The best time to sail around Menorca by boat

The best time to sail in Menorca runs from May to October, and if you ask me to be precise, I'd say June and September: good sea, pleasant water and fewer boats competing for the same cove. July and August are the hottest months with the best water for swimming, but also the busiest. I'll tell you month by month from the helm, which is where you really feel the season turn.

One thing before we start, because a lot of people muddle the two: the best time to sail (calm sea, manageable wind, safe trips) isn't the same as the best time to swim (warm water). They overlap for much of the summer, but they're not exactly the same months.

The factor that rules in Menorca: the wind

Here the weather isn't decided by the calendar, it's decided by the wind. The tramuntana, the north wind, is the one that reigns in Menorca from October to March and can build up the north coast hard for days on end. In the depths of winter it really blows. In summer it eases a great deal, but the odd day it can still appear.

When the tramuntana comes in, the south is sheltered. That's why we leave from Es Canutells, on the south coast, and why on many days the plan is to sail cove to cove along the south, where the sea is flat. When the north wakes up calm, on the other hand, it opens up the chance to look in on that coast, which is another Menorca: wilder, more unspoilt. We decide the route each morning watching the forecast. Not the other way round.

If you want to understand which coves come into play depending on the day, you have it broken down in the guide to the best coves on the south of Menorca by boat.

Month by month, from the helm

May. We open the season on 15 May. The countryside is green, the island still quiet and the sea starting to settle. The water is still cool — more for a quick dip than for spending the morning afloat — but for sailing and enjoying the coast without the crowds it's a lovely month. And one of the cheapest.

June. For me, the complete month. Long days, a sea that's settling down, water already enjoyable and far fewer people than in the thick of August. Up to 20 June we're still in low season, so it works out especially well. Watch one date: the Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella (23 and 24 June), one of the loveliest on the island; if it falls during your trip, it's worth pairing it with a day on the boat.

July. Summer proper begins. Heat, warm water, a gentle breeze nearly every day and a sea calm enough to anchor with ease. It's high season from 15 July, the time of most demand. If you come in July, book with plenty of margin: the spots go fast.

August. The hottest month and the water at its warmest of the whole year. Perfect for swimming and snorkelling without a second thought. In return, it's the month with the most boats in the coves and the highest prices. My skipper's tip: set off early in the morning. The coves first thing are another thing entirely.

September. The other great month, almost a secret. The water stays warm after the whole summer — swimming is glorious — the crowds thin out and the afternoon light is spectacular. From 10 September we're back to low season on price. If I could pick a single week to sail Menorca, it'd be the first of September.

October. We close on 15 October. There are magnificent days, with a sea like a sheet of glass and the coast to yourself, but the tramuntana also starts to show and the odd autumn storm. It's a month for flexible people, willing to adjust the date if the forecast turns.

The best time to swim (which isn't the same)

If your thing is putting your head in the water and not coming out, your window is July to September, with August and the start of September the warmest water. In May and early June the sea is still cool for long swims, though the stern platform tempts you to a dip all the same. For sailing, on the other hand, June and September win on sea quality and quiet. So I'll say it again: work out what you're after and choose the month with that in mind.

And the prices? When it works out best value

Our rates move by season, plain and simple. The low season (15 May to 20 June and 10 September to 15 October) is the cheapest. The mid season covers late June, early July and the first half of September. The high season is the heart of summer, 15 July to 25 August.

Put plainly: same cove, same boat, different price depending on when you come. Sailing to Macarella in June costs less than in August. You have the full breakdown, dates and times on the boat hire prices in Menorca page. And since we go out with 7 people at most, the trip is always private, whether you come in May or in August.

Is a trip ever cancelled for bad weather?

It happens, mainly at the ends of the season. If the sea isn't fit to go out safely, we don't go out: we change the date or refund you in full. We never force a trip with a rough sea. That decision I make in the morning, watching the wind and the state of the sea, and always ahead of anything else.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to sail in Menorca?

From May to October. The best balance of good sea, pleasant water, fewer people and better prices you'll find in June and September.

When is the sea calmest?

In summer the tramuntana eases and the sea is usually more manageable, especially on the south coast. June and September give very settled seas. October and May can have windy days.

When is the water warmest for swimming?

From July to September, with August and early September the best time for long swims and snorkelling.

Does the tramuntana affect the trips?

Yes. With a strong tramuntana we sail sheltered along the south or, if there are no safe conditions, we change the date. The route is decided each morning according to the wind.

When is it cheapest?

In low season: from 15 May to 20 June and from 10 September to 15 October.