Spain cabin charter.

## Why sail Spain

Spain gives you two very different sailing worlds inside one country. The Balearic Islands sit in warm, clear Mediterranean water with short hops between anchorages and a busy but manageable summer scene. The Canaries, out in the Atlantic off Africa, are for people who want swell, trade winds, and a longer sailing day. Between them sit Catalonia's Costa Brava and the flatter Alicante coast. We keep coming back for the water colour off Menorca and the calas you can only reach by boat.

What makes Spain work as a charter ground is the density. In the Balearics you're rarely more than 20 miles from the next anchorage, so you sail in the morning, swim by lunch, and pick a harbour before the afternoon breeze fills in. It suits people who want to actually sail without committing to long passages.

## The sailing areas

**Balearic Islands** are the heart of it. Mallorca's south and east coasts are full of calas — narrow inlets with sand at the head and clear water. Menorca is quieter, greener, and has two proper natural harbours in Mahón and Ciutadella. Ibiza and Formentera are busier and better in the shoulder months; Formentera's sandbanks off Illetes are worth the crowds if you time them. Cabrera, south of Mallorca, is a protected national park with a limited mooring permit system — plan ahead.

**Catalonia** means the Costa Brava north of Barcelona: rocky coves around Cadaqués and the Medes Islands, and a coastline that rewards day-sailing. Good if you want to combine a city and the sea.

**Alicante** on the Costa Blanca is flatter and warmer, with Calpe, Altea and the offshore island of Tabarca. A gentle introduction.

**Canary Islands** are Atlantic sailing — Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Steadier wind, more swell, and a year-round season that peaks when the Mediterranean shuts down.

## Season and winds

The Balearic season runs roughly May to October. June and September are the sweet spot: warm water, reliable breeze, fewer boats than August. July and August are hot, busy, and anchorages fill by early afternoon — book berths ahead and be honest with yourself about crowds.

The prevailing summer wind in the Balearics is a sea breeze that builds through the afternoon, often 10-18 knots, dying at night. Watch for the occasional *tramontana* from the north, which can pipe up hard between Menorca and the mainland. Spring and autumn bring more variable conditions and the odd Mediterranean low.

The Canaries blow the north-east trades much of the year, commonly 15-25 knots with Atlantic swell and strong acceleration zones between islands. That makes them a genuine winter option — the season here runs when the Med is cold and grey.

## Charter types

We run both bareboat and skippered charters across all four areas. Bareboat suits qualified crews who want the boat to themselves; you'll need a recognised sailing licence and, for Spanish waters, a VHF certificate is expected. If you don't hold the right ticket, or just want local knowledge for the calas and the Cabrera permit system, take a skipper — it's the fastest way to sail well somewhere new.

Hosted and cabin options come up too, mostly in the Balearics through high summer. Monohulls dominate the fleet; catamarans are available and popular with families for the space and shallow draft. Tell us how you want to sail and we'll match the boat.

## What it costs

Charter pricing in Spain moves with boat size, age, season and area. As rough weekly ranges for a bareboat monohull: shoulder season from the low thousands of EUR, peak-August the same boats climb well beyond that. Catamarans sit meaningfully higher. A skipper typically adds around 150-200 EUR per day plus their food.

Budget separately for fuel, the end-of-charter clean, and berthing — marina fees in the Balearics are steep in summer and Ibiza especially so. Cabrera and some marine reserves charge mooring permits. For a firm quote on specific dates and boats, **Price on request** via WhatsApp; we'd rather give you a real number than a guess.

## A sample week in the Balearics

**Day 1** — Board in Palma, provision, and short-hop east to Cala Portals Vells for the first swim and night at anchor.

**Day 2** — Sail the south coast to Cala Pi or the calas near Cala d'Or, water clear enough to see the anchor set.

**Day 3** — Cross to Cabrera if your permit's booked; otherwise work the east coast anchorages. Quiet night in the park.

**Day 4** — Longer leg north-east toward Menorca; overnight in Ciutadella's narrow harbour or anchor in Cala Galdana.

**Day 5** — Menorca's south coast calas — Macarella, Trebalúger — then round to Mahón, one of the great natural harbours.

**Day 6** — Reach back toward Mallorca, timing the afternoon breeze. Anchor off the east coast for the last night out.

**Day 7** — Morning sail back to Palma, clean and hand over. Adjust freely — this is a suggestion, not a schedule.

## Getting there and practicalities

Palma de Mallorca is the main gateway, with direct flights from across Europe and a short transfer to the marinas. Ibiza and Menorca have their own airports; the Canaries fly into Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Catalonia charters start near Barcelona or the Costa Brava; Alicante has its own airport.

Bring your licence, VHF certificate, and passports for the whole crew. Spanish charter paperwork is straightforward but real — carry originals, not photos. Water is clean and swimming is a given, but coastal winds and the tramontana deserve respect; check the forecast every morning. For anything specific — dates, boats, permits, or a skipper — message us on WhatsApp.

Cabin charter is per-person: you book a double cabin and share the yacht with other guests on a fixed itinerary. Ideal solo, as a couple, or for anyone who wants the sailing without chartering a whole boat.

Departures and routes are set in advance, often themed, and a skipper (and on larger boats a host) runs the week — you just turn up and sail.