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The Balearic Islands lie off the East coast of mainland Spain. The Balearic Islands : pop., 1996 est.: 760,000, W Mediterranean Sea, constituting an autonomous community and province, Spain. It occupies an area of 1,936 sq mi (5,014 sq km); its capital is Palma. The most important islands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera, and Cabrera. Long inhabited, the islands were ruled by Carthage in the 5th cent. BC, by Rome from c.120 BC, and by the Byzantine empire from AD 534. Raided by the Arabs, the area was finally conquered in the 10th cent. by the Umayyad dynasty at Córdoba. It was reconquered by the Spanish and united with the kingdom of Aragon in 1344. Fought over in the 18th cent. by the Spanish, British, and French, the islands came under Spain in 1802. Their modern economy is fueled by tourism.
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The island of Mallorca
Location:
Alboran Marina,
Paseo Maritimo,
Palma, Mallorca,
Spanish Balearic Islands
The largest of the Balearics, is only 75 kilometers from north to south and 100 kilometers from east to west, yet its typically Mediterranean landscape varies from the fertile central lowlands where fig, almond, olive and orange trees flourish, to the precipitous cliffs of the northwestern coast.
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The Weather in the Balearics
For it's privileged location in the Mediterranean, Mallorca has an incomparably pleasant climate. It's temperatures aren't even excessive in the
middle of the summer, holding throughout the year it's stable continuity. At the same time it stands out by the mildness of it's winter. The humidity is characterized by it's very slim fluctuation,
holding an average of 70% during all seasons: Keeping in mind these two components (temperature and humidity)that together produce the sensation of well being on the human body. This makes us classify
the island as a maximum comfort area. The number of sunny days per year are approximately 300, from an average of over 5 hours of sun in wintertime, rising above 10 hours in the summer months. The sea is
from the purest blue, revealing in it's chores an incomparable transparency and enjoying these views at a most pleasant temperature. The winds are predominantly from the third quadrant (south east) and
the average atmospheric pressure is around 758,7 mm
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For daily weather updates view: www.cnn.com/weather/html/MallorcaSpain.html
The winds in the Balearic islands
are mostly from a southerly direction bringing warmer air to the islands. The winds are generally 8-20 knots, and are influenced by the Tramuntana mountain range that make up part of the Island of Mallorca
The wind in the Spring and Summer months are terminal generated from the mountains and pick up at noon, building up in the afternoon to a steady 15 knots on average. The wind dies down late in the afternoon around 6
or 7 o´clock. The direction of the wind may vary depending on your location on the island.
Swell is light around the island as the waters a mile off the coast are deep. The North side of Mallorca generates a
swell a little higher than on the south side.
Tides in the Balearics are non existent and only during the spring does the water drop by nothing more than half a metre.
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Language, Currency & Top tips
The predominant language spoken in the Balearics is a Spanish dialect called Catalan, however the older generation in Mallorca speaks a local
language called Mallorquin. In addition to these two languages, English and German are spoken here.
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The official currency in the Balearics is Euros, replacing the Spanish peseta from the beginning of this year 2002.
MasterCard and Visa
credit cards are widely accepted. You can also withdraw money from cash distributors on the larger islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
A service charge is often included in the hotel &
restaurant bills, however it is customary to leave tips to the waiters/waitresses, approx. 5 - 10 % of the bill. 4. – 5 € to the chambermaids,
60-cents€ per luggage to the porter and tips at your discretion for taxi drivers, guides, etc.
The Balearic Islands are one hour ahead of Universal time.
Electricity : 220 volts AC, 50
Hz. Plugs are European with two pins. The yacht is also adapted to 220 Volts and plugs are European. All appliances therefore are European.
Non E.U citizens must remember to keep all receipts for products
they wish to export. Upon disclosure of receipts at the Customs desk at Palma airport you will receive a check for the tax paid on goods.
