Address & Map
Base Manager
Dani Guitart
charter@navierabalear.com

Address
Office Location (for post only):
Avenida Ingeniero Gabriel Roca 4
07014 Palma de Mallorca

Marina Location
MARINA NAVIERA BALEAR
Paseo Maritimo n°4
07014 Palma de Mallorca
Find out more about the Marina here: http://www.navierabalear.com/

Base Open Hours
Base office hours are from 9am to 7pm. In the event of an Evening Start at 6pm, staff will be on site to greet guests. Marina Naviera Balear.

Base/Shore Facilities
Sunsail’s base in Palma is located just 20 mins from the airport. The base is just a short walk from the city centre, with quick access to the supermarket, restuarants, banks, post office, laundry, shopping and much more. Palma is a great place to spend time before or after your charter with many regattas and events taking place throughout the year.

On site marina facilities include: showers, toilets, fuel, and water. Ice will be provided by the base.

Arrival & Departure
Charters are available to start from Saturday only.
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
Mallorca’s airport is situated five miles (8km) east of Palma. There is a motorway that circles almost the entire island.
Transfer Time: It’s about a 20-minute drive from the airport to the Sunsail base, depending on traffic. The airport has four terminals of which terminal A is used for domestic flights and terminal B, C, D is used for international flights.

Airport buses are available and run throughout the day at 30-minute intervals to Palma

Address
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
Son Sant Joan Airport
E-07611, Palma de Mallorca,
Mallorca, Spain

Train
There are no trains operating to La Palma airport.

Passports, Visas & International Travel Regulations
Clients must have a valid passport to enter Spain. Citizens of the EC, USA and Canada do not require visas for stays of less than 3 months duration. We recommend that clients contact their local consulate for advice on visa and passport requirements.

People visiting Spain from the EU do not need visas to enter the country and can stay as long as they like simply by showing their passport, or ID card if their country has a system implemented. Citizens from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also don’t need visas if they are staying for less than three months but should ensure their passports are valid for at least six months past their intended stay. Visitors from other countries should check with Spanish embassies or consulates in their country for visa information.

Taxes & Departure Tax
None

Local Transfers – Taxis
Taxis are available outside the Arrivals hall. The taxi drive from the airport to the base will cost you about 25 € (with an extra during the night and on sundays)

The cheapest route into the city is on the shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes from 6.10am to 2.15am, and costs around 2 euro per person. Its route takes it from the airport on to the Plaza Espana in the centre of the city, then on to the ferry terminal and port area.

Car Rental
In the Arrivals Hall there are counters for car rental companies: Avis, Betacar, Cicar, Atesa, Autos Ancar and Hertz. Or you can hire a car at the Port.

Public Transport
The No1 bus takes you from the airport direct to the marina Alboran (bus stop Costa Azul). The bus takes 30 minutes and costs 6€ per person.

Minibus of Coach for Groups
Sunsail can reserve a minibus or coach for groups one way: 5-7 people 50€ or 8-12 people 70€.

Driving Directions
It is approx 15 minutes by taxi from the airport to the base Driving directions to Naviera Balear S.L. 3D2D 971 283 435:

Palma de Mallorca Airport
AEROPUERTO DE PALMA, S/N
07071 PALMA (MALLORCA), España 902 404 704

1. Head southwest 650 m
2. Turn left 23 m
3. Slight right 300 m
4. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the Autovia de Llevant ramp to Palma 1.1 km
5. Merge onto Autovia de Llevant 4.2 km
6. Continue onto Avinguda de Gabriel Roca/Ma-19 Destination will be on the right 4.1 km
Naviera Balear S.L.
Avenida de Gabriel Roca, 4
07014 Palma, Spain

Parking (at the base)
A secured car park is located at Joan Miro Av, 65 971 18 09 59. Cost – 24h: 14€- One week: 74€

Arrival / Departure / Late Arrival Procedures
SATURDAY – Charter Start & End Day
START: 4pm
END: 8am
EARLY BOARDING AVAILABLE: 3pm
Charters must return to the base the day before the end of charter at 5pm

EMBARKATION TIME : 16:00

• 16:00 is the contractual time when you can board your boat.
• Sailing instructions will be handled beforehand at the welcome desk in the marina.

ON ARRIVAL
• Arrive by 4pm, boat briefing.

