ARCHIPELAGOES - Mallorca

Anchorages

The coves of the Balearic Islands are fascinatingly beautiful, but they also hide great dangers. Navigators accustomed to the safety of the bays of the eastern Mediterranean or the protected regions of the Ionian Sea must beware: one must always be prepared for any eventuality, for example that the wind and the currents may change direction and invade that cove which seemed so safe at dusk. At that moment, the boat and the crew must be ready to weigh anchor in the middle of the night.

Only Porto Colom offers complete safety for anchoring. There are many pretty coves with a good bottom for anchoring, but all are entirely dependent on the weather, as they are always open in some direction and have the danger of swells. However, there is freedom of choice and if one plans well and in detail, taking into account all the available weather forecasts, there is always enough time to get to a suitable cove.

Winds

Mallorca normally offer a steady weather in summer, but after all, do not trust in it. There is always the danger of strong Mistrals and Tramontanas. And, in summer 2000, there were a lot of wind (too much) and clouds....also not usual for that area.
As they are islands, every coastal area has got its own wind, capes increase the wind. So, for example, in Palma bay, you mainly have southwesterly winds in settled weather, no matter what the other areas may have... The wind awakes in the morning, blows over the day in various strength and normally dies at afternoon... in settled weather, do not calculate with tis!!

The main wind is a N, Tramontana (called Mistral in Lyon, Maestral at Costa Brava), which blows dry and cold from the french coast, often stormy. If there is a bft. 8 or 9 in Lyon, still bft. 7 arrives mainly in Menorca. The more you head south, the less wind arrives from that direction, but always take care of this wind, it´s a beast!
But, if you are in a sheltered bay, he sometimes helps to stand the heat, for he brings cool winds; skys are clear and blue, when he blows and sun shines.

In contrast to Tramontana, the southwind, in his strongest form called Scirrocco, is a hot, dumpy wind, coming from the Sahara, blowing along the northcoast of Africa and turning to east towards the Med.
He announces himself with a darkyellow stripe at the horizon and carries a lot of sand, you will not recognize your deck afterwards......It needs hours, to get this darkyellow dirt off!!
The southwind normally starts dry in Africa, but on his way to the Balearics, he gets more and more humid, so if he blows, you feel like in a dumpy hairdresser´s salon.

Grace Rasumus, the windgod, he is not blowing very often and long!
Levante is called the eastwind, coming if there is a depression between the Balearics and Africa. He normally comes 8-10 times a year in storm strength.

Normally, you should have moderate winds in that region, normally. In the last years, as anywhere else in the world, we have learned not to trust the rules, they have changed a lot, so aswell here in that area.
So, take care of weatherreports and listen to CH16, where you will get gailwarnings, as usual. Navtex aswell sends gailwarnings, not always in right time....

Also look at the clouds! A good sign for an immediately starting Tramontana/Mistral are cigarshaped clouds. If you see them, hurry up into the next harbour, this wind is able to produce short waves of 2-4m in a VERY short time!!

Place Position Adress Information

Porto Petro 39°21 07 N 03°03 13 W

a marina and an anchorage. One may anchor

a) at the entrance starboard side to, although only when the sea is completely calm

b) behind the entrance, starboard side to. This is the main anchorage, but for us it is one of the worst anchorages in Mallorca. There are layers of rock, slightly covered with vegetation. The main danger is with holiday navigators as, in our experience, they handle the anchor over confidently, which means that the boat may go adrift at night.

c) It is also possible to anchor port side to the entrance, the bottom seems to be more sandy. The problem is that there is a Club Med, therefore in the daytime there are a lot of surfers, 420s, swimmers and scuba divers.

Es Trenc One can anchor perfectly in front of the beach of Es Trenc to swim, although it is advisable to spend the night between the Gabina and Redona Isles. The best place is just behind the Isle of Redona, at the foot of the Hotel Colonia St. Jordi, which can be seen from any point of the cove.

Caution: When heading towards the islet it is important to beware of the sand banks. Contrary to the ease of manoeuvre offered by Es Trenc, here one has to negociate some very dangerous banks of rocks. There are other anchorage areas east of Colonia de St. Jordi, between the isle of Guardis and the isle of Moltona. But one must also beware of the banks.

Porto Colom

39° 24.07 N 03°3.16 W

This is the best choice for anchoring in Mallorca. To get things straight right from the start, the only disadvantage of this superb natural harbour is that the water has a rather cloudy appearance. But in all other respects it is the ideal spot for anchorage lovers. The bottom is of black, smelly mud which sticks like concrete. Always anchor port side to the entrance, as you will reach very quickly your preferred depths of 1.2 to 1.5 metres. Boats of greater draught must take care, as the depth decreases rapidly nearer land. However, if one ever runs aground, it doesn't matter, the bottom is muddy and there are no rocks. Indeed, one can anchor anywhere in the cove, either starboard side to or opposite the entrance.

Cala Barcas Cala Barcas is also known as the pirates cove. Here the anchor also holds firmly without any problem, you can see every grain of sand on the seabed. It also offers the possibility of exploring a small cave in your dinghy, which is in the cove itself, therefore it is even possible for the children to go and discover its secrets by themselves. There are two small beaches separated by a rocky headland. For lovers of fine sandy beaches, we recommend Cala Anguila. Even in the winter months, when many beaches are covered in seaweed, we can find a fine sandy beach here. However, it is a small cove which can only be used to anchor in the daytime and with the sea absolutely calm, as it is completely open.

Cala Figuera
39° 19 08 N 03°3 10 5 W Behind Cape Formentor is a very pretty cove, Cala Figuera, which is suitable for spending the night if the sea is calm.

