Palma Venue Guide

Get the insider's guide to this stunning Spanish racing venue from top coach Jim Saltonstall

I have been to Palma on numerous occasions, primarily for Olympic class regattas and training events, but also for some European and World championships. More recently I’ve been winter training with the Etchells class.

How to get there
It’s a great venue, very popular with the majority of sailors, whether at the event or in training mode. To get there from the UK is at least a one-day camel ride towing your ship from La Havre to Barcelona, with motorway all the way. There are options through the north coast of France, as well as the route from Plymouth to Santander or Bilbao, should you wish to do less mileage in the car. Whichever route you take, it's a long way, but well worth the journey once you are there. This is one of those trips where the competitors fly in, whilst another drives the car and the ship down - in the perfect world. If you are driving as well as competing, allow yourself a couple of days’ recovery so as to recover both physically and mentally from the trip.

There are ferry options from Barcelona to Palma, fast or slow. You pay your money and as always on these occasions, you get what you pay for, it’s up to you whether you require the fast or slow trip across, also on your budget for the event. Whilst crossing, keep a weather eye open for both the French / Spanish fleets as they may be in the plundering mood!

When you get there
Palma offers three main clubs which host the events, Calanova, which is just to the west of the main marina, the Marina itself for the keelboats and Club Arenal to the south-east of the city at the other end of the bay. The dinghy classes normally operate from Club Arenal and Calanova, both having excellent facilities ashore with easy access onto the water. As you would expect from such a popular venue, the city offers plenty of accommodation / restaurants / pubs / clubs; make sure that you book your accommodation in plenty of time, especially during the summer months at the height of the season. The same goes for your ferry bookings and flights.

Local knowledge
A useful contact at Club Arenal is Francisco Gil, email: fragil@cnarenal.com , Tel: 0034971268911.

Accommodation - Ultramar Express, contact Marta, email: mriera@UEX.ES Ferries - a good London agent is Southern Ferries Ltd, Tel: 020 7491 4968.

Sailmaker - Pedro at North sails is great, offering lots of help and local knowledge. You will get him on the following numbers: 0034 627 478 926 (mobile), or 0034 971 745 610. Mention my name and he will tell you where to go!

Don't forget a visit to the cathedral if you get the chance, very spectacular. You may need to go anyway so as to ask Him a favour during the event!


Racing Area
Palma bay is quite large, 10 miles wide and 10 miles deep, and the wind at one end can be different from that at the other. Different clubs tend to operate race courses in different areas of the bay. Calanova / Marina-based venues normally operate in the mid/western side of the bay, whilst those operating out of Club Arenal use the eastern side. The surrounding land mass is higher to the north/west of the main city complex, slightly lower to the east/south-east.


Wind Direction
With the wind anywhere from 240 through north round to 170, depending on where you are in the bay, you will have an offshore wind. The bay is open to the south-east, through south to the south-west, so be ready for some rough water if the wind comes from this sector with any weight behind it, big waves, with severe backwash off the land giving a confused sea state. When the wind comes anywhere from the northern sector, be ready for short chop/flatter water nearer the land as you would expect, along with gusty, blustery and shifty wind.

Go to page 2 to get Jim's advice on racing at the western end of the bay...
Go to page 3 to get his tips on the eastern end, plus info on tides and sea breezes...