Long revered by locals, the Balearic Islands are now starting to develop as a mainstream yacht charter destination. Bespoke Yacht Charter looks at the best way to plan a charter across the Spanish islands and what to look out for whilst in the Balearics.
Located east from mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands are accessible via flights to Palma de Mallorca Airport on Mallorca, Menorca Airport just southwest of Mahón on Menorca or Ibiza Airport on Ibiza. Due to the proximity of the Balearics to mainland Spain, many yacht charter guests also opt to begin their yacht charter in Barcelona, Valencia or Denia.
The Balearic Islands themselves include Mallorca (Majorca), Menorca (Minorca), Cabrera, Ibiza, Formentera and S’Espalmador, with the three most popular islands being Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca. The high season stretches from May to September with July and August being the busiest moments thanks to average temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees.
Spring is a lovely time to visit the Balearics when the fiestas are starting and the weather is warm. Autumn still hovers around 18 to 25 degrees Celsius and you’ll find off-peak seasons still have mild and pleasant weather, making the Balearics an appealing yacht charter destination in any season.
Alexander Coles, Charter Broker, Bespoke Yacht Charter
The Balearic Islands have been ruled by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, and Spaniards, all of whom have left their mark with impressive architecture, diverse cuisine and lasting traditions contributing to the unhurried culture. There are bustling coastal resorts as well as sleepy bohemian villages; you can find pumping nightclubs as well as quiet tapas bars. The clear turquoise waters are ideal for trying out your charter yacht’s water toys – spend a morning paddle boarding, go diving, or snorkel at a treasure chest of beautiful beaches and coves.
The diversity on offer is excellent for all yacht charter guests – whether you prefer to lounge onboard your private yacht during the day and party at night, go shopping, head inland for outdoor activities such as hiking or indulge in a yoga retreat or spa day ashore.
Menorca, located northeast of Mallorca is a quieter alternative to Mallorca or Ibiza. It is a fantastic island to begin your Balearics yacht charter, after which you can visit Mallorca then Ibiza. Mahón, also known as Maó, is the capital of Menorca and a port town with a leisurely pace – the ideal yacht charter base. We recommend Café Mirador with a terrace overlooking Mahón Port to enjoy a pomada (local gin and lemonade) or platter of sobrasada sausage before embarking on your private yacht charter.
First stop for many yacht charters is Palma de Mallorca, known as Palma. Palma de Mallorca is the island version of Barcelona with funky wine bars, stunning architecture and great shopping. It is the perfect jumping off point for any yacht charter to explore the rest of Mallorca. Other towns to visit include Port d’Andratx, Sóller, Alcúdia, Deià or Valldemossa.
Mallorca has over 300 beaches with diverse surroundings such as pine groves, coastal rocks or dunes. Renting a yacht to explore Mallorca is an excellent option to find the best deserted coves and beaches away from the crowds.
Known as the ‘White Isle’, Ibiza is famous for its hedonistic nightlife however it is a fantastic yacht charter destination for relaxation too. Away from the busier southeast coastline, you can find quieter sandy beaches and white washed villages with idyllic settings.
The west coast of Ibiza is sheltered from the prevailing winds from the east and from San Antonio to Es Vedra you’ll have a hard time picking a beach or cove more perfect than the next. Enjoy a romantic meal ashore at Ses Roques restaurant admiring the beautiful view over Cala Conta, anchor in picturesque Cala Porroig with fisherman’s huts fringing the tranquil cove or spend a leisurely afternoon on land at El Chiringuito at Playa Es Cavallet, a chic beachside restaurant with an excellent wine list, mouth-watering cocktails and superb food.
Ibiza’s sister island is just half an hour south by boat and the perks of having your own private yacht charter means you don’t have to abide by the ferry timetables back to Ibiza. With no airport servicing Formentera, there’s generally less crowds and the island exudes a chilled-out vibe with plenty of opportunities to relax on your luxury yacht charter and decompress from daily life once the day trippers leave Es Pujols and return to Ibiza.
Known for its amazing azure waters, there’s no shortage of breath-taking beaches on Formentera including Playa Migjorn in the south and Cala Saona on the west coast of the island. Playa de Ses Illetes will make you think you’re in the Caribbean with fine white sand and transparent turquoise water. Popular with visiting charter yachts and A-listers it is a fantastic place to relax for a few hours, though best visited outside of peak summer when the crowds are busiest.
Regardless of your itinerary when arriving to the Balearics, booking early is key in Spain as few yachts are in the region during peak months, leading to last minute requests, often finding no suitable yachts in the region.
