Sailing with kids
in Menorca

"Will the kids get bored?" "Is it safe?" "What if they get seasick?" These are the three questions parents ask us most before booking a sailing trip around Menorca. And they're fair questions: taking the family onto a boat is a little daunting the first time. The short answer, after hundreds of trips with families on board, is that a day on a sailboat is usually the best memory children take home from their holiday. The long answer is this guide.

It's told by someone who lives it every week, not by a brochure: no empty promises here, just what really works when you're sailing with little ones along the Menorcan coast.

Is it safe to sail with children?

Yes, and with plenty of margin. A sailboat is, in fact, one of the safest, calmest ways for a child to enjoy the sea in Menorca. We sail under canvas and at an easy pace, without the speed or pounding of a fast motorboat, and we spend most of the day anchored in sheltered coves, where the boat is practically still.

On board there are approved children's life jackets, the boat carries all the required safety equipment, and the professional skipper keeps an eye on everything at all times. The golden rule is simple: life jacket on whenever they're on deck while sailing or swimming, and an attentive adult. With that, the risk is minimal and the freedom is maximum.

From what age? From babies to teenagers

There's no minimum age. Babies a few months old, young children, teenagers and grandparents have all sailed with us on the same trip. What changes isn't the age, but how we approach the day:

• Babies and very young children (0-3): the half day (4 hours) and a calm sea are best. The shade of the bimini awning and the space of the interior saloon for a nap make all the difference.
• Children (4-11): the golden age. They easily handle the full day and have a great time swimming, paddleboarding and snorkelling.
• Teenagers: the paddleboard, the snorkelling and the chance to take the helm for a while (with the skipper beside them) usually win over even those who came aboard reluctantly.

The sailboat, a 12-metre Elan Impression 384 with capacity for 12 people, is spacious and comfortable: there's plenty of room for the children to move around freely and for the adults to relax.

Seasickness in children: how to actually avoid it

It's the big fear, and almost always unfounded on our kind of trip. Because we sail close to the coast, slowly and with long stops at anchor, the movement is gentle and seasickness is uncommon in children. Even so, if you know your child is prone to it, these tricks work:

• A light breakfast, never on an empty stomach or too full.
• Keep them on deck, in the open air and looking at the horizon, not inside staring at a screen.
• Hydration and some salty snacks within reach.
• If they're very prone, ask at the pharmacy for a children's remedy to take before setting off.

And a detail that reassures many parents: as it's a private trip just for your family, if something isn't right we can always adapt the plan, cut it short or head for the most sheltered cove. You're not tied to the schedule of a group of strangers.

Why a sailboat beats the beach when travelling with kids

Any parent who has tried to set up the family camp at a famous Menorcan cove in August knows what we mean: a car park that fills up by mid-morning, a walk loaded with cool boxes, parasols and pushchairs, and on arrival, your towel stuck to the neighbour's. A private boat turns all that on its head:

• The shade, the swim and the cool box come with you. No lugging half a supermarket along a path.
• You change cove whenever you want, always looking for the calmest, most sheltered one for the little ones.
• No crowds: we anchor in spots where children swim without bumping into anyone. Many can only be reached by sailing, as we explain in our guide to the coves of Menorca you can only reach by boat.

The best coves in Menorca for going by boat with children

Not all coves are equal for the little ones. The ones that work best are those with shallow, transparent water sheltered from the wind, where the boat stays still and children can touch the bottom near the shore. Our favourites with families on board:

• Illa d'en Colom (north coast): the calmest anchorage on the island, with shallow water over a clear sandy bottom. Unbeatable with young children.
• The southern coves (Binibèquer, ses Olles de Binisafúller): protected natural pools, ideal for a first snorkel.
• Es Clot de la Mola, a stone's throw from the Port of Mahón: a calm-water shelter for the windier days.

We choose the route the day before depending on the wind, always looking for the calmest coast. You'll find the details of both itineraries on our sailing routes in Menorca page.

What to bring for a day sailing with kids

• Sun cream (ideally water-resistant and reef-friendly) and reapply it often.
• Caps, sunglasses and a rash vest for swimming: the sun at sea hits twice as hard.
• Towels and a change of dry clothes per child.
• UV-protection rash vests: essential when the children are in the water snorkelling or playing on the paddleboard, because sun cream washes off and the sun's reflection on the water multiplies the radiation.
• Goggles in their size: we carry snorkel gear in various sizes on board, but if your child has goggles or a full-face mask (Easybreath-type) they're already comfortable with, bring it along.
• If your little one uses trusted armbands or a float, bring them (in addition to the on-board life jacket).
• Some snacks they like and water; the rest of the logistics you arrange to your taste.

The paddleboard and snorkel gear are already included in the trip, so that's one less thing to worry about. More questions about the trip? We answer them all in our frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions about sailing with children

About the author: Sergi is the owner and host of Elan Menorca. He has sailed the Menorcan coast since 2020 aboard his Elan Impression 384, based in the Port of Mahón, and has welcomed families of all ages on board.