A crossing between the islands ofIbiza and of Formentera takes only half an hour by ferry but only gives a quick glimpse of the beauty of the coasts of the archipelago Pityuses. On a catamaran chartered by Samboat for Luxury Infinity, the experience is completely different.
After multiple stays in the Balearic, Ibiza and Formentera might seem to hold no more secrets. Until the day the site SamBoat Online boat rental company Luxe Infinity offers a chance to try out a day at sea.
Board the Lagoon 400 catamaran, a 12-meter-long boat built in 2017 that can accommodate ten passengers in addition to the crew. It has four bedrooms; a bathroom with a shower and toilet for each; and a cabin reserved for the crew. Inside, a living room is furnished with a spacious, fully equipped kitchen, while outside, the other table installed in the cockpit is surrounded by comfortable benches.
Ricardo, the catamaran captain, picks up the Luxe Infinity team in a Zodiac dinghy. He arranged to meet us in a sheltered cove in Ibiza, Cala Jondal, due to windy and rainy weather in the morning. As is often the case on islands, the weather can change very quickly, and the sun appeared at midday as we approached Formentera. In constant contact with Ruben, the boat owner—who lives in Formentera—the skipper organizes our lunch break by reserving a table at one of the island's most popular restaurants, Es Ministre, frequented by a clientele of yachtsmen and wealthy tourists. The staff, particularly professional and multilingual, is attentive, starting with the sea "valet," who comes to pick us up and return us in a Zodiac.
Back on the catamaran, Ricardo and I make plans for the rest of the day. Typically, guests request to anchor in a pretty cove to enjoy swimming or snorkeling. To better test the SamBoat experience, we prefer to stay on board and visit as many sites as possible along the coast. The turquoise waters of Formentera are renowned for their beauty, so we head towards Ses Illetes and Espalmador, getting as close as possible to the beaches, some of which are only accessible by boat.
The lighthouses of Formentera and Ibiza face each other, separated by only three to four nautical miles (about 7 kilometers). We realize how these two islands were one over 10 years ago, before the Mediterranean pulled them apart. Another known phenomenon is a form of watershed on the island of Formentera, with a calm side and a more choppy side. Between the play of the winds, the orientation of the island, and the underwater relief, Formentera has protected areas to the north and west, close to Ibiza, while areas exposed to waves are found to the south and east.
We leave Formentera to sail along the southeast coast of Ibiza: from Salines beach to Punta de la Rana and its steep 190-meter cliff, at the foot of which the waters are emerald-colored. A little further on, just past Ibiza's salt marshes, the airport's runway reveals itself as an unexpected attraction. A surprise our skipper has in store for us. Ricardo positions the boat in line with the runway, as close as possible. The airliners fly over us with a deafening noise, as if they were about to land on the catamaran. The attraction generally leaves no one indifferent and visibly amuses our captain, who seems to appreciate planes as much as boats. After working in the world of finance, Ricardo chose to obtain a pleasure boat license with an extension for skippering sailboats and catamarans. Passionate about the sea and sailing, he devotes five months a year to this activity for SamBoat. He tells us that each cruise is different. He can accommodate families with children as well as young people looking to party. Alone on board, he is responsible for their safety and that of the boat. Taking great care of us, he constantly inquires about what we might enjoy, whether it's the cruise itinerary or our comfort on board.
Although he had been sailing mainly under motor, he chose to use the jib in the afternoon. Everything then took on another dimension, with the magic of the wind blowing on the sail and silently pushing the catamaran back to its starting point, in the cove of Cala Jondal, which we had left eight hours earlier.
While for us, the experience was focused on a day of reporting, SamBoat also offers customers who wish to stay on board for up to a week, or even ten days. Launched in 2014, the SamBoat online boat rental site – a French platform based in Bordeaux – presents itself as a community that brings together owners and individuals. More than 50 vessels are available, with or without a skipper: sailboats, catamarans, motorboats, yachts, and even barges. This represents a total volume of 000 rentals, spread across 150 destinations in 000 countries.
Last May, the company launched SamBoat Experiences, an offering rolled out in various markets. The boat can be booked by the hour, half-day, or for several days, with or without a license, and accompanied by a professional skipper when necessary. It's an experience that allows everyone—whether they're a novice like us or an experienced sailor—to experience a unique adventure.
Carine Loeillet
Photographs Olivier Saingéry
