GLIDING through crystal-clear waters at twilight, gin and tonic in hand, has to be one of life’s greatest pleasures. From May to September, there is nowhere in the world better to sail than the Mediterranean: the sea is clear and calm and the scenery is spectacular. The Med is a Mecca for superyachts in the summertime, but, as Alasdair Pritchard from Knight Frank’s Private Office (020–3553 7755) points out, only very few people can afford a vessel large enough to be comfortable for any length of time: ‘The majority of those who sail prefer to own a villa on the water, and charter boats as they go along,’ he notes. So where are the best locations from which you can easily get out on the waves?
Mallorca and Ibiza, Spain
The Balearics are among the Med’s most popular sailing locations. Mallorca has plenty of wonderful cales, or coves, worth exploring and the spectacular Cabrera National Park repays repeat visits. On Ibiza, the cales to the south have pristine white beaches and Puerto Espalmador is a photogenic anchorage between Ibiza and the charming island of Formentera.
The sailing crowd often base themselves around Port d’Andratx. One of the most impressive natural harbours in the Med, it has a well-regarded sailing club and excellent amenities, including beach bars and restaurants. Both Palma and Andratx are in high demand from international buyers, particularly along the waterfront.
This story is from the March 25, 2020 edition of Country Life UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 25, 2020 edition of Country Life UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Too divine
Four actresses earn the plaudits this month, for parts ranging from Sarah Siddons to Charlotte Bronté
Stashed away
The vast collection of the late George Withers, encompassing everything from Prattware pot lids to barometers, doubles up as a guide to the mid-market collecting fancies of the past 60 years
Parsley of Macedon
Not quite a native, alexanders can taste like joss stick-tainted celery or sweetly spiced parsnips, depending on your method, warns John Wright
A hungry heart
A man who strove, sought and found, Wassily Kandinsky pioneered not one, but two artistic movements against the tumultuous backdrop of early-20thcentury Europe, as Holly Black relates
Royal favours
AFTER much speculation as to what might be the favourite flower Her of Elizabeth II, the truth was revealed at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.
Smart thinking
A private family garden near Godalming in Surrey How does a garden design begin? With a lot of questions and by finding a central theme says James Alexander-Sinclair
Escape to the hills
These four houses in the county of Surrey can offer the best of both worlds: rural settings and easy access to London
A little help from your friends
Driven to distraction by paint charts? A colour consultant could be the answer for anyone befuddled by choosing the right hue
A (crab) apple a day
They may be too tart to eat, but crab apples can be made into all sorts of good things, from jellies to salves, and may even have been Adam and Eve's forbidden fruit, says Ian Morton
The sound of centuries past
The past 50 years have seen an energetic revival of the instruments that would have been played in Bach's day. Henrietta Bredin meets players fascinated by the noises Baroque composers would have heard