Cruising info for Mahon, Balearic Islands:-
Anchorage - Cala Taulera, Mahon 39 52.695N 04 18.487E 4.8m mud. The guide book suggests this anchorage could hold up to 30 boats we thought maybe 15 would be tight. All round cover, could get a little swell in strong southerlies
Communications - Phones: Both GYMSIM and Vodafone Malta on Roaming switched over to Spanish Movistar without any problem. Internet Dongle: We found a phone shop a couple of doors before the Tourist Information Centre on the waterfront close by the Ferry/Cruise Ship terminal. The one staff member was helpful, spoke perfect English (as did everyone in Menorca) but was extremely busy. She took all our details (need photo ID) and asked us to come back in 30 minutes, we did then waited over 30 more, then couldn't use until she phoned us much later in the day confirming it had been processed. We purchased a Vodafone sim and 1GB credit that stays live for 3 months (works Balearics, Spain and Canaries), total cost was 85E think sim was 25E and 1GB 60E. (Update from 05 May 2011, if Sim not kept active either with credit on it or topped up it expires after 6 months, I know cos I've just bought a new one!!!, currently 15€ for sim, still 60€ for 1GB but €12 discount) I couldn't get it to work in my NZ Vodafone Dongle but it works in my Italian Wind Dongle. Baracca reports the Vodafone data sim does not work in Italian TIM dongles. Signal in Cala Taulera was very poor but has been excellent elsewhere.
Ashore - We took our dinghy nearby to the AGIP fueldock which is just left of the new marina. Diesel was 1.16E p/l. There is a small supermarket right there also. Follow waterfront road around to car hire on left, then phone shop, tourist office on right (15min walk) then there are stairs opposite up to old town. Binipreu supermarket is underground in central market place by the church. Plenty ATM's. English newspapers.
Sightseeing - Hired car from Autos Mahon Rent phone +34 971 36 56 66 Renault Megane 40E day, there was a smaller cheaper one but not available. Used 10E petrol or the day.
Formalities - none
Cruising info for Fornells on Menorca and Pollenca, Marina de Bonaire and Porto Petro on Mallorca:-
Anchorages -
Fornells, Pollenca and Porto Petro - Mooring buoys are available for all three of these anchorages. We anchored at Fornells as we had 20knot bullets and could not pick up a buoy. To book these free buoys visit www.balearslifeposidonia.eu you need to register online, they must be booked before 6.30pm the day before and are normally a maximum of 2 nights. They seemed in good order, generally have an extra line with loop to put your line through and these should have a float on so you can pull it up with boat hook. In Fornells they didn't have floats and as it was our first stop we couldn't work out how to connect it!!!
Marina de Bonaire - 39 52.013N 03 08.614E 2.5m, side tied. phone +34 971 54 69 55 Visitors dock just inside the breakwater, will place you further in if they can. They are not happy to put boats on visitors dock in a strong north east wind because of the surge, we had a little surge (wore through our fender covers) but it was fine. 39E per night incl wifi, power and water. Shower/toilet blocks, Laundry 3E, bookswap, very helpful small marina.
Communications - Phones: GYMSIM and Vodafone Malta on roaming both working. Internet: WIFI at Marina (get code from office) and picked up unlocked signal in Porto Petro. Dongle worked well for rest.
Ashore -
Fornells - Tied dinghy to a floating pontoon. A few bars, cafes and restaurants for all budgets. A small supermarket (English papers) inland back from Port office and excellent bakery on street out supermarkets back door. Didn't see ATM but must be one as small touristy town
Pollenca - Long way from mooring buoys to town area, we didn't go ashore here
Marina de Bonaire - Fuel dock and 30 ton travelift. Paella great at restaurant by gate. Turn right at gate for short walk to minimarket and a couple of bars then follow road inland from there to Alcudia, about 25 minute flat walk. Well worth it. ATM's in Alcudia
Porto Petro - Either take dinghy to little dock/beach on right by beachfront cafe or into fishing boat harbour and tie to wall. Small supermarket one block back (English papers), several eateries, no ATM
Formalities - none. Marina checked our Boat papers but nothing else.
Cruising notes for Isla Gabina/Playa del Trench and Palma Nova, Mallorca:-
Anchorages -
Isla Gabina - 39 20.183N 02 59.118E 4.9m clear sea, sandy bottom. We anchored further south first to get more shelter form the swell and thought we were on sand, but when the sun came out we could see we were on a flat stone bottom with small crevices. We moved further north to the sandy bottom, it was a little rollier but great holding
Palmanova - 39 30.931N 02 32.478E 4.0m hard sand/weed. Not great holding, several boats dragged in 20knots (some superyachts). Morning breeze came in from the east (for 4 days) until around 11am then dropped off, nothing forecast from east. Good shelter from NW to SSE, and can move to other end of bay for more N protection, or to little islands (2 miles away) for some E cover.
Communications - Phone signal excellent, no unlocked WIFI but dongle worked well
Ashore - Isla Gabina: just a shacky beach bar at which closed at sunset. Palmanova: we left the dinghy on the small concrete jetty on the eastern (seaward) side as shallow as possible, not many cleats, a small ferry uses this dock so stay well in. When full we left it on the tiny adjacent beach. There are hundreds of eateries, dozens of little minimarkets selling (holiday) basics, the Eroski Supermarket is right at the northern end of the bay (take dinghy to tiny harbour and it's right there or walk along seafront), its on the road that goes inland and about the 2nd building on the right. Good selection fruit, veg, meat at very reasonable prices. Plenty ATMs, English newspapers, didn't see fuel anywhere, bus stops on road inland parallel to beach.
Formalities - The large blue Spanish Customs (Aduana) Boat came into the bay most evenings. We were boarded by 3 officers who asked to see our passports, ships papers and boat insurance. They gave us a copy of their paperwork (which we showed to them the next night when they came again!!), they were polite and took just a few minutes.
Sightseeing - Buses 104, 105 and 106 run into Palma about every 20 minutes. 2.75E p/p o/w buy tickets on bus. We stayed on till the station then went up to street level, turned right and a couple of buildings along is the Ferrocarril de Soller where you catch the tourist train. 10.00E p/p o/w. Times Mar-Oct 0800, 1010, 1050, 1215, 1330, 1510. http://www.trendesoller.com/ Tourist office in Soller is by train station in Soller they can give you bus times for return, 210 is scenic and 211 express 2.45E p/p o/w (cheap). Tram down to Soller port is 4.00E o/w p/p. Palma Cathedral is 4.00E p/p. When you catch the bus back to Palmanova the stop at the Cathedral gets very busy, we were leaving people behind in October!
