Why choose a catamaran
A catamaran turns a sailing holiday into a floating villa. Two hulls mean the boat stays flat under sail and very stable at anchor — no heeling, no rolling in a swell, drinks that stay on the table. Between the hulls sits a wide saloon that opens straight onto a big cockpit, forward trampolines for sunbathing, and typically four equal double cabins, each with its own bathroom. Four couples or two families can live aboard for a week without anyone drawing the short straw.
In the Balearics they make particular sense. Shallow draught lets you anchor closer to the beach in the turquoise calas of Formentera and Menorca; the stability suits long, lazy days at anchor; and the swim platforms on each hull make getting in and out of the water effortless. Our catamaran fleet runs from 40 to 50 feet — Lagoon 42 and 46, Bali 4.4, Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 among them — sleeping eight to ten, from €1,100 per day.
Who catamarans suit
Catamaran or monohull?
The same honest comparison we give every crew — the right answer depends on who is aboard and what you want from the week:
| Catamaran | Monohull | |
|---|---|---|
| Space aboard | Much more — wide saloon, big cockpit, trampolines, four equal cabins | Compact; cabins forward and aft |
| At anchor | Very stable — no rolling | Some roll in swell |
| Heeling | None — flat under sail | Heels to the wind |
| Privacy | Better — cabins in separate hulls, own bathrooms | Cabins closer together |
| Draught | Shallow — anchor closer to the beach | Deeper keel |
| Sailing feel | Less feedback | Better — responsive, points high |
| Price | Higher — more to charter, berth and fuel | 40–60% less for similar length |
| Marinas & tight calas | Wide beam: fewer berths, higher fees, some calas off-limits | Easy — fits anywhere |
| Best for | Families, groups, non-sailors, entertaining, crewed charters | Sailors, couples, passages, value |
Still torn? Tell us who is coming and how you picture the week; we will steer you honestly — sometimes towards a monohull.
Where our catamarans sail
Everywhere we operate, with the strongest fleets in Ibiza (for Formentera) and Palma, plus Mahón and Barcelona for the Costa Brava. For a first catamaran week we usually suggest Ibiza and Formentera — short hops, lagoon anchorages, the boat at its best — or Mallorca’s south coast and Cabrera. Menorca’s calas suit catamarans beautifully outside the busiest weeks.
Practical notes
- Price: From €1,100 per day for a 40–42 ft catamaran in shoulder season, rising with length and in July–August. Weekly rates, skipper, chef, provisioning and end cleaning are quoted separately — ask for an all-in figure for your dates.
- Season: April to October; peak July–August, Saturday to Saturday. Catamarans book out earliest of any boat type in peak — for July and August, enquire by March.
- Licence: Bareboat requires an ICC, RYA Day Skipper, PER or equivalent and appropriate experience. Catamarans handle differently in marinas; we ask about multihull experience and can arrange a check-out sail or a Local Skipper for day one.
- Berthing: Wide beam means marina berths are scarcer and dearer in high season — another reason catamarans spend most nights at anchor, which is where they shine.
- Sizes: 40–42 ft for six to eight; 45–50 ft for eight to ten, or for fully crewed charters with a skipper cabin.
