Cala Rafalet
anchorage · Maó · Minorca
Cala Rafalet is an anchorage on the coast of Minorca.
The nearest town is Maó.
Minorca is part of the Balearic Islands.
The bay opens towards the east (98°).
Shelter by wind direction
Good shelter in south-west, west and north-west wind.
Partial shelter in north (tramontana) wind.
No shelter in north-east, east, south-east (sirocco) and south wind.
In the most open sector, up to 30 NM of open water towards the north-east.
Swell can come in from north-east to south-south-east (36°–164°).
- 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: posidonia and rock.
Source: official seabed habitat map of the Balearic government.
Seabed to avoid for the anchor.
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 12.9 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
Room to anchor: small (about 0 ha).
Approach
Direct approach from open water; the routing point lies 0.2 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.
Uncertain anchoring: mostly posidonia seabed, no sand patch found.
Ashore and services
Beach within 300 m.
Road within 400 m: busy in the afternoon.
A few houses ashore (46 buildings within 600 m).
A remarkable site can be reached from here.
Within reach:
- Hipogeu de Rafalet Nou: 14 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 wind: s'Algar, 0.9 NM by sea.
- In north-east wind: Caló de sa Cabra, 4.1 NM by sea.
- In east wind: Cala Taulera, 4.1 NM by sea.
- In south-east wind: Cala Taulera, 4.1 NM by sea.
- In south wind: Freus, 3.5 NM by sea.
Nearby anchorages and ports
- s'Algar anchorage · 0.9 NM by sea
- Cala Alcaufar anchorage · 1.1 NM by sea
- Cala de Sant Esteve anchorage · 1.4 NM by sea
- Es Clot anchorage · 1.8 NM by sea
- ses Pesqueres cove · 1.9 NM by sea
- Platja de Punta Prima anchorage · 2.2 NM by sea
Sheltered anchorages of Minorca by wind
More places – Maó
- es Clot d'en Mora cove
- sa Torrota cove
- Cala Sant Antoni cove
- Cala Torrent anchorage
Questions
Is Cala Rafalet sheltered from the tramontana?
Partly. Shelter is rated fair in north wind. The nearest well-sheltered place is s'Algar, 0.9 NM by sea.
Is Cala Rafalet sheltered from the sirocco?
No. It is exposed in south-east wind. The nearest well-sheltered place is Cala Taulera, 4.1 NM by sea.
How deep is the water at Cala Rafalet?
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 12.9 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
What is the seabed at Cala Rafalet?
Seabed: posidonia and rock. Source: official seabed habitat map of the Balearic government. Seabed to avoid for the anchor.
Can you spend the night at Cala Rafalet?
It depends on the wind of the night: Seadromy picks the evening anchorage with the forecast of the day.