LATE ARRIVAL
• The base staff will wait for clients until 8pm.
• After 8pm, you will find a sign at the marina entrance with a message advising your yacht’s berth. Your boat will be open and indicated by a sign with your name.
• The boat’s equipment will be ready for the night. The base personnel will be at your disposal the next day from 9am and will then hand over the boat to you.

Sailing Information
Sailing Experience Level
Sailing Experience – Level 3
Palma is a Level 3 sailing area
Wind: 10-25 Knots
Navigation: understand tidal variations, ability to cope with strong currents and be able to make a passage plan.
Moorings: Primarily anchoring, some slightly more exposed anchorages with poor anchor holding ground

Sailing Licenses
An ICC Certificate or equivalent RYA Day Skipper certificate is required to sail in the Balearics.
If you have not already done so then both the Skipper and 1st Mate will be required to fill in a Sailing resume to confirm that you have the necessary skills to sail in this region.

Night-time Sailing
Night Sailing is not permitted; you must be moored at least one hour before sunset at all of our locations.

Sailing Area Limits
The cruising area encompasses the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera in the Mediterranean off the eastern coast of Spain.

Restricted Zones
This information is covered in the chart briefing.

Marinas
No reservation is possible in marinas in the Balearics. A passing-through berth is generally available for the night. In August, especially in Ibiza some Marinas are already full by early afternoon.
Announce yourself on VHF channel 9.
The prices for one night are between:

• 70 – 100 Euros for a 41’ Monohull
• 90 – 130 Euros for a 44’ Catamaran

Guests slips are often free at local Yacht Clubs

Moorings Fees & Taxes
There are very few mooring balls. Generally you will be anchoring or mooring “Med Style”, which consists of dropping anchor and backing onto a village quay. There are some marinas, where you’ll be able to pay a fee based on boat length for a berth for the night. Your onboard cruising guide will give you complete details of each anchorage.

Charts & Pilot Book
All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. Charts and pilot books can be purchased from the Sunsail booking location.

Fuel
We would highly recommend that you prepay for fuel. Fuel is available at the base, however, keep in mind that the nearest fuelling station from the base is quite a distance away – i.e. the boat will not be full when handed back to us!

Coolers
Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge, only one per boat. Please sign for these and return them clean and undamaged otherwise they will be charged for replacement.

Skippered Charter Information
For an additional fee, Skippers are available for hire on a Sunsail Yacht Charter in Palma. The skipper will be required to give you as much information as you require concerning the yacht and its systems, sailing skills and navigation in general.

The skipper fee does not include food or beverages for the skipper and are the responsibility of the client. Skipper provisioning should be added to your contract at the time you request a Skipper. The fleet available in Palma only has one head, and the skipper must be permitted to use these facilities while on charter. Skippers must be provided accommodation in the Saloon, or cabin – if the cabin is available.

The skipper’s time is booked from 9:00am to 9:00pm in 24-hour periods. If you have reserved him for the first day of your charter and have a 6:00pm start, he will use this time to ensure he is happy with all aspects of the yacht and will be at the base to meet you upon your arrival. If you have reserved him for a later date on your charter he will start at 9:00am on that day.

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht at all times. He is not permitted to dive with you, nor leave the vessel overnight. He must conduct a safety brief with you before leaving the dock regardless of the duration of his contract with you.

For “check out charters” (anything less than the full duration of the charter) the check out skipper’s time is booked from 6:00pm to 6:00pm to allow for a meet and greet in the evening and go over basic systems, then a full day with you the next day. This skipper is required to give you a thorough briefing on all aspects of the yacht and dinghy in addition to assisting you with planning an itinerary for the trip and advising you how to contact the base, the return to base procedures and the emergency assistance procedures. It is suggested that you attend the scheduled chart brief that will be supplemented by the skipper during his time with you on the yacht. It is also suggested that you make it clear exactly what you want to cover…anchoring, docking, etc.

For one-day check out skipper’s it is the client’s responsibility to get the skipper back to the base. If you prefer not to come back to the base you must pay expenses (ferry, taxi, etc.) to get the skipper back to the base. The average tip for a skipper is 15-20% of the skipper’s fee. This is, of course, at the client’s discretion.

Electricity
Mains power is 220V 50 Hz. Two pin round plugs as in the rest of continental Europe are standard on board all yachts in the Balearics. Customers are advised to obtain an adaptor before leaving as they are very hard to find.

