Sailing from Mallorca´s northeastern port of Alcudia to the island of Menorca
Itinerary to sail around the island aof Menorca from Alcudia for yachtsailors

Before we start, we recommend a website mentioning all spanish ports, unfortunately in spanish only, but the nautical informations, phone-numbers and pictures are a very good preparation for one´s sailing-trip to Mallorca or Menorca!

Nautical informations for Yachtsailors about ports in Mallorca an Menorca

Here we go with a brief recommendation for a 1 week sailingtrip from Mallorca Alcudia with a chartered yacht to the island of Menorca

Saturday

arrival after about 45 minutes convenient transfer from the airport Palma de Mallorca at the yachtcharter base in Port de Alcudia. Boarding time for the chartered yacht is late afternoon, but if possible, the boat will be handed over earlier. Checkin to the boat, asking all the yacht´s technical equipment descriptions and preparing for the sailing trip. Ask the basemanager for his personal itinerary recommendations for Mallorca´s northeast and the ports and most beautiful bays at the island of Menorca - he knows his sailing area very well!
Maybe a short afternoon sail makes you get in closer touch with the handling of the boat and feel more comfortable witzh all nautical equipments needed whilst sailing. Return to the yachtcharter base in Alcudia or stay in the bay moored on yacht´s own anchor. Another opportunity is the (very small) port of Puerto Bon Aire or the Port of Polenca in the northwestern corner of the bay of Alcudia

Sunday

Sail with your sailing boat or Catamaran from Alcudia to Cala Ratjada, which is an ideal startharbour for the trip to Menorca. It´s about 23 nm, a sailingboat with about 40-43 feet needs neds 4-5 hours.

Monday

Start early from Cala Ratjada on Mallorca with destination MAHON Menorca on the southeastern coast of Menorca island

Sailing over is about 38 nm and with a medium sized charteryacht, one needs 7-8 hours under normal conditions.
Be prepared for high waves, if Tramuntana or MISTRAL is blowing! Maybe decide to stay in a safe port, if the Mistral is very strong (listen to Port authorities - they are very informative!)
After a Mistral, currents are 1-2kn SE, after Scirocco driving you to NW

Menorca´s capital Mahon, stretches along a very long, deep fjord (long, narrow bay), there is a natural wave-phenomenon known, named LA RISSAGA. This is a locally known kind of "Mini-Tsunami", that causes the complete emptying of the bay, and return of the water with much power. We found only a spanish report about that, but only the pictures are interesting enough! See here the effects of La Rissaga , some newer pictures from 2006 happened in La Ciutatela can be seen here

There are no clear indications for a La Rissaga to be warned...so one only can be prepared, in case...

But it´s a nice town, so enjoy the evening in one of the many port bars, on the other hand, Mahon is the most safe natural harbour against the more often occuring strong winds! One drives nearly one hour to reach it´s end!
It is recommended (at least in sailing high season) to call the port authorities 2 days before arrival for a reservation in the port

Puerto de Mahón C/ Mol de Llevant 10, 07701 Menorca Telef: 971354844 Fax: 971354327 Email portsdebalears@portsdebalears.com web

Tuesday

Sail about 14 nm to Puerto de Addaya or about 22 nm to Puerto de Fornells, which has a Marina as well: the Club Nautico Fornells The sailing time will be 3-5 hours

Wednesday

From here, it´s a short sailing trip of about 20 nm, which need 4-5 hours to the main city of Menorca Ciutadela
It is not possible to use own anchor, moorings are handed, and a mooring fee must be paid, depending on boatsize.
Be carefull about swell from the coming and going ferryboats day and night!

Thursday

Return from Ciutadella to Puerto de Pollensa (Polenca) on the northeastern coast of Mallorca, 30 nm, 5-6 hours should be considered.

Some people enjoy a long ride and go to the northwestern part of Mallorca, and visit the Port of SOLLER. That is about 45-50 nm and needs 7-9 hours. Puerto de Soller is a nice natural harbour and has a village called Soller, from where an old fashioned and styled train goes to Palma de Mallorca. To reach Soller one uses the tramway, an open street-train. Enjoy one last afternoon in the Placa below old trees in spanish mallorquin atmosphere indeed!

Friday

Return to Alcudia, easy going from Pollenca, it´s only 13 nm, 2 -3 hours.
If you have sailed to Puerto de Soller, you should start very early, because it´s another 45-50 nm back to Alcudia.

To tell the truth: this is not really recommended for a one week trip and a return on Friday for 50 nm might cause problems (9-10 hours, maybe under the influence of a Mistral... ).

If one sails 2 weeks - it´s a nice trip and worth to visit... from Soller, one can visit the famous and nearly unspoiled northwestern coast of Mallorca, where famous and rich people own georgeous villas, but where the normal visitor as well can enjoy nature and breathtaking views from the high mountain-coastal road!

The whole trip as described above, makes you sail about 140 nm (with THU in Pollenca). Including THU=Puerto de Soller, it´s about 200 -250 nm, which is a very long distance just for 1 week, if one wants to see some of the island´s attractions!.