Mallorca Island News Ahoy There! The Palma International Boat Show Ahoy There! The Palma International Boat Show
Like the British, Mallorcans are proud of their long maritime history. Indeed, a recent article in a local newspaper even claimed that Christopher Columbus was born on the island! Whatever the merits of this claim, Mallorca’s sailing tradition is alive and well today. The island is home to an astonishing 20,000 leisure boats, and three times this number of yachts visit each year.
Palma’s status as one of the foremost sailing centres in the Mediterranean is highlighted in late April and early May, when the city hosts the Palma International Boat Show. This year is the 25th anniversary of what has become the most important event of its type in the Mediterranean, attracting visitors from all over the world. One of the show’s many appeals is that it is a completely open-air event; so everyone can enjoy the occasion and the superb weather!
This year promises to be the biggest show ever, and a huge amount of money has been spent to ensure that the Moll Vell port area remains an impressive location; fit to host such a prestigious event. Each year the port fills with hundreds of vessels, from gleaming white super-yachts to jet skis, while the surrounding harbour-side locale buzzes with locals, boat enthusiasts and holiday-makers alike, who come to view the sleek craft and soak up the lively nautical atmosphere.
If the show whets your appetite, (but you don’t have room in your luggage for a yacht), you may decide to take one of the many boat trips on offer in the area. You can visit most parts of the island from Palma, including the ruggedly scenic northern coast, but one of the most popular choices is to take a cruise around the bay of Palma itself; a wonderful and relaxing way to appreciate the natural beauty of the location. Or why not take a night cruise? Viewing the twinkling lights of Palma as you glide slowly around the bay is a magical way to spend a balmy evening.
