Anchorages

The best way to explore Menorca is by boat. The coastline is inundated by deep coves, water cut through the limestone, creating silver sand beaches fringed by pine trees and sparkling clear water. There is so much to see, so much of interest, you will fall in love, as I did many years ago, with this special island.

Menorca has more than forty delightful sheltered coves in its eighty mile circumference plus the spectacular Mahón harbour (3rd largest in the world, 3.5 miles long). This combination allows a sheltered anchorage for both lunchtime and evening stops all the way round the island, plus sheltered sailing all year. The fascinating island history from bronze age settlements (coves and villages) to the 18th - 19th century occupations by the British provide a rich historical backdrop to the cruising. Add the nearby Balearic Isles of Mallorca (25 n.miles) and Ibiza, great weather and good winds and you have the perfect cruising area for beginner and experienced alike.

Winds

Menorca 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
Isla del Aire			anchorage can be found on the island, but beware of fouling as there a a number of rocky grooves to drop your anchor into and get it stuck.
La Vall			A series of three bays, and a lovely anchorage. access from the mainland is down a series of tracks, and therefore the beaches stay relatively quiet. There is a nature reserve behind the beach, but other than a small camping area, no other facilities. Like any of the northerly bays, it is seriously exposed to the weather and seas.
Isla de Colom			You can anchor anywhere between the mainland and island in sand. Shelter is best obtained from the NE if you stay closer to the island. The mainland coast has a series of rocky inlets, but these are more exposed.