Three hundred days of sunshine is a good beginning for reasons to sail in Menorca. A temperate climate and light breezes that are perfect for sailing in a sheltered harbour should also be on the list. There are sailing schools and charters galore, complete with instruction for beginners on up. Think about anchoring the boat in a deserted cove and having a leisurely lunch and a swim, away from the crowd. Finished with lunch in the cove, the sailboat runs alongside a school of dolphins that like to escort visitors as they cruise the waters. If those reasons don’t suggest a sail in Menorca, nothing will.

Sailing off the coast of Menorca, you can always jump off for a swim too!

The costs of instruction and rentals for sailing vary quite a bit. One school teaches sailors how to manage a catamaran for significantly less than another school that instructs how to sail a large, sleeper sailboat, or yacht. The cost of one lesson with the Hobie cat is 55€ for one hour. Unlimited use of the catamaran without instruction for one week is 195€. The costs of more lessons and/or less time with the boat lie in-between those amounts.

Learning how to sail a yacht starts at 230€ for a two-day course for beginners or those with a little experience with a dinghy. More days and more experienced lessons range from 495-545€ at one school. The boats at this charter were eleven to fifteen feet in length, slept eight and had showers, and rents ranged from 2,350€ a week to 4,450€ a week, depending on the progress of the season.

There are bigger and more elaborate yachts with much larger prices, of course, but this is a brief summary of the 2012 charters. There are also added costs of final cleaning, the outboard motor, a skipper at 180€ a day, extras like TV, internet, diving gear and refuelling. The skipper is optional, if the holidaying person is driving the boat. Some catamarans are less expensive overall, but the same extras would be added if guests were staying on the boat for the week. There are daily rentals if a week is too long.

Sailing off the Menorcan coast, this too could be you on your next holiday!

Another choice is to stay in Menorca villas and windsurf instead of sail. Living on sailboats may seem like somewhat unusual holidays, but being on the water full time cannot be bad. Swim whenever the thought strikes, float or sail, and bask in the sun. Where is the downside?

There are other attractions on the island, such as Mahon Harbour in the capital city of Mahon. There are restaurants and bars all along the waterfront that make for a festive atmosphere. La Mola, one historic fort, is in the harbour as well. Menorca has a zoo, at least two water parks for kids, go-karts, bowling, horseback riding and prehistoric ruins and castles. There is a glass bottom boat tour, and the water is very clear and clean. Golf, tennis, hiking and cycling are options as well.

It would probably be difficult to not have something to do, but holidays are for whatever the traveller wants, busy or not. There are other towns on Menorca that have charters too. Ciutadella on the west has a small but safe harbour. Fornells is a resort in the north. Calan Bosc is a resort in the southwest corner of the island. To sail or not to sail, that is the question. If the answer is to sail, Menorca is the place for novices and experienced sailors.