Banks & Money Exchange

Banks
Bank charges in Spain are quite high and free banking is very rare. It’s quite common to be charged for everything, including withdrawing money from ATMs. When using ATMs you are advised to check what the charges are as they vary between systems.

Currency & Money Exchange
The unit of currency in Spain is the Euro. Currency exchange is available at the airports, banks and exchange shops in most coastal resorts, but commission rates can be high especially in the airport and exchange shops where the commission varies according to the amount exchanged.

We recommend, as it is often cheaper, to exchange money at the departure airport, i.e. Gatwick. Spanish airport banks close on Bank holidays. Money can be changed at hotels but commission is again often high or rates poor.

Credit card facilities are widely available and Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants.

Banks are open Mon-Fri, 9.00-14.00 and Sat 9.00 – 13.00. In summer they may close slightly earlier. Most banks have English speaking staff and all can cope with International transactions. Commissions may be charged on foreign transactions and passports will be required for most.

Credit Card Information
Most major credit cards are accepted all over Spain although some establishments may put a limit on the amounts you can withdraw or spend and sometimes there may be a surcharge. Most places now have ATM’s for withdrawing cash, at which most cards will work. Most machines have the instructions in several languages and even the smallest of towns are now getting the machines. They can be a godsend at evenings and weekends and on holidays when banks can often close for several days at a time. Make sure you keep a separate record of your credit card numbers.

General Information

Geography
Palma is the major city and seaport geographically located in the southwest of Majorca. The city lies on the large coastal Bay of Palma in the western Mediterranean Sea. The land area of the city is about 21,355 km² with an altitude of 13 metres.

Palma is bordered by rocky inlets and marinas on the south side, whilst many of the tourist resorts are positioned towards the east side of the city. The central zone that extends from Palma is generally a flat fertile plain known as Es Pla. There are two uninhabited islands, Cabera , which is located southeast of Palma and Dragonera which is west of Palma.

Language
The official language of Palma is Spanish. Although Spanish is the language of the land, English, French and German are generally understood at most attractions, museums, hotels and restaurants that cater for visitors. Castilian Spanish is the official language but in the regions, Basque, Catalan and Galician are spoken. In smaller towns and villages a phrase book is a useful item to carry.

Business Hours
Business hours tend to vary considerably but hours of 0900-1330 and 1700-1800 are fairly typical. Banking hours: Mon-Fri, generally 0830-1330

Generally shops and businesses in Mallorca and open from around 08:30 until 13:00 and then close for a traditional afternoon siesta, reopening at around 16:00 until 19:00, although some shops do stay open later in the summer.

Tipping Policy
Tipping is standard and Hotel and restaurant bills usually include a 7% tax and additional tip of about 10-15% is preferred. Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs: 10-15% of the bill is generally acceptable if it has not already been added to your bill. Taxi drivers: 10-15% of the fare and usually charge baggage by the piece. Tour guides: 5-10% tip.

Currency
Local currency is the Euro (EUR €).

Time
Standard time zone UTC/GMT +1 hours
Daylight Saving Time: DST in use +1 hour
“Daylight” saving’s time (summer time) moves the clock 1 hour ahead of standard time.
DST starts on Sunday 25 March 2012, 02:00 Palma standard time
DST ends on Sunday 28 October 2012, 03:00 Palma daylight time

Festivals & Holidays
Mallorca is a lively island, with many of its principal resorts hosting all kinds of summer events. The island’s biggest cultural festivals and religious processions tend to take place around Palma.
Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restaurants, and museums are closed on the following legal national holidays:

Movable Public Holidays

Public Holidays
There are approximately fourteen accepted public holidays in Spain, which can be acknowledged on either a local or national basis. Listed below are those dates observed in Mallorca.

Mallorca National Public Holidays
1st January – Año Nuevo / New Year’s Day
5th January – Epifanía / Epiphany
19th March – Dia de San José / St. Joseph’s Day
Late March or early April – Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday
Late March or early April – Viernes Santo / Good Friday
1st May – Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day
15th August – La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption
12th October – Nacional de España / National Day
1st November – Todos los Santos / All Saints’ Day
6th December – Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day
8th December – La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
25th December – Navidad / Christmas Day

Post Office
Regular mail (carta ordinaria) sent within Spain and Andorra takes approximately three working days for delivery. Mail sent to European destinations takes two to four working days.
Stamps (sellos) may be purchased at post offices and tobacconists (estancos) as well as some stationary shops. Stamped mail can be posted at a post office or a public post box (which are yellow).
For more information visit www.correos.es

Internet Connectivity
Public access to the Internet is easy to find, with terminals appearing in cyber cafés, shopping centres, hotels and hostels throughout the city centre.

