Cala Tortuga
anchorage · Minorca
Cala Tortuga is an anchorage on the coast of Minorca.
Minorca is part of the Balearic Islands.
Also known as Platja d’en Tortuga.
The bay opens towards the east (98°).
Shelter by wind direction
Good shelter in north (tramontana), south-west, west and north-west wind.
Partial shelter in south wind.
No shelter in north-east, east and south-east (sirocco) wind.
In the most open sector, up to 30 NM of open water towards the east.
Swell can come in from east-north-east to south-east (60°–140°).
- sheltered
- partly
- exposed
Shelter is estimated from open water and swell, not from wind strength: a strong wind can still gust over the land.
Here, shelter depends on tonight's wind. Seadromy reads the forecast and tells you before you leave.
Seabed, depth and room
Seabed: sand and posidonia.
Sand share corrected from satellite imagery.
Satellite imagery shows light, sandy patches around the anchoring spot.
Good holding.
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 4.8 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
Room to anchor: large (about 76.6 ha).
Approach
Direct approach from open water; the routing point lies 0.1 NM from the anchoring spot.
Marked on the nautical chart as: anchorage.
Protected area and seagrass
Drop the anchor on sand: the posidonia seagrass is protected.
Ashore and services
Sandy beach.
No road nearby.
Almost no buildings ashore (0 within 600 m).
A remarkable site can be reached from here.
Within reach:
- S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park: 48 min on foot
Where to go when the wind turns
When the wind makes this place exposed, the nearest places rated as well sheltered are:
- In north-east wind: Marina de Menorca, 3.7 NM by sea.
- In east wind: Marina de Menorca, 3.7 NM by sea.
- In south-east wind: S'Escala, 1.7 NM by sea.
- In south wind: S'Escala, 1.7 NM by sea.
Nearby anchorages and ports
- Cala Presili cove · 0.1 NM by sea
- Caló de ses Mandres anchorage · 0.1 NM by sea
- Cala en Cavaller cove · 1.3 NM by sea
- S'Escala cove · 1.7 NM by sea
- S'Algaret cove · 1.7 NM by sea
- Cala Rambles anchorage · 1.7 NM by sea
Sheltered anchorages of Minorca by wind
More places – Minorca
- Cala Mitjana anchorage
- Cala Pregonda anchorage
- Cala Trebalúger anchorage
- Cala Turqueta anchorage
Questions
Is Cala Tortuga sheltered from the tramontana?
Yes. Shelter is rated good in north wind.
Is Cala Tortuga sheltered from the sirocco?
No. It is exposed in south-east wind. The nearest well-sheltered place is S'Escala, 1.7 NM by sea.
How deep is the water at Cala Tortuga?
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 4.8 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
What is the seabed at Cala Tortuga?
Seabed: sand and posidonia. Sand share corrected from satellite imagery. Satellite imagery shows light, sandy patches around the anchoring spot.
Can you spend the night at Cala Tortuga?
It depends on the wind of the night: Seadromy picks the evening anchorage with the forecast of the day.