Club Classics! Not as you know it – Ibiza and Formentera by yacht and SUP

Words: Kirsty Jones

Pics: Fanatic International

Anchored in a protected little bay on the southern coast of Ibiza it´s still dark outside and totally calm. The many unfamiliar noises on board a ship makes falling asleep the first night difficult. Arriving from Ibiza Airport last night most are still fast asleep in their cabins, fatigue having obviously set in.

Quietly the crew starts preparing the usual early morning yoga session, by setting up   Fanatic’s inflatable yoga platform. The platform is a great invention! It holds the boards in place during the session, so participants can fully focus on their exercises, not having to bother with paddling having drifted off.

During our week on Ibiza and Formentera every morning will begin with one of those early morning workouts. A sunrise at sea is always something special, watching that ball of fire slowly clearing the horizon while paddling on a SUP only intensifies the experience.Of course, we know that getting up before sunrise is not everyone’s favourite thing to do, especially when on holiday.  Participating in each of the offered activities during the week is entirely voluntary.  Our program is aimed at having fun in a group of like minded people and not worrying.

While our guests enjoy their yoga session led by Kirsty Jones, our specialized yoga instructor (and world class kitesurfer), the remaining team is preparing breakfast on deck. After some coffee, fresh fruits, eggs and a lot of Nutella, we set off to our next destination for the day.  Our goal is to show our guests as many of the beautiful places and anchorages the Balearic Islands have to offer, while not hitting the touristic hot spots that Ibiza (especially) is famous for.

Our journey is not like a cruise on a luxury boat. There’s no white tablecloth, no captain’s dinner and excessive pampering. Living aboard a sailing yacht is often a little uncomfortable and always too small a space. Despite that, it´s hard to beat the fascination of being at sea. The distance to shore often helps to offer a new perspective on little problems of our daily life. In turn we may question some of those daily routines.

Special moments and breath taking experiences in life are not easy to come by. We can´t just purchase a ticket and lean back in our sun chairs waiting for them to happen. We have to earn them. We have to be willing to give up on some comfort, to step out of our normal ways and maybe overcome some fear. We promise what you get for it is more than most will acquire. Your experiences will be real, not artificially designed. Moments in which you are not a spectator, but the main actor in your own adventure.

Kirsty Jones:
The combination of sailing, paddle boarding, yoga and exploring the beautiful Balearic Islands was such an amazing, unique and blissful experience, with an awesome team! Sailing and living aboard the yacht gave us the freedom to choose a new location each day, exploring and experiencing the very best of the Balearic Islands.

Thanks to the great team on board, the beautiful boat and the incredible selection of Fanatic boards and toys, our days were filled with the perfect balance of action, fitness, exploring, sailing, fun and total relaxation with fresh air and clear blue water!

What I loved was the diversity of the places we sailed to and visited. From remote, scenic bays with incredible turquoise waters, perfect for our SUP yoga sessions, to bustling harbours full of luxury super yachts. Then on to historical old towns with shops, nightlife, cafes and restaurants – this was Ibiza and Formentera but not as you know it.

Our mornings began with sunrise yoga – floating, balancing and breathing on the Fanatic Flyairfit boards. We usually did a team paddle after breakfast, exploring the coast and beautiful bays, stopping to jump off rocks, or exploring cool caves. During afternoons and evenings we did fitness sessions, played SUP polo or just sailed into the sunset to discover another location, and anchor for the night.

The whole experience gave us a special, magical connection to the ocean and elements, tuning our body, and freeing our mind. This helped us to realise our passions and paths, while bonding, sharing and contributing as a team of sailors and salty ocean lovers.