Author: Rebecca Whitlocke
Hylas Yachts had a gratifying year in 2020, despite many challenges, as several new models touched the water for the first time and have been delivered to their owners. The shipyard decided that it's time to show the new yachts to the wider Hylas community.Hylas H57The company is going to host an exclusive yacht show on Friday, January the 22nd, and Saturday, January the 23rd at the brand new Hylas Yachts and David Walters Yachts sales and service center located just south of Fort Lauderdale at Harbour Towne Marina in Dania Beach, Florida.The event's program includes private walk-throughs of every new Hylas model and meeting with the family behind Hylas Yachts. Then, Friday evening, the Grand Opening of the new Hylas Sales and Service center will be celebrated."The highlight of this year’s event will be the unveiling of the brand new Hylas H57," said Hylas director Peggy Huang.This exciting new model, designed by Bill Dixon, has just arrived from the yard, making this event the first time the yacht will be on display to the public. Hylas H60Also on the dock will be the 2019 winner of Boat of the Year and Best Boat awards – the Hylas H48 – and the Hylas H60, which was the 2021 Boat of the Year for Best Luxury Cruiser. This is the first time that the entire fleet of new Hylas Sailing Yachts will be on display together.For those who are unable to travel to the event, Hylas Yachts plans to arrange a virtual walk-through and live tour of each of the Hylas models.Credits: Hylas Yachts
January 18, 2021
Besenzoni, the Sarnico-based company, known in the yachting sector as a supplier of accessories for recreational boats for over 50 years, have decided to introduce to the wider public its range of products designed for the commercial and military sector, which for many years has been a key part of their business. To date, among the products that the company manufactures for the commercial and military sector are helm seats, gangways, boarding ladders, cranes, batten cars, hydraulic handling systems, hatch openings, watertight doors and more.The new range will include products in the ‘pleasure’ boat range, reimagined and adapted for workboats, where it’s just as important to choose high-quality materials.Credits: Besenzoni
January 18, 2021
Camper & Nicholsons have announced the sale of the 43m Mangusta Oceano in-build project Project Como.Como is planned for early delivery in the summer of 2021. Hull number 06 in the series comes complete with in-house exterior lines, styling and all Italian décor. The interior has some upgrades and personalisation such as stainless steel details, ebony joinery, high gloss lacquers and fine leather throughout. Both the exterior and interior were designed by Alberto Mancini Yacht Design. With her full displacement steel hull and aluminium superstructure construction, this is a long-range ocean-going tri-deck yacht offering accommodation for up to twelve guests in five well-appointed cabins. There is a shaded guest lounging area with plunge pool at the foredeck, and, down aft, she boasts a spacious beach club with a bar and gym area along with a large swimming platform. She can reach speeds up to 15 knots and has a range in excess of 4,500 nautical miles at 11 knots. Her tender and toys are stored in a dedicated garage under the foredeck. Overmarine Group was founded in 1985 by the Balducci family. The shipyard builds open and displacement power superyachts under the Mangusta and Mangusta Oceanco brand names.Credits: Overmarine Group
January 16, 2021
Cantiere delle Marche announced that explorer RJ 130 has been successfully launched.The exterior and interior of RJ range were designed by Francesco Paszkowski and naval architecture by Hydro Tec. The 40m explorer can accommodate 12 guests and seven crew members.“The RJ range of yachts is definitely a game changer for CdM. With three sales and five interior designs commissioned to Francesco Paszkowski, cooperation with multi-award-winning designers has already proven to be the right choice!” says Vasco Buonpensiere, co-founder and sales & marketing director at CdM.RJ features twin heavy duty MTU 10V2000M72 engines delivering 900kW each at 2250rpm, allowing a top speed of 14.5 knots. At an economic speed of 9 knots, she will have a range of around 5500nm with about 10% fuel left upon arrival.RJ 130 was sold to a European owner. “It was a great pleasure to work with an owner who was keen to bring his experience to CdM,” says Vasco. “Choosing CdM, he offered a serious statement of trust in our yard’s reliability and construction quality. I’d like to add that it’s inspiring and a reason for pride to see that a growing number of experienced and motivated owners prefer CdM to build their yachts,” Buonpensiere maintains. “Our clients have fantastic ideas for cruising, diving, luxury toys and serious boating. They are planning adventures, getting involved in underwater exploration, marine life observation, etc. As a shipbuilder, it’s exciting to be a part of making their ideas a reality, with this range merging the world of white yachts with that of real explorer vessels even more.”CdM’s story begins in 2010. Since 2015, the shipyard is the world’s leading builder of explorer yachts. Cantiere delle Marche builds long-range, luxury yachts and superyachts from 26m to 40m in length.Credits: Cantiere delle Marche
January 15, 2021
After the successful launch at the Miami Yacht Show last February, the MCY 70 Skylounge has arrived in Hong Kong for its first-ever Asian live premiere.The online live event staged by Asia Yachting, MCY’s official dealer for Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, aired on January 14th across a number of well-appointed media channels, arousing considerable interest and attention among the brand’s friends and followers around the world.Credits: MCY
January 15, 2021