Cellular Phones
Your cellular phone may work in Palma de Mallorca. Please check with your service provider for coverage details and call costs as you may need to activiate international call roaming on your contract.

Music / Ipods
All boats are fitted with a AM/FM radio and CD player with cockpit speakers. There is a MP3 input if you wish to listen to your IPOD while sailing you will need to bring along an I-trip or FM radio transmitter.

Restaurants
Dining patterns are typically Spanish. Many establishments close mid-afternoon for a siesta and do not open for evening meals until 7 or 8 o’clock.

Palma has a wide and exquisite gastronomical variety. The offering extends from the excellent Majorquine cuisine, through tapas bars and specialities’ restaurants to classic international cuisine.

Hotels
Hotel Born 2-Star- www.hotelborn.com
Hotel Tryp Bellver 4-Star – www.trypbellver.solmelia.com
Gran Hotel Uto Palace 4-Star – www.utopalace.com
Hotel Puro 4-Star – stylish hotel in the old town – www.purohotel.com
Hotel Portixol 4-Star – small hotel at the harbour of Portixol – www.portixol.com

Shopping
Palma – The Plaza Juan Carlos I, next to the Cathedral, and the streets around are probably the best shopping areas. Shops usually open from 10.00 in the morning and close at 01.30, to open in the evening from 17.00 to 20.00. However, big shops usually do not close for lunch and are open all day. On Sundays all shops are closed. Keep in mind on Sundays only the bars and restaurants are open.

Taxes
The internal sales tax in Spain is known as IVA and varies between 7% and 33% depending on the item bought. Food, wine and basic requirements are taxed at 7%, most goods and services are charged at 16% and luxury items such as jewellery and cigarettes attract 33% tax. Hotels have a special 7% rate.

Clothing Suggestions
Be sure to bring the appropriate sailing gear when visiting Palma, hat, sunscreen, long sleeved tops. Layered clothing and a jacket are recommended as the weather can be variable.

Tourist Information Centre
Mallorca Tourist Information Service (OIT – Oficines d’Informacio Turistica de Mallorca) has its head office at Parc de les Estacions in Palma de Mallorca; phone: +34 902 102 365; email: palmainfo@a-palma.es
There is also a tourist information office at the airport – Aeropuerto Palma de Mallorca; phone: +34 971 789 556; email: oita@conselldemallorca.net
These tourist offices can point you in the right direction and have free maps and information on attractions and public transport on the island.

Activities & Sports

Fishing – Permits & Season
A fishing license, or rod licence, (permiso de pesca) is required to fish both inland and sea waters in Spain.
The Balearic Islands are very popular for sea fishing; to fish, it is obligatory to have an: Individual recreational fishing licence (Llicència de pesca marítima recreativa individual): which allows the person to fish from land or boat, for people over 14 years of age
There is no fishing allowed in any of the harbours in Majorca or any other Balearic island. In addition you must not fish within 250 meters of professional fishing boats or within 100 meters of other shore users (i.e. sun bathers, swimmers, etc.).

Licenses can be obtained from the Director General of Fishing (Dirección General de Pesca) at C/ dels Foners, 10 – 07006. Palma.

Getting your license in person is actually very quick, but the process may be a little strange to the uninitiated. Fill in the application form (available in English) and hand it in. You will then be given an invoice, which you take to the local bank where you pay the license fee. The bank will give you a receipt, which you then return back to the office where they will issue your license.
You can also order your license online at www.dgpsca.caib.es It can take up to 1 month for the license to be issued this way and you will still need to collect it in person from the office, remembering to take your ID with you.
There are 4 marine reserves around Majorca which are marked by large white post along the coast. You are allowed to fish the reserves in places, at certain times of the year and on specific days of the week. A booklet is given out when you get your license explaining where the marine reserves are located and the restrictions placed on them.

Licenses are only available for sea fishing and each license covers all the Balearic Islands.

Water Toys
Snorkelling equipment (fins, masks & Snorkels) will be available for use. A dingy and outboard will also be provided. Stand Up Paddleboards are available to hire at a cost.

