake tan

 

[Perry]

Yup, thats true. I remember seeing pics of boats washed up on the shore in Andraitx after a particularly bad storm a few years ago. The bay is completely open to the West. In that respect, Santa Ponsa marina is far more sheltered

A few years ago I saw a yacht on top of the breakwater at Santa Ponsa Marina, we had dragged our anchor at night and had to go out to sea and went into Palma, that was in September and the roughest seas I have ever been in.

 

[Monique]

Yep ^

The Baleares are sometimes nasty, very nasty especially in the fall and winter.

This is why Soller not very good for wintering.

Port Adriano may be an option; their sales dont seem very strong and they may giive you a good deal ...

GL