Puerto de Soller

39°47.6 N
2°41.6 E

Soller offers a few moorings and a good bottom for anchoring, apart from being the only protected harbour on the whole of the north west coast.

The entrance to Puerto de Soller from the sea is a 500 metre wide channel in a SE direction into a large, round, well sheltered, sandy beach-ringed bay with the naval, fishing and public docks in the northeast sector. It is the only sheltered port of refuge on the entire north coast from Dragonara in the southwest to Cape Formentor on the northeast. It is another idyllic setting, the clear Mediterranean blue waters cupped in a wide round bay guarded by rocky pinnacles at the entrance. The valley behind the port going up to the town of Soller leads into the 2500 foot high mountain range separating the north coast from the central plain gently rolling into the Palma area on the south coast.

Cala Portals

39º 32´ N
2º 35´ E

Has a superb sandy bottom, turquoise waters, offers good shelter, and is therefore a suitable cove for spending the night.

Cala D'Or

39° 22 01 N 03°3 14 0 W
The coves of Cala d'Or are good for anchoring in the daytime, if you can find room. They are ideal places for studying the human sardines packed together on the beach... Added to this is the fact that this harbour is a sort of El Dorado for motor boats: they set off at top speed in the morning, go all around the area (to the south) of Cala Santanyí (to the north) to Calas de Mallorca, with all the side effects which we yachtsmen and women so love (whizzing past at full speed just a few centimetres away, the din of turbines all over the cove, etc.).

Place	Position	Adress	Information

Porto Petro	39°21 07 N 03°03 13 W		a marina and an anchorage. One may anchor a) at the entrance starboard side to, although only when the sea is completely calm b) behind the entrance, starboard side to. This is the main anchorage, but for us it is one of the worst anchorages in Mallorca. There are layers of rock, slightly covered with vegetation. The main danger is with holiday navigators as, in our experience, they handle the anchor over confidently, which means that the boat may go adrift at night. c) It is also possible to anchor port side to the entrance, the bottom seems to be more sandy. The problem is that there is a Club Med, therefore in the daytime there are a lot of surfers, 420s, swimmers and scuba divers.
Es Trenc			One can anchor perfectly in front of the beach of Es Trenc to swim, although it is advisable to spend the night between the Gabina and Redona Isles. The best place is just behind the Isle of Redona, at the foot of the Hotel Colonia St. Jordi, which can be seen from any point of the cove. Caution: When heading towards the islet it is important to beware of the sand banks. Contrary to the ease of manoeuvre offered by Es Trenc, here one has to negociate some very dangerous banks of rocks. There are other anchorage areas east of Colonia de St. Jordi, between the isle of Guardis and the isle of Moltona. But one must also beware of the banks.
Porto Colom	39° 24.07 N 03°3.16 W		This is the best choice for anchoring in Mallorca. To get things straight right from the start, the only disadvantage of this superb natural harbour is that the water has a rather cloudy appearance. But in all other respects it is the ideal spot for anchorage lovers. The bottom is of black, smelly mud which sticks like concrete. Always anchor port side to the entrance, as you will reach very quickly your preferred depths of 1.2 to 1.5 metres. Boats of greater draught must take care, as the depth decreases rapidly nearer land. However, if one ever runs aground, it doesn't matter, the bottom is muddy and there are no rocks. Indeed, one can anchor anywhere in the cove, either starboard side to or opposite the entrance.
Cala Barcas			Cala Barcas is also known as the pirates cove. Here the anchor also holds firmly without any problem, you can see every grain of sand on the seabed. It also offers the possibility of exploring a small cave in your dinghy, which is in the cove itself, therefore it is even possible for the children to go and discover its secrets by themselves. There are two small beaches separated by a rocky headland. For lovers of fine sandy beaches, we recommend Cala Anguila. Even in the winter months, when many beaches are covered in seaweed, we can find a fine sandy beach here. However, it is a small cove which can only be used to anchor in the daytime and with the sea absolutely calm, as it is completely open.
Cala Figuera	39° 19 08 N 03°3 10 5 W		Behind Cape Formentor is a very pretty cove, Cala Figuera, which is suitable for spending the night if the sea is calm.
Puerto de Soller	39°47.6 N 2°41.6 E		Soller offers a few moorings and a good bottom for anchoring, apart from being the only protected harbour on the whole of the north west coast. The entrance to Puerto de Soller from the sea is a 500 metre wide channel in a SE direction into a large, round, well sheltered, sandy beach-ringed bay with the naval, fishing and public docks in the northeast sector. It is the only sheltered port of refuge on the entire north coast from Dragonara in the southwest to Cape Formentor on the northeast. It is another idyllic setting, the clear Mediterranean blue waters cupped in a wide round bay guarded by rocky pinnacles at the entrance. The valley behind the port going up to the town of Soller leads into the 2500 foot high mountain range separating the north coast from the central plain gently rolling into the Palma area on the south coast.
Cala Portals	39º 32´ N 2º 35´ E		Has a superb sandy bottom, turquoise waters, offers good shelter, and is therefore a suitable cove for spending the night.
Cala D'Or	39° 22 01 N 03°3 14 0 W		The coves of Cala d'Or are good for anchoring in the daytime, if you can find room. They are ideal places for studying the human sardines packed together on the beach... Added to this is the fact that this harbour is a sort of El Dorado for motor boats: they set off at top speed in the morning, go all around the area (to the south) of Cala Santanyí (to the north) to Calas de Mallorca, with all the side effects which we yachtsmen and women so love (whizzing past at full speed just a few centimetres away, the din of turbines all over the cove, etc.).