Altea

[petem]

Does anyone keep their boat in Altea? We're considering it for the winter and I'd be interested to know what the local cruising grounds are like plus any recommendations for trades people.

 

[petem]

As I've reported in my Andiamo thread, we have moved the boat to Marine Greenwich near Altea. Other people might know the marina as Campomanes or Mascarat. Anyhow, one of my parners has just returned from a weekend on board and like me is happy with our choice and location within the marina.

Despite having been there only a few weeks we've got a small network of tradespeople that can clean the boat, turn around the linen, re-attach bits that fall off and generally keep an eye on it.

Despite that, I've still got a couple of challenges. The marina is a 1970's job with the usual concrete quay (not pontoons) and it's a bit of a step up / down onto the boat. I could live with this but SWMBO who is even shorter than me and sadly suffering from arthritis finds is difficult to get on and off. Whilst I'd love a hydraulic pasarelle we'd probably be looking at around €5-10k so that's a non-starter. I could get a simple folding one but there's nowhere really to fit or store one and I'b be worried about stability and lack of a hand rail.

Looking around the marina, lots of people without pasarelles have a step added to the quay. These come in one or two step varieties and the marina has a bit of a closed shop meaning that you have to buy and fit them from their supplier. The cost is €450 + VAT for 1 steps and €560 + VAT for 2 steps. Does this sound reasonable? It's not actually clear to me whether you get to own the step or just lease it.

I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet?

 

[petem]

Also, are there any other forumites that boat in the Costa Blanca? I know that "longjohnsilver", "kashurst" and "truroexpat" are in the area but is there anyone else (I'm trying to get a Facebook group going but am struggling a bit for members)?

In particular, anyone else in Greenwich (there's quite a few Brit boats there, including some Fairlines)?

 

[Pinnacle]

Pete

Have you considered one of these? It’s plastic, so should be ok on the bathing platform;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Milenco-MGI-Plastic-Double-Caravan-Motorhome-Step-3797/183010802414?epid=622671952&hash=item2a9c4b3aee:g:q-8AAOSwI~Vbzfw2

 

[Seastoke]

Also, are there any other forumites that boat in the Costa Blanca? I know that "longjohnsilver", "kashurst" and "truroexpat" are in the area but is there anyone else (I'm trying to get a Facebook group going but am struggling a bit for members)?

In particular, anyone else in Greenwich (there's quite a few Brit boats there, including some Fairlines)?

do they fold down then pete ,they look well made

 

[Bouba]

It looks like stainless steel, always expensive. What about other ports that you visit, are they also high up?

 

[petem]

do they fold down then pete ,they look well made

Yes, they fold down. You can even padlock them in the up position.

 

[Seastoke]

not bad value if that is fitted ,and good hand rail , is there still a french restaurant there .ps get some names sold over there

 

[petem]

It looks like stainless steel, always expensive. What about other ports that you visit, are they also high up?

We're new to the area so haven't visited any other ports yet. I believe Calpe is pontoons though. At a pinch we could go in bows first and exit via the pulpit.

 

[petem]

not bad value if that is fitted ,and good hand rail , is there still a french restaurant there .ps get some names sold over there

Not sure about French but there's a Belgium restaurant very close to the boat (<50ft) called Sergio Clasico.

There's also a casual dining place (burgers, etc), an Argentinian, a couple of Spanish / Med places and another doing Pasta/Pizzas. I think there's even a couple of places doing a cooked brekkie.

A €15 cab get us to Altea for loads more restaurants.

 

[petem]

Pete

Have you considered one of these? It’s plastic, so should be ok on the bathing platform;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Milenco-MGI-Plastic-Double-Caravan-Motorhome-Step-3797/183010802414?epid=622671952&hash=item2a9c4b3aee:g:q-8AAOSwI~Vbzfw2

I did consider that but the gap would be too big between the top of the step and the quay.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Not sure about French but there's a Belgium restaurant very close to the boat (<50ft) called Sergio Clasico.

There's also a casual dining place (burgers, etc), an Argentinian, a couple of Spanish / Med places and another doing Pasta/Pizzas. I think there's even a couple of places doing a cooked brekkie.

A €15 cab get us to Altea for loads more restaurants.

That’s a coincidence, I was speaking to some neighbours a few days ago, they’d just been to Sergios (I’d not heard of it before then) and were shocked at the prices, just a main and wine and coffees cost them north of €170 for the 2 of them. Needless to say it’s not on my list of must go to restaurants!

