Reading the Wind: Which Anchorage by Forecast Direction
Direct answer
Pick the anchorage on the lee side — opposite the wind. North wind: go south (Formentera). South wind: go north (Portinatx). East wind: the west coast (Cala Bassa, Conta). West wind: the east (Tagomago, Santa Eulària). Direction beats speed for planning a calm day.
Skip ahead — the office handles the rest
People obsess over wind speed and ignore the part that actually decides the day. Fifteen knots from the right direction is a glassy anchorage in the lee of the land; fifteen from the wrong one is a rolly, spray-flecked lunch. The island is a windbreak — you just have to be on its calm side.
The picker
| Wind from | Go here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| North (Tramontana) | Formentera — Illetes, Espalmador | South coast sits in the lee; the north shore takes the hit |
| South (Migjorn) | North coast — Portinatx, Cala Xarraca | The land blocks a southerly; the north goes flat |
| East (Llevant) | West coast — Cala Bassa, Cala Conta | West-facing coves are sheltered from an easterly |
| West (Ponent) | East coast — Tagomago, Santa Eulària | East-facing anchorages stay calm under a westerly |
The seasonal backdrop
Through high summer the dominant pattern is light and thermal — calm mornings, an afternoon sea breeze, calm again by sunset — which is why mid-season Ibiza is so forgiving. The stronger directional winds are spring and autumn business. The heatmap below sets the broad expectation by month.
Year at a glance
Ibiza charter season heatmap
| Month | Air °C | Water °C | Crowds | Pricing | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15° | 14° | Off-season | ||
| February | 15° | 14° | Off-season | ||
| March | 17° | 15° | Off-season | ||
| April | 19° | 16° | Open | ||
| May | 22° | 19° | Open | ||
| June | 26° | 22° | ★ Best | ||
| July | 29° | 24° | Busy | ||
| August | 30° | 26° | Peak | ||
| September | 27° | 26° | ★ Best | ||
| October | 23° | 23° | Open | ||
| November | 18° | 19° | Off-season | ||
| December | 16° | 16° | Off-season |
Office note
You don't have to read any of this yourself. The captain does it every morning and routes to the calm side by default — but understanding it is why a day that "looked windy" on your phone turns out glassy on the water.
The Office
Send the dates. The day takes shape from there.
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