Mar Menor · Spain
Sailing, friendship and fun on the Mar Menor
Love being on the water? Fancy learning to sail, improving your skills or simply enjoying a relaxed sail with friendly people? The Balaton Sailing and Social Group welcomes sailors of all abilities — from complete beginners to experienced skippers.
- Four day-sailing boatsSailfish 18s + Arabel
- All abilitiesBeginners welcome
- Partner includedSail together, free
Welcome aboard
Based around the beautiful Mar Menor in Spain, we offer an affordable and sociable way to enjoy sailing, explore the coastline and make new friends. Whether you want to learn to skipper a boat, enjoy sailing as crew or simply spend more time on the water, you’ll find a warm welcome with us.
Our boats — ready for your next adventure
We have four day-sailing boats available for members to enjoy, with plenty of opportunities to get out on the water and enjoy everything the Mar Menor has to offer.
- 3Three Sailfish 18s
18-foot (5.5-metre) sailing boats - 1One Arabel
a locally built, 6-metre sailing boat
Three of our boats are berthed in the marina at Los Urrutias, while our fourth Sailfish is kept on swing moorings at Los Alcázares.
Sailing together — the social side
Sailing with Balaton is about much more than just boats.
We try to organise friendly group sails during the week, giving members the opportunity to enjoy the water together. These outings often end with lunch and a good chat, making them as much a social occasion as a sailing trip.
We also enjoy sailing to a beach or marina for lunch. Non-sailing partners and friends can meet us there by land, allowing everyone to share in the day before the sailors head back out onto the water.
Weather permitting, we hope to resume our popular Spring and Autumn race days, giving members the chance to enjoy a little friendly competition.
Fancy a sail on another day?
If you would like to go sailing but need a skipper or crew, simply email the group. There is usually someone willing to join you for an outing.
Learn to sail — or build on your experience
You don’t need to be an experienced sailor to join us!
Our more experienced skippers are happy to help newcomers learn the ropes in a relaxed and supportive environment. We want learning to sail to be enjoyable, giving you the confidence to develop your skills at your own pace.
Experienced sailors are also welcome and can receive familiarisation tuition to get to know our boats. You can join with the ambition of becoming a skipper or simply enjoy being part of the crew — there is room for everyone, whatever their level of experience.
Opportunities to…
- Learn the basics of sailing
- Develop your sailing skills and confidence
- Gain experience at the helm
- Work towards becoming a skipper
- Continue sailing as crew and enjoy our regular social outings
Affordable sailing and membership
We want to make sailing accessible and affordable, without the expense of owning and maintaining your own boat. Our membership fees are designed to give you excellent value while helping us keep the boats in good condition.
Your membership covers you and your partner or one nominated family member, who can sail with you free of additional sailing charges. They are also welcome at our social events and meetings, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved even if sailing isn’t their main interest.
We believe sailing is even better when it is shared. Friends and family are welcome to experience our boats too — we ask for a nominal donation of €10 per day, per boat outing, rather than per person. Our aim is simple: to encourage people to enjoy our boats as much as possible.
We keep costs low by undertaking as much maintenance as possible ourselves. Members share responsibility for maintaining the boats, and working together is another opportunity to socialise and get to know one another.
SAMM — more sailing, more social events
The Balaton Group is a member of SAMM, the Sailing Association Mar Menor. SAMM organises a range of sailing and social activities:
- Monthly meetings featuring sailing-related talks
- Spring and Autumn race series
- Social events and opportunities to meet other sailors
- Handicap racing for members who enjoy a little competition
All Balaton Group members are required to join SAMM. Members who wish to take part can enter SAMM’s handicap races, which bring together a mixed fleet of boats — from dinghies to larger cruisers. The handicap system helps make the racing interesting and competitive across the different types of boats. Our group has enjoyed some success in previous seasons, and we always look forward to race days, whether we’re competing for a result or simply enjoying the experience.
Come and meet us!
Thinking about joining a sailing group? Why not come and see what we’re all about? You are welcome to meet our members, have a look at our boats and, where arrangements permit, enjoy a test sail. Whether you are an experienced sailor, a complete beginner or simply curious about sailing on the beautiful Mar Menor, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Get in touch with Julian Pering to find out more or arrange a visit.