Cruising Menorca
Menorca sailing routes & locations.
Menorca is a small island with two very different coasts. The north is wild, indented and reef-strewn — the south is gentler, with a string of pale-cliffed calanques. From our base in Fornells we can reach almost every anchorage on the island within a day's sail.
Interactive map
Tap a marker for coordinates, a Google Maps link, and a jump to that spot's details. Use two fingers to pan on mobile.
Nautical chart
OpenSeaMap chart
Seamarks, buoys, lights and depths overlaid on OpenStreetMap. Community-sourced data — useful for context, not for navigation.
Not for navigation. Use official charts for passage planning.
North coast, south coast.
In summer the dominant wind is a moderate sea breeze that builds through the afternoon and dies at sunset. Tramontana — the strong northerly that funnels down from the Gulf of Lion — is rarer in season but always to be respected. We plan passages so the wind is behind us where we can, and choose anchorages that suit the day's forecast.
Home port · North coast
Fornells
Our home bay — a long, deep inlet protected by hills on three sides and opening north into open Mediterranean water. Steady sea breezes through the afternoon, flat water for first lessons, and a short reach to open sea for passage work.
Visitor moorings, fuel, and a row of waterfront restaurants ashore.
“Big sheltered bay, easy to enter, good holding in sand. Plenty of restaurants ashore and a short dinghy to the village.”
North coast
Addaia
A narrow, buoyed channel opens into a calm inner lagoon a few miles east of Fornells — a textbook pilotage exercise and a beautiful overnight stop in settled weather. Clear water over sand, low scrubby hills, almost no swell once you're inside.
Excellent shelter from the prevailing summer winds; care needed in fresh northerlies.
“Narrow buoyed entrance — go slow and follow the marks. Once inside it's flat calm even when it's blowing outside.”
North coast · S'Albufera
Es Grau
A shallow sandy bay on the edge of the S'Albufera natural park, with a sleepy whitewashed village ashore and protected wetlands behind. A favourite lunchtime stop on the way down to Mahón — bring the dinghy and walk the coastal paths.
Day anchorage only; shallow and exposed to the north.
“Lovely lunch stop on the edge of the natural park. Shallow and sandy — drop the hook well off the beach and dinghy in.”
East coast
Mahón harbour
One of the great natural harbours of the world — a five-kilometre fjord-like inlet running deep into the island. The approach past the lighthouse and old fortifications is unforgettable, and there's no better place to bring a yacht in for the first time under engine and sail.
Pilotage practice, ferry traffic, plenty of room to manoeuvre.
“Spectacular approach past the forts. Loads of room to manoeuvre and easy radio contact with the marina.”
Mahón · Visitor berths
Club Marítimo de Mahón
The historic yacht club tucked under the old town on the south side of the harbour. Visitor berths, fuel, water, and a short walk up the steps into Mahón's restaurants and chandlers — our usual overnight when teaching Yachtmaster coastal passages.
Book ahead in high season; berthing practice in tide and wind.
“Friendly welcome, water and power on the pontoon, and a two-minute walk up the steps into the old town.”
South coast
Cala Galdana
A near-perfect horseshoe calanque on the south coast, framed by pale limestone cliffs and pine. Holding is good in sand, the water is luminous turquoise, and the cliffs cut the swell — one of the finest overnight anchorages on the island in settled summer weather.
Sheltered from north winds; exposed to the south.
“Picture-postcard calanque. Good holding in sand under the cliffs in any northerly — gets busy by lunchtime, so arrive early.”
North coast · Natural park
Cala Pregonda
The iconic red-sand cove with offshore islets that you'll have seen on every postcard of north Menorca. A short day-sail from Fornells, no road access, and on a quiet day you'll have it almost to yourself. Reach it under sail and the place earns its reputation.
Day anchorage in settled weather only; rolly in any north in the forecast.
“Stunning red-sand cove, day stop only. Pick your weather — rolls in any north — and you'll have one of the best anchorages in the Med.”
Sail these waters
Come and sail Menorca with us.
Every RYA course we run uses these anchorages and ports as its classroom — from first day sails out of Fornells to Yachtmaster passages down to Mahón and around the south coast.