blow. To me Galdana is a magical place and a true cala star.
There are some high-rise hotels on both sides, though they
are more or less invisible until you come into the inlet.
A mouth-watering beach curves in a perfect crescent round the
head of the bay, busy with splashing holidaymakers in summer
but not obtrusive from your anchorage. There are kayaks,
pedalos and stand-up paddle boards drifting about, but I just
enjoy all this pleasure happening around me, including my own.
A refreshing sea breeze usually drifts in to keep life comfortable,
and it’s only if you feel this becoming a proper weight of wind
that you need to clear out – and sharpish.
The River Algendar fl ows into the bay at Galdana. The
Algendar Gorge is an amazing area, home to a unique ecosystem
and archaeological remains from the fi rst inhabitants of the
island. It has also generated several myths and legends owing
to its mysterious atmosphere.
Cala Santa Galdana is on Menorca’s coastal walk – the
Cami de Cavalls – which on the south coast takes you east
past yet more dazzling inlets, some virtually deserted out of
season. This richesse of calas is why I, and its afi cionados,
fi nd Menorca so enchanting. BALEARIC WEATHER
Generally the island weather is
delightful for motorboating, with
mainly light winds and long runs
of sunny days. The Mediterranean
heat generates sea and land breezes
in the usual way, which can be
welcome in anchorages. However,
when strong winds do strike they
can kick up malevolent, short, steep
seas. The legendary north-westerly
tramontaña can arrive with little
warning out of a clear blue sky and
be up to gale force very quickly,
making most north coast anchorages
dangerous. Menorca and the north
part of Mallorca are most vulnerable
to this potentially savage wind.
IBIZA
(^10) CALA LLONGA
The most westerly Balearic island is only 50 miles from mainland
Spain, where Dénia or Moraira are handy jumping-off points.
Once an escapist’s paradise, Ibiza now has a reputation
as a noisy, rather down-market night-clubbing hotspot,
but incredibly you can quickly get away from all this by boat.
Almost in a twinkling you can be nudging into exotic bays
where time dissolves in drowsy heat and the heady perfume
from Ibiza’s pine forests.
Lying six miles north-east of Ibiza town harbour,
Cala Llonga is a blissful anchorage with some patchy
development and a naturally welcoming atmosphere.
The beach at its head is gently popular and you
anchor back from the swimmers’ buoys in 5-7
metres. Behind the beach, rural country slopes
down from woods and farmland. Tourist
boats arrive from Santa Eulalia, stirring
a little wash and interest.
My fi rst arrival in Ibiza was from the
west and we came round to the east coast
to sample the delights of Ibiza town,
which is undoubtedly picturesque.
However, after a disturbed and rather
expensive night, we cruised rapidly
north-east up to Cala Llonga on the
advice of a neighbour, curiously enough
from South Devon like us. Since then,
this has always been our fi rst stop
in this hot and sunny island.
Santa Galdana in Menorca is a magical
place – a mouthwatering beach curving
round the head of the bay
Despite its reputation as a party
island, Ibiza has some tranquil
spots, such as Cala Llonga
CRUISING