Puerto de Ciutadella, Menorca any experience?

DavidJ

DavidJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Jun 2001
Messages
5,984
Location
home in Brum. S37 sold, was in Med Spain.
Visit site
I'm taking a trip from the Costa Brava to the Balerics early July. My first stop will be in west Menorca and Puerto de Ciutadella looks potentially a good spot. I want a marina for the first couple of nights. Any experience of this location greatly valued.
thanks
David
 
No marina as such, yacht club quay is your best bet, but you will probably have to raft out, ferry comes through, very close. There are stern to moorings further in, by the restaurants, but I think they are private. It's a lovely spot, nice old town with some wonderful architecture and good restaurants. Mahon has much more in the way of moorings, berths etc. In July everywhere is likely to be busy.
 
Hi ccscott49!

You used to be able to berth, if there was space, in one of the yacht club berths a year or three ago, but generally boats went alongside the quay and risked damage from the ferry wash.

On the occasions we went there, we anchored opposite the quay in a little sort of inlet, with a line to the rocks astern. It was free, but the holding wasn't good and we always dived on the anchor to check it was well dug in.

However, I heard from a cruising friend, that this inlet had been cleared with a view to building a mini-marina there. Do you know what's actually happened?

Incidentally, we love Cuidadella and always spend a few days there when we're in the area.

Cheers Jerry
 
That inlet now has a big rope across, No Anchoring!!! Swines, was a good spot. I think all the yacht club berths are taken, never saw one spare the last six or seven times I've been there. The yacht club manage (take the money) the quay and it can be a bit bumpy, better to anchor outside and come in on dinghy, in season or get in very early and get an inside berth.
 
Oh damn, but thanks for that info. Perhaps they will get round to a marina eventually, but as you say, it was a good spot to anchor. Almost seems like they don't want yachts to visit the town if they're just 'fencing' the inlet off though.

Ah well, it's still one of our favourite places.

Cheers Jerry
 
In 1996 we spent some nights in the Cala Degollador, just S. of the city of Ciutadella, and in walking distance of the center. Anchor with one anchor and a line ashore. Our ship was a fin-keeler with a depth of almost 2 meter, but we could almost jump ashore from the bow of the ship.
 
Hi Henk,

Yes, we've anchored there too, but were a bit unhappy at the time about leaving the boat unattended for too long. The inlet cuscott49 and I have been talking about in the posts above, is the Cala d'en Busquats, to port, about halfway along the harbour.

Very nice to hear from you again. We've just finished a long refit on Meander and are hoping to be off cruising again next Spring.

Kind regards

Jerry
 
July/August is a nightmare in Menorca. Extremely busy last year. Woefully inadequate supply of berths for the demand.

If you want a berth in Ciudadella you need to get there reasonably early. You will need to raft up 3 deep max to avoid the very large ferry (seems larger than the harbour but they still manage to turn it around). Now the bay opposite is blocked off the pressure for space will be even higher - dont expect a booking either! The town itself is excellent.

We had a very uncomfortable night rafted when the wind kicked up from the SW - swell runs right into the harbour and pitches the yachts quite severely. Make sure you moor bows-to the harbour entrance and as far down the harbour as possible.

By the way - you will struggle to get a marina berth anywhere in Menorca in season. Mahon was fully booked for summer by January last year! But there are some excellent harbours along the top of the island - Fornells is an excellent destination.
 
Jerry, Good to hear you are still alive, I PM'ed you.
I also know the harbour, but as everyone said it is awfully crowded and most certainly in July and August. That why I suggested the Cala de Decollador (Cala of the Deheaded) as an alternative. I agree, that I would not leave a ship there for a longer time, but it's OK for a visit to the city. Personally I don't care for Menorca in July and August. August is the worst. The place is full with french flotillas and there is very little space anywhere. The same is true though for the other Balearies. I was in Formentera in may or june and the marina fees were payable, but they doubled or tripled in July and August. It would not be any fun to be there around that time. Henk
 
No marina, the end of the cala is full of local boats and the visitors' berth is purgatory if there's a sea running outside. I broke 2 springs, 1 cleat a 1 fender sitting out a SW 8 in there.
Charming town though.

Far better to anchor in Calas Addaya or Taulera.

You'll be severely disappointed if you're looking for marinas on Minorca.
 
Just come back from Menorca (Fri),plenty of room in Mao right now.
Worked a charter boat out there a cuople years ago, we tended to anchor off wherever there was room. We did have a mooring in Mao, but spent most time at anchor off Cala en porta, crappy place I know but good anchoring close in, can be a pain when there's a swell running though.
July, August full of French and no room anywhere. Still a nice cruising area with lots to see and good shelter right around the compass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top