We sail from the charter base in S'Arenal on Mallorca towards the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Balearics, Formentera. We recommend this trip to sailors who want to experience a very special Balearic trip. Formentera is the perfect destination for crews who love to sail long distances but also want to relax in between.
Leg 1
From Club Nàutic Arenal – Mallorca (39° 30,3´ N 002° 44,6´ E) to Es Palmador – Formentera (38° 46,6´ N 001° 25,3´ E)
We set sails from S'Arenal in the afternoon, as the local south-easterly wind usually dies down and the Es Freus strait between Ibiza and Formentera is best sailed in daylight. Consequently, we sail the first leg of 80nm mostly at night, but not much traffic is expected on our route. We are heading for 235 degrees. The ferries that connect Ibiza and Mallorca steer a more westerly course.
When crossing Es Freus, please pay close attention to the ferries on the Ibiza-Formentera-Ibiza route, which sail under 25 knots here. Generally, there is a lot of traffic here, but as we sail through the island chain very early, it should still be quiet. After crossing Es Freus, we cruise towards Es Palmador, a beautiful small island in the north of Formentera. We recommend reserving a buoy in good time, as anchoring in the bay of Es Palamador is not permitted.
Leg 2
From Es Palmador (38° 46,6´ N 001° 25,3´ E) to Caló de s´Oli ( 38° 43' N 001° 24' E)
From Es Palmador we sail only a few nautical miles southwards today and anchor first in Ses Illetes, because Ses Illetes is certainly one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the Mediterranean. In addition, you can have an excellent paella here. At "Juan y Andrea" you often meet celebrities, and the prices are therefore higher. If you prefer something more down-to-earth, you can have paella at "El Ministre".
After a refreshing swim and a good meal, we head a few nautical miles south to the Caló de s' Oli buoy field, where we can moor safely except when the wind is blowing from the W, N and NE. Booking in advance is recommended. We take the dinghy to the Estanc de Peix (lagoon of the fish). From here we explore the port of Formentera and the main village of San Francesc on foot, do our shopping or indulge in local delicacies.
Leg 3
From Caló de s´Oli (38° 43' N 001° 24' E) to Cala Saona (38° 41' N 001° 23' E)
Today we continue our way south and first anchor in Racó des Xiquetes to spend the day snorkelling. There is also a cave that we can explore. After a beautiful day, we then sail a few more nautical miles north in Cala Saona. The sandy bottom is perfect for anchoring. Protected from winds from NE to South, we spend the night here. There are good mojitos at the small beach bar!
Leg 4
From Cala Saona (38° 41' N 001° 23' E) to Ensenada Migjorn (38° 40,5' N 001° 27,6' E)
We continue around Formentera and pass the Cabo Barbaria lighthouse. Our destination is the Ensenada de Migjorn. Be careful when anchoring! We recommend dropping the anchor on the sandy bottom in front of the restaurant "El Sol", because sandy bottoms can only be found here and further east in el Arenal. We are in the "wilder" part of the island, where there are not so many boats. Apart from good restaurants, there are very alternative beach bars like the "B62", which is known for its Pomada (gin with lime juice). This bar still has the original 60s touch of Pink Floyd and co.
Leg 5
From Cala Migjorn (38° 41' N 001° 23' E) to Es Caló (38° 41' N 001° 31' E)
Today we sail about 15nm to the southeast and round the cliffs of La Mola towards Es Caló. We make a stopover at Cala Codolar, very close to the lighthouse of La Mola; a true paradise. There we can once again enjoy the breath-taking beauty of Formentera and refresh ourselves in the crystal-clear water. After this stop for a swim, we hoist the sails again towards the north and sail to Es Caló. Here we find good sandy ground to anchor and lie safely with winds from the southeast and south to west. We take the dinghy to the loneliest beach on Formentera, which can only be reached from the water. Racó de Sa Pujada is truly unique.
In the evening we can go to the small fishing harbour (only accessible by dinghy) and taste a delicious fish at "Can Rafalet".
Leg 6
From Es Caló - Formentera (38° 41' N 001° 31' E) to S´Arenal – Mallorca (39° 30,3´ N 002° 44,6´ E)
Today we set off at sunrise in the direction of Mallorca. We have a direct route of 80 nautical miles ahead of us and so the way becomes the destination. On the port side we see the small Isla Espardell as a farewell. This is the home of the 100,000-year-old Posidonia algae, which can be up to 10 km long.
