Remains of the Helisara Sailboat

Unfinished Cleanup Work

Formentera, January 18, 2026

More than two months after the violent storm that struck Formentera, the impact on the Helisara sailboat remains clearly visible in one of the island’s most environmentally sensitive coastal stretches. The vessel was destroyed by heavy waves on November 6, 2025, and parts of its wreckage still lie scattered on the rocks and sand in the area.

The incident occurred within a protected natural area, further heightening public and environmental outrage over the damage caused. Despite initial cleanup efforts, the passage of time makes it clear that the removal of the wreckage has not been completed.

In the days following the storm, the Consell Insular of Formentera responded swiftly, ordering the removal of the most visible and dangerous debris. However, the complexity of the terrain and the state of the sea significantly slowed down the scheduled work.

At the time of writing this blog entry, the presence of large pieces on the sand, rocks, and underwater — as well as countless smaller fragments along the shoreline — shows that full environmental recovery has yet to be achieved.

Initial Efforts After the Storm

The Helisara sailboat had been stranded since August 2024 in front of the Es Molí de Sal restaurant until, on November 6, 2025, strong westerly winds triggered waves that completely destroyed the vessel. Debris was scattered all along the coastline, affecting the beach, rocky areas, and the shallow seabed.
The Consell of Formentera acted quickly and, the day after the storm, deployed workers from the concessionary company PreZero to begin removing the visible remains from the coast.
However, the larger pieces and those submerged underwater required a specialized intervention, which did not begin until late November, when a professional underwater work company was brought in.

Larger Wreckage Removed

On December 3, 2025, the Department of Environment reported that the company Eivisub had removed two of the largest fragments of the sailboat. These pieces were taken to the Port of La Savina, where a crane truck was used to extract them from the sea.
Afterwards, the materials were handed over to a specialized waste management company, responsible for sorting, treatment, and decontamination to ensure proper environmental disposal.

Wreckage Still Present

Despite these actions, weather conditions forced the suspension of the work while significant debris still remained. A month after the start of the cleanup operations, and after personally visiting the area, I can confirm that large fragments are still visible, such as parts of the aluminum and fiberglass deck resting on the rocks.
Part of the mast remains partially submerged, and large sections of the hull can still be found both in the shallow water and on the sand. As if that weren’t enough, the small sandy beach is still littered with pieces of wood with nails and screws, posing a real danger to anyone walking barefoot.
All in all, the situation shows that a great deal of work is still needed to restore this fragile stretch of coastline to its natural state and to ensure the protection of this emblematic part of Formentera.
Let’s hope the Consell Insular issues the necessary instructions to prevent further delays in the definitive cleanup and removal of all this debris.