 

[petem]

That’s a coincidence, I was speaking to some neighbours a few days ago, they’d just been to Sergios (I’d not heard of it before then) and were shocked at the prices, just a main and wine and coffees cost them north of €170 for the 2 of them. Needless to say it’s not on my list of must go to restaurants!

That's odd. I've not eaten there but whilst it didn't look cheap it didn't look that kind of price either. They do a three course lunchtime Menu Del Dia for €18 too. See https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-d8417999?m=19905.

 

[longjohnsilver]

That's odd. I've not eaten there but whilst it didn't look cheap it didn't look that kind of price either. They do a three course lunchtime Menu Del Dia for €18 too. See https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-d8417999?m=19905.

Yes, it does seem odd, although one of the recent reviews says the menu del dia is €28, that doesn’t explain €85+ for lunch. I’ll pop down and take a look, all the reviews seem very positive.

 

[petem]

Yes, it does seem odd, although one of the recent reviews says the menu del dia is €28, that doesn’t explain €85+ for lunch. I’ll pop down and take a look, all the reviews seem very positive.

TA shows a picture of the €18 menu so it does exist! Maybe it varies by time of day? Anyhow, more importantly you can see our boat just before you get to the restaurant!

 

[Portofino]

Pete

https://imgur.com/a/AsZnLmX

Running a sub 12 M boat when touring in the Med has its challenges.
Two issues quickly surface - from experience

Tender storage
Passerelle

Fortunately we had bessenzoni telescopic davits as you can see from the image .
And a big stern locker to place a folding Passerelle.
That’s our 2nd Passerelle in S Steel as the first was AL painted just blew once salt worked it’s way through the paint .
Cost 7/800 € well worth it .
It folds up and there was a removable hand rail

I wouldn’t,t buy a marina step because you may move marinas and as said and pointed out by Bouba “ what are you gonna do in different marinas “ staggering back in the dark after a skin full - hmm = accident warning !

Take a closer look at the pic you will see a second mounting female hole to the LHS of the BP on the BP itself for lower places .
Your boat needs to be as far off from the quay as poss - due to swell , wind etc .Hence the need for a Passerelle.
When not if you are winded in you will wish you had a Passerelle.Or worry about the gel coat !

Tender
Without a big proper BP to sit it on or a tender garage ( size restrictions) it will always be a PITA .
We used to have a 2.4 slatted floor ( with When packed up fitted under a cockpit seat ) but in daily touring mode we just lifted it and sat it on the table , when running .
In a visiting marina then person handled it across the windscreen and plonked it on the bow cushion.
Tried motoring with it on the bow but it severely reduced vis to run fast safely.
I don’t like the knacker cracker / sack ripper hooks on the stern you have .Theres an inevitability of a injury- in reality a cut shin or impaled arm pit - hope you have plenty of military first field dressings .

Without a Passerelle you will dink the gel coat and injuries from boarding will come thick and fast .

 

[NGM]

You will definitely need a folding passerelle when travelling to other marinas so unless you want to buy both I would go with the passerelle and leave it on the home quay when day tripping.

It's a bit of a pain as likely still 1m long when folded but you really have little choice, we had this one https://www.force4.co.uk/stainless-steel-folding-gangway-with-iroko-boards.html

if you place the female socket on your BT it might be worth having a raised block made for those marinas where the dockside is high.

 

[jrudge]

You will definitely need a folding passerelle when travelling to other marinas so unless you want to buy both I would go with the passerelle and leave it on the home quay when day tripping.

It's a bit of a pain as likely still 1m long when folded but you really have little choice, we had this one https://www.force4.co.uk/stainless-steel-folding-gangway-with-iroko-boards.html

if you place the female socket on your BT it might be worth having a raised block made for those marinas where the dockside is high.

I have a similar one to the above on my Targa 40 as does Jimmy the Builder ( I bought it cos he had one!).

I put in the hold of easyjet without issue. Was about £300 but that was a while ago. Need to drill a decent size hole to take the fitting.

 

[kashurst]

From memory for day tripping, altea, calpe, javea and alicante have floating pontoons so you can back in, or go alongside. The rest are fixed so you will probably need a plank of wood or a folding passarelle mounted a bit higher up on the transom as per jrudge. The visitor moorings in torrevieja are along side so hop over the gunwales, marina Salinas I think is floating sub ,12m.
I would get something simple and see how you go on.

 

[Truro Ex Pat]

Pete
I saw your post about access to the boat I have a folding fibreglass passerelle which is surplus to requirements and could be help full.
I am over next week and can take some pictures if interested?