In the lead up to spring, more than one Spanish beach was covered by thousands and thousands of ‘little sails’ that show up occasionally when the weather is just right
Beachgoers were astonished to see a major beach covered by thousands of «little sails.» But, despite their appearance – they were actually living creatures which pose a stinging risk.
The beach of Puerto Soller in Majorca was inundated with velella velella, jellyfish-like hydrozoan species which is known in English as ‘little sail’, on March 29. The rough translation has to do with the fact that the membranes have little sails that help them take up the currents of the ocean and wind, propelling them across the sea. In certain sea and weather conditions, significant colonies of thousands of velella velella can wash up on shore.
Only hours after they took up residence on Repic beach, they also took over a neighbouring Majorca beach, Andratx. And just a few weeks prior colonies took over Cala Millor. While their sting is deemed ‘mild’ and ‘harmless’, people are urged not to touch them.
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The migration of the velella velella on Repic beach is not altogether uncommon. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, a similar ‘invasion’ took place in the spring of 2019. The phenomenon is even common in the US.
Majorcans refer to the velella velella as ‘barquetes de Sant Pere’, Saint Peter’s sailboats. The membranes are from the same family of species as the Portuguese man o’war but are harmless in comparison.
Unlike the Portuguese man o’war, velella velella stings are mostly benign. But they are a huge nuisance to get rid of because of their huge colonies. According to Majorca Daily Bulletin, when velella velella wash onto shore as they did at Repic beach, they need to be removed as quickly as possible. This is because as the membranes decompose, they start to smell and attract flies.
The velella velella migration is often associated with warmer water conditions, so it’s no surprise they have begun to emerge after Spain experienced a massive heat break over last weekend. While March 2025 was one of the wettest Marches on record for Spain, Storm Martinho has caused significant disruptions in temperature patterns over the past few weeks. Recently, the Spanish state weather agency, Aemet, even placed the entirety of the Costa del Sol on emergency yellow alert due to heavy winds and significant rainfall.
The passing of Storm Martinho drove significant temperature highs into the beginning of April, which will only continue to rise over the summer months. The migration of the velella velella is just one of many consequences of Spain’s rising temperatures.