Provisioning (Food & Beverage)

Sunsail Provisioning
Provisioning is available in Palma. Please contact your Sunsail agent for more information.
Find out more about Provisioning options here

Supermarkets
If you wish to do your own provisioning, you will find Supermarket Mercadona 5 minutes walking distance from the marina.
As soon as you have finished, leave your trolley at the marina and the staff will pick it to the supermarket.
Palma’s supermarkets are open daily from 10 am to 9 or 10 pm (except for national holidays and Sundays). Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 10 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday 10 am to 1.30 pm and closed on Sunday.
There are also some small supermarkets along Paseo Maritimo near the marina where you will find basic food (bread, milk, etc). Some of them are open 24 hours a day.
In the tourist villages and on the beaches, shops are generally open all days.
The Santa Catalina market is located at Av Argentina where you will find fresh produce until 2 pm.

Health & Safety

Emergencies
Dial Tel # 112 free from any telephone (mobile/cellular or fixed-line). The operator will put you in contact with the emergency service that you require.
Ambulance # 061 Tel: 971 204 111
National Police # 091 Tel: 971 266 262
Local Police # 092
Fire Service # 085
Sea Rescue # 900 202 202
Pharmacies: Tel: 971 402 133

Hospital Universitari Son Espaces
At: Ctra. de Valldemossa 79, 07010 Palma de Mallorca
Tel: 871 205 000 (24-hr emergencies)

Hospital de la Cruz Roja
At: Pons i Gallarza, 90, 07004 Palma de Mallorca
Tel: 971 751 445 (24-hr emergencies)

Manacor Hospital
At: Ctra. Manacor-Port D´Alcudia s/n, 07500
Tel: 971 847 000 (24-hr emergencies)

Hospital San Juan de Dios
At: Pº Cala Gamba 35, Es Coll D’en Rabassa, 07007
Tel: 971 265 854

Illness & Injury
A chemist or drugstore is known as a Farmacia and they can be identified by a large green or red cross sign outside. They tend to keep the same working hours as other shops and if closed, usually display a sign indicating the nearest pharmacy that is open. As well as selling prescription medicines, they also offer free advice about minor injuries or ailments and they will happily suggest non-prescription treatments.

Safety
All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets and harnesses, we leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.

We have a limited supply of children’s life jackets (age 4+ only) if you have your own children’s life jacket we would encourage you to bring it along. Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy.

Travel Insurance
Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all Sunsail bookings and it is a condition of accepting your booking that you agree you will have obtained adequate and valid travel insurance for your booking by the date of departure.

Vaccination & Immunization
Travellers should be up to date with routinely recommended vaccinations according to the UK schedule. Contact your GP around eight weeks before you travel to check whether you need any vaccinations or other medication.

Weather
You can expect a year round, dry sunny climate with some rain in April. Winds 5-15 knots, southeasterly in the western part of the cruising area and northwesterly in the eastern part of the cruising area. The island enjoys a temperate, Mediterranean climate. The shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) are perfect to get the best of the weather and to avoid summer crowds.

In the western cruising area, southeast winds generally prevail in the summer months. In the eastern cruising area, including Menorca, winds are generally from the north/northwest throughout the year. East Mallorca to Menorca northwest and Ibiza to west Mallorca east/southeast 5 to 15 knots (Force 1 to 3). The area enjoys a dry, mild climate year-round with some rain in April.

There are two main weather systems in the Balearics either side of a line bisecting Majorca in a NNW- SSE line.

The western side of the line, which includes Ibiza and Formentera, is subject to the weather system on nearby mainland Spain (only 50 miles away). The wind directions are variable but in general in summer months SE winds prevail. Gales are rare in summer apart from mid-August when there will be a storm lasting 1 – 2 days, when the NW Tramontana/Mistral blows in the Gulf of Lyon. There is little rainfall in summer.

The eastern side of the line, including Menorca, is subject to the same weather system as the Gulf of Lyon to the north and lies in the direct path of the Tramontana/Mistral. Winds from the N-NW predominate throughout the year, bringing more rain but better visibility.

In all the islands a sea breeze will be experienced near the coast, which will be stronger where it funnels into a large bay. These breezes usually start at about 1000 increasing until 1400/1500 and dying away by 1700.

Weather forecasts can be obtained from the Sunsail Base in Palma and are posted in most marinas. There are regular weather forecasts broadcast on VHF channel 16 at 06:35, 09:35, 11:05, 14:35, 17:05 and 19:35 daily.