Anchoring in Atlantic Morocco

[sebastiannr]

Hi there,

I will shortly be heading down to the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Does anyone have any experience of the possibility of anchoring around ports such as Tangier, Larache, Rabat etc. I would like to avoid paying marina fees if possible. The Imray pilot is surprisingly vague on the matter.

Many thanks,

sebastian.

 

[Conachair]

They like you somewhere where they can keep an eye on you down there. Tangier is cheap though, in the marina. I've anchored in Asilah before, well for a few minutes until they told me to tie up to the fishing boats. 5am fishermen would untie you and let a few 100' boats out then tie you up again. No charge, they didn't even bother stamping passport, just kept boat docs and passport 'til I left. Further south not sure about, that coast can be a bit of a scary lee shore if deppressions come in from Atlantic, I chickened out and stayed further off.

 

[Catweasel]

interesting thread, am heading down west coast of Africa in a few months (I leave UK 26th June) so will be watching this thread with....well, interest.

thanks for posting and thanks for responses.

 

[JayBee]

Two years ago we arrived off Tangier after midnight and decided to anchor until daylight before entering the port. The anchorage was one recommended either in Reed's or the CA Almanac, I can't remember which.

Having brought up and got the nightcaps out, we were rudely interrupted by a RIB searchlight illuminating the cockpit and a voice shouting, in French, that anchoring was interdit and that we must proceed into the port. No arguments accepted so, hey ho, up with the anchor and into the port.

Almost two hours later we had failed to find anywhere to berth or re-anchor and were obliged to sail for Barbate in Andalucia. By this time there was a howling Levanter blowing, so at least we had a fast trip to Spain.

The marina in Tangier was full and some boats were rafted up to the hammerhead, which partly obstructed the exit for fishing boats further inside the harbour. We were not permitted to add our boat to the raft and there were no feasible or permitted alternatives.

If we return to Tangier we will first make sure it is not in the middle of the night and secondly that there is space available in the marina.

 

[sebastiannr]

The marina in Tangier was full and some boats were rafted up to the hammerhead, which partly obstructed the exit for fishing boats further inside the harbour. We were not permitted to add our boat to the raft and there were no feasible or permitted alternatives.

This is what I am concerned about. Did you make it back to any other ports in Morocco?

 

[JayBee]

The marina in Tangier was full and some boats were rafted up to the hammerhead, which partly obstructed the exit for fishing boats further inside the harbour. We were not permitted to add our boat to the raft and there were no feasible or permitted alternatives.

This is what I am concerned about. Did you make it back to any other ports in Morocco?

No, that was it. We had come to Tangier from the marina in Smir, which is OK and not expensive. On our way round to Tangier we were intercepted by a Moroccan patrol boat, which asked a lot of questions over the VHF. They were happy with the answers and wished us a pleasant trip, so someone in Tangier may have been expecting us.

 

[Mariner69]

For what it is worth, my experience on the west coast of Morocco, dealing with large ships and going out to them in the pilot launch, is that even without a sea there is often a substantial swell running; three metres on one occasion and not less than one metre on the others. Also, as others have said, it is a lee coast for the westerlies.

Hope that helps.

 

[ianat182]

My information is rather outdated as to modern facilities for yachts as it was some 50 years ago that I was aboard a 72ft converted HDML cruising that coast, down to the Canaries. Since the French left Morocco the port names have changed to Arabic versions so I give both here.

Port Lyautey is now KENITRA was formerly a US naval Base. The entrance to the Soubo river was/is straight forward and I believe that there was a bar there at the mouth in the war years. Should be safe moorings alongside the port, close to the town. Good markets.
I believe there is a chart that includes details of MEHDIA with the Kenitra details, but I don't know whether it is a second port or say, an abbreviated form of 'Mohammedia'(Fedala)

Fedala is now Mohammedia; a sheltered harbour then, and a fishing port (fresh sardines),nice walks ashore, the town clean and obviously French influenced. Small coasters/ tankers used to moor next the outer arm of the harbour. Spent 2 months there. Moored astern of the tankers at nominal charges then.

Casablanca is the major port along this coast and had plenty of French naval facilities and yachting interests; I raced in International Stars from there back to Fedala which was quite a thing in those days.
There was Yacht Club there then with just a few Mobos,but probably a full marina job by now. The City was a marvellous one for shopping and I've no doubt still will be,though paris fashions may not be displayed quite as then!

Safi now has a very large harbour, another fishing port though, so contacting the harbour people first would be advisable.

Agadir - large harbour and plenty of anchorage space there; is now a holiday resort of quality and plenty of places to visit in land. Had a trip up the steep hill to the palace at the top when there and were fed and watered in Arab style,right hand eating only etc.
In the 50's there was a major earthquake there so don't know if much of the original town was left afterwards but considerable loss of life I remember.
This is a good kicking -off point for the cruise to the Canaries.

Favourite port was Fedala of all. If you have time try to get a trip to Marrakech, a wonderful place for a real taste of Morocco as it was.

Perhaps a GOOGLE Earth scan will uncover marinas that may now exist,and any new navigational additions, jetties and the like.

Our HDML rolled like a good'un along this coast,as said the swells are 3m plus but the long wavelength makes this tolerable.

Get yourselves some strong fishing gear to troll this coast for Dorado,Bonito,Tuna and other larger gamefish,and a strong back to haul them in !!

Good sailing

ianat182