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Noonsite Port of the Month: Palma de Mallorca
Created by
doina.
Last modified on 2006-06-01 11:51:31
The capital of the Balearic Islands has always been at the forefront of yachting and its excellent facilities more than bear this out. With the opening of Alboran marina in 2006 the last free space has been filled along the Paseo Maritimo so that now Palma’s elegant waterfront sports seven different marinas. Pride of place continues to be taken by the prestigious Real Club Nautico de Palma, one of Spain’s foremost yacht clubs. The club’s marina has one thousand berths that are managed from the Capitania building at the western end of the main quay. The old clubhouse continues to be in the old port and the club’s yard and repair facilities are also concentrated here. Members of known yacht clubs are usually allowed to use the club’s restaurant but those who wish to reserve a place for their yacht must make arrangements well in advance as the marina is normally full to capacity. The busiest time is the summer when the club hosts the famous Copa del Rey, whereas Easter week is set aside for the Trofeo Santa Sofia. Adjacent to the club in the old harbour basin is the so-called Pier 46 (Gruesa), which is used mostly by local boats and rarely has available spaces. It is here that the annual boat show is held during the week preceding Easter. The first marina along the Paseo Maritimo west of Club Nautico is Marina Port de Mallorca. The marina has 150 berths, most occupied by larger yachts. The marina office is on the north side of Paseo Maritimo at No. 35, but there is a dockmaster’s office on the main quay. The new Marina Alboran is next and its main office is also located on Paseo Maritimo in premises that are shared with the Voyage travel agency. The same company also runs a charter operation with yachts in Barcelona, Tenerife (Canaries), Cienfuegos (Cuba) and Palma itself. Pantalan de Cuarentenas is a smaller concession with 80 berths for smaller yachts and 12 berths for larger vessels. A similar concession is Pantalan del Mediterraneo which aims at attracting larger yachts with 60 berths for yachts between 20 and 75 metres. Club de Mar, located at the western end of Paseo Maritimo, has around 500 berths, some of which can take very large yachts of up to 125 metres. Several specialized companies are based in the marina offering a wide range of repair services. Next to the marina is Astilleros Mallorca for haul-outs and underwater work. All the above marinas are located within a few minutes from the city centre with its elegant shops and wide range of bars and restaurants. Palma has a rich cultural life and its museum of contemporary art Es Baluard, located across the road from the yacht club, has an interesting collection of works by modern artists. The museum is housed in an old fortress in Palma’s medieval centre among whose famous buildings are the 13th century royal palace (Palau de l’Almudaina), the 15th century stock exchange (Sa Lotja) and the majestic 14th century cathedral. The city’s most impressive medieval building is the 14th century Castel de Bellver that stands in serene isolation on a hill overlooking the city. Palma is also a good starting point for trips into the island’s interior, much of it having been little affected by the tourist development that is so apparent along the coasts. A unique way to sample some of that unspoilt countryside is to take the narrow gauge train to the port of Soller on Mallorca’s north coast. Palma de Mallorca is said to be able to offer something to everyone. Those who wish to base their yacht here for longer need to start planning in good time as berths are not easily available, which is not surprising given Palma’s huge popularity in the international sailing community. Marinas in Palma, east to west: Pier 46 (Gruesa): Muelle Viejo, Tel. 971 724949, Fax 971 725208 Real Club Nautico: Muelle San Pedro No. 1, Tel. 971 726848, Fax 971 718572 capitania Marina Port de Mallorca: Paseo Maritimo 35, Tel. 971 289693, Fax 971 286311, recepcion Marina Alboran: Paseo Maritimo 4, 1st floor (Voyage) Tel 971 901991, Fax 971 283338 info Pantalan de la Cuarentenas: Paseo Maritimo 33 (Edificio Mediterraneo) Tel 971 454395, Mob 651 883179, Fax 971 288414 Pantalan del Mediterraneo: Office on the pontoon, Tel 971 458211 Mobile 667 494858 Fax 971 220536 info Club de Mar: Paseo Maritimo s/n, P.O.B. (Apartado) 991, Tel. 971 403611, Fax 971 718636 secretaria |
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