Among the targets of Environment ministry for this year is increase in the number of people using these buoys by 25 percent. Lliteres also said that these conservative goals could be achieved, with four more months to go. He said that around 5’000 to 6’000 more users weren’t recorded because controls finishes by 5.30 pm every day and the sailors prefer to anchor up elsewhere during the night and move on in the morning.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hJBFtbhMLU

The Regatta of 24th Conde De Barcelona, being conducted by Hispania Foundation, starts from Monday but the classic yachts from all over the world have started coming to Palma and the fleet of ships will be anchored near the Auditorium on  Paseo Maritimo for people to see.

The yachts that are taking part have been divided into three categories: Period vessels, Classic vessels and replicas . These yachts have been built according to the original design and made using the same materials and techniques of the time in which they were originally designed.

This yacht race will continue around Palma Bay  throughout the week. Before the prize distribution ceremony on Sunday, the sail past will be organised traditionally which will be presided over by King Juan Carlos.
Also, a lot of other activities will be organised at this regatta camp, organised on and around Paseo Maritimo. Perhaps, the most stimulating and attractive feature of this regatta are the famous classic yachts.

The Vintage Boat section of The Royal Hispania Foundation was formed in reverence to philosophy of Don Juan de Borbón, father of the present King of Spain, to recover the many dumped boats that spoil the ports and the beaches.
The main function of this Foundation is to assist the restoration of Vintage Boats and also to spread knowledge about them.

This will be a particularly busy time for the businesses in Palma and surrounding areas as many visitors are expected to attend, boosting the bars, restaurants and shops in the area.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBR6FPGe3Bw

The resort of Porto Colom in the South East of Mallorca normally has a selection of bars and restaurants for sale. These are to be found in the central square or in the adjoining beach area of Cala Marsal.

The trade in this area is mainly UK and German with a good level of resident ex pats giving a small possibility of a Winter trade.

There has been a downturn of UK visitors to Porto Colom in recent years but this looks set to improve with a major UK tour operator coming back to the area.

There can be some bargain priced bars and restaurants around here if you know where to look and who to ask.

Please scroll down for more detailed resort information.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9mSHjOjus

Resort Information -- Porto Colom

The resort of Porto Colom is the principle coastal development of the municipal district of Felanitx, on the southern half of the east coast of Majorca. Although as the crow flies the resort is only around 65km, or 40 miles east of Palma and the Son Sant Joan International airport, it has to be said that the road over to the east coast is not particularly good, and it is not unusual for the transfer to take approximately 1.1/2 to 2 hours from the time you actually leave the airport grounds.

The municipality as a whole covers an area of around 170 km2, and along with the administrative town of Felanitx encompasses a handful of picturesque inland villages, and the two other coastal resorts of Cala Ferrera and Cala Serena.

The name of “Felanitx” originates from the Latin word “fenalicius”, which roughly translates into English as “a place where fenas grows”, although records show that the first signs of human settlement in the area actually took place over 2000 years before the birth of Christ.

Porto Colom is the site of one of the most important, and best preserved, “Naveta” or prehistoric burial sites on Majorca, and for this reason in 1996 the Department of Prehistory of the University of the Balearic Islands established the archaeology project known as “Projecte Closos of Can Gaià”, in an attempt to further understand the ancient civilisations of the island.

Porto Colom still remains a small traditional fishing village, that has so far resisted full scale tourist commercialisation. A small amount of mainly residential building work is going on, although the town will never become another Magaluf or Palma Nova.

The main feature of the town is the large natural harbour, which is the home to a number of small fishing boats and an ever increasing number of leisure craft. From the harbour looking inland on a clear day, it’s also possible to see the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador in the distance.

Around the harbour area there is a fair selection of shops for the everyday holiday essentials, along with more souvenir shops behind the beach at Cala Marcal, and it is here to a large extent, that most of the tourist development has taken place. The town has two reasonably sized supermarkets the first “Ca’s Corso”, is next to the Ca’s Corso Apartments and the other Spar is situated by the side the harbour next to the Club Nautico offices. Both offer a good selection of fresh and cooked meats, wines and spirits, fresh fruit and vegetables, along with Mallorquin specialities and British branded products. But don’t expect too much competition with their prices, as they are both owned by the same people.

The resort is very popular with British visitors who aren’t looking for mass commercialisation in a resort, such as water parks and countless karaoke bars, many of which who have subsequently fallen in love with the resort and bought second homes in the area.

Holiday accommodation here mostly falls within the 3 or 4 star standard, which is then supplemented with a fair selection of good value self catering apartments to choose from.

One of the most prestigious areas of Mallorca for owning a business is Portals Nous and in particular the harbour area of Puerto Portals. Surprisingly some of the businesses for sale in Portals Nous are currently on the market, this can be for a variety of reasons and it’s always worth finding out why.

The marina of Puerto Portals is prime location for a restaurant or bar and any that come up for sale here normally sell quickly and at the asking price due to the increased trade and prices that having the boating fraternity on your doorstep can bring.

Please scroll down for more information on Portals Nous.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBVvRo3cBmw

Resort Information -- Portals Nous -- Bendinat.

For all intents and purposes Bendinat is a small residential suburb of the resort town of Portals Nous, which in turn is part of the municipal district of Calvia, on the south west coast of Majorca.

Bendinat is still relatively undiscovered by most of the major tour operators, and many visitors to the area do tend to be independent travellers who prefer to make the transfer either by taxi, or by hire car. In theory it is possible to make the journey by public transport, although I’d never relish the thought of getting on a bus with a suitcase and flight bag, and then trying to find the right change, and I seriously doubt that the very thought of using public transport would certainly not be a consideration for any of the visitors here.

The contrast between Bendinat, and its nearest neighbours, the perhaps more familiar south west resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf, can only be described as striking. The area is aimed very strongly at professional couples and families looking for the cultural aspects of nearby Palma, as opposed to the clubs and bars of Magaluf. A major feature of Portals Nous is the Puerto Portals marina, which the local council proudly claims to be “the best in Spain”. Although, clearly an exaggeration of the truth, it certainly helps to raise the profile of the resort to have a number of very expensive yachts moored here.

As with most of the other resorts along the south coast, Bendinat is most popular with the British visitor, many of which now own property in the area, who are looking for a quiet holiday base that both offers ready access to the nearby nightlife and attractions of Palma Nova, and also the culture of the capital Palma. Bendinat is still growing in a controlled manner, and has been marketed by at least one developer as having “possibly the best address in Mallorca”, which at the very least should add another 10,000€ to the market price of any property.

In keeping with the general exclusivity of the town is the Royal Bendinat Golf course, whose honorary president is no less than His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain. The original course, designed by Martin Hawtree, was opened in 1986, and was then subsequently extended to 18 holes during 1996.