Spanish residents are quite conservative regarding dress. In the city of
Palma and many Ports people dress up especially in the evening. However, the Balearic Islands do have a handful of nudist beaches and many women in the Mediterranean sunbathe topless on beaches. Skimpy attire
is fine for beaches or swimming but not in residential or commercial areas. Bare chests or midriffs are not appropriate. A cheerful greeting in Spanish such as good morning:
“ Buenes Dias” or
good afternoon : “Buenes Tardes” is a great way to get acquainted with the Balearic islanders
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Marinas & Anchorages : Mallorca
Harbours
Real Club náutico de Palma de Mallorca
Palma, Contramoll, Mola 1, phone 71 27 46, Yacht harbour close to the historic center, docking piers
at Paseo Maritimo, crane, shipyard and all other facilities available.
Club náutico Cala Gamba (B3)
Pg. Cala Gamba, phone 26 18 49, located in the east bay of Palma.
Club náutico Portitxol (B3)
P. Bart Barceló i Mir 2, phone 27 38 68, nice harbour with Mediterranean ambiance.
Club náutico del Arenal (B3)
Av. Mirmamar, Phone 26 30 27, located at the end of the Playa de Palma, gasoline, ship
lift and other facilities.
Marina de Cala D'Or (D4)
Av Cala Llonga, Phone 65 70 70, good berths to rent.
Club náutico Cala Ratjada (D2)
Afores, Phone 56 40 19, good protected harbour with a
high mole, water, gasoline, slip, shipyard.
Club Náutico La Rápita (C4)
Phone 64 00 01, close to one of the nicest beaches: "Es Trenc", crane, lift etc.
Puerto deportivo Ca'n Picafort (C2)
Cervantes 5, Phone 85 00 10, the harbour is located in an urbanization.
Club náutico S'Estanyol (C4)
Via Mediterránia, Phone 64 00 36, a new built harbour. Berths available!
Club náutico Palma Nova (B3)
Phone 68 10 34, located in the west bay of Palma, crane available.
Club de vela Port D'Andratx (A3)
Av. Ingeniero . Roca 27, Phone 67 23 37. Beautiful and protected fishing- and yacht harbour with three moles. Best anchorage for your yacht is in the center of the harbour, for
short stays also at the pier, all facilities available.
Real Club náutico Puerto Pollensa (C1)
Plaza Mayor 1, Phone 53 01 63. After Palma the most important harbour of the island, well maintained docking
piers, all facilities available.
Puerto de Sóller (B2)
The "San Francisco-Bay of Mallorca" (without Alcatraz of course... :-), a nice protected bay, shipyard, slip, gasoline etc.
Puerto Punta Portals (B3)
Portals Nous, Phone 67 63 00. Most exclusive yacht harbour on the island.
Club náutico Porto Colom (D3)
Pescadores Phone 23, 82 46 58. Good protected sporting harbour at the east coast.
Club náutico Porto Cristo (D4)
Vela 29, Phone 8 12 53, protected fishing harbour in rocky river valley.
Club náutico Serranova
México, Phone 85 40 30
Club náutico Santa Ponca (A3)
Gran Cruz 46, Phone 69 03 11. Good protected anchorage.
Port Adriano (A3)
Urb. El Toro, Phone 10 24 94. New built harbour in an urbanization.
Anchorages
Cala Bona (D2)
Harbour for small boats, water, hotels.
Cala Calobra (B1)
Located at the end of the canyon "Torrent de Pareis", sandy
anchorage, small anchorage in front of the restaurants.
Cala Codolar (B1)
A small and rocky place to hide at the north west coast.
Cala Dejá (B2)
Small anchorage close to the village Dejá.
Cala Millor (D2/3)
Harbour for small boats only, north west coast. Lots of tourists...
Cala Murta (C1)
Quiet nice anchorage, no facilities.
Cala Pi 1 (C1)
North coast. Anchorage protected by the island of Formentor.
Cala Pi 2 (B4)
South coast: quiet anchorage, stepcoast
Cala Santanyi (D4)
Nice anchorage, many small boats.
Cala San Vicente (C1)
A rocky romantique bay.
Cala Tuent (B1)
Nice and protected bay, many fishing boats.
Isla Dragonera (A3)
Little island at the west coast, step shore, 3 bays for anchorage in the south east.
Port Vey (D2)
Harbour for small boats only at the north east coast.
Sa Foradada (B2)
Located in a lonesome bay at the north west coast, high natural mole. |
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