Any Canaries experience?

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oldvarnish

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I might need to leave a boat in the Canaries at the back end of next year. Has anyone got good or bad marina experiences to share?

I'm quite keen to avoid the ARC gathering in Las Palmas - nothing against the ARC but I prefer things on the quiet side,

thanks
 
It's old info now OV, but I wintered there 2006/7, live-a-board at the Rubicon Marina, Playa Blanca on the Southern tip of Lanzarotte. They did a small reduction price deal for 4 months or so and I found them friendly enough. Don't recall any nasty weather while there but it's well sheltered so should be safe enough. Didn't use the boatyard so can't comment. I remember they have a big sea fishing competition there and the place gets awash with game fishing boats and berths, if you haven't already got one, get a bit difficult to obtain for a week or so.
Late in the year a few ARC boats turned up on their way to Las Palmas, big posh boats and they didn't stay long anyway. A few live-a-boards were there like me just waiting for Las Palmas to clear before heading West, so you may find someone to keep an eye on your boat if she's unattended for a while.
 
oldvarnish said:
I might need to leave a boat in the Canaries at the back end of next year. Has anyone got good or bad marina experiences to share?

I'm quite keen to avoid the ARC gathering in Las Palmas - nothing against the ARC but I prefer things on the quiet side,

thanks
Click to expand...

We have also been in Rubicon for the last 6 months and really enjoyed it but if you want cheap and very quiet then Gran Tarajal on Fuerteventura would be the place. The marina is the same price as Las Palmas which is the cheapest in the Canaries. I have written a few reports on the marinas we have stayed at here: http://www.multihulls4us.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=46
 
Another vote for Puerto Calero, Lanzarote. We spent 3 months there in 2004. Not cheap but superb facilities and excellent management. Hauled out in their yard and were able to liveaboard whilst work was being done, bit far to the loos though!

Excellent flights to the UK, close to super provisioning. Great island to travel around. we were really pleasantly surprise always hearing it called Lanzagrotty. It's not true, it's a great place.

the marina is well protected and we found the staff very attentive.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
Have a look at San Sebastian, La Gomera, good marina, good facilities & a nice place.

Another alternative & close to the airport is San Migel, (Amarilla Golf), Tenerife, bit off the beaten track, but if you are leaving the boat, dosn't matter.
 
I left my boat at San Miguel December last year. They moved it without informing me and without my permission. It cost me an extra 500 GBP to change my airline tickets, cut short my holiday and return to the boat. When I arrived back at the marina I found that the boat wasn't tied up properly, they hadn't bothered with the springs, and only used bow and stern warps. Not exactly how I'd left it, everything was doubled up when I left the marina. The fender socks were ripped through and a 20mm mooring warp had chafed through and was thrown on the deck. I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't returned when I did.

So leave your boat at your own risk, convenient yes, safe, definitely not.
 
Sorry Sean, five years ago now and the memory is not all it could be!

Think we got a good deal staying 10 weeks, can't have been too bad or we wouldn't have stayed.....

Give them an email, they were always very efficient. Biog bonus in November when the owner throws a party for all the yachts to wish them well, particularly if they are about to cross the Atlantic. No charge when we were there and much appreciated by us all.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
Sean,

I'm in Puerto Calero at the moment.

The overnight charge for a Nic 38 is 22.14 euros plus 5% tax. The current discounts are:

1 month 22%

3 months 27%

6 months 35%

I think Marina Rubicon is similar.

Peter
 
Rubicon when I was quoted earlier this year was around 10% cheaper than Calero.
In my opinion if you need access to the airport, Calero is the better option if you don't I would go for Rubicon.
 
Another vote for Gran Tarajal. I spent about 3 months in the Canaries winter 08/09. The cheapest marinas are the 'state run' ones. I also left my boat in Puerto Callero for 3 weeks. It was cheap(ish) for a cat and extremely pleasant, secure and close to the airport. It also has all the (expensive) facilities you'd expect in a marina.
La Gomera is a nice island but I wouldn't leave my boat unattended for more than a day (and you need to get the ferry from Teneriffe.
Graciosa may be cheap, but they are a funny bunch there (even the staff in Puerto Callero said that) and you need to get a ferry from Graciosa to Lanzarotte (which has restricted times).
To put prices in perspective, for a 38ft cat in Oct 08 I paid E30 per night in Puerto Callero and E16 per night in Gran Tarajal.
 
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I was there for a week. Moved twice at the request of the marina. Very crowded. Don't get me wron g, it's a great island and the marina is OK but it is so popular that they seem (at least when I was there) to shuffle boats around to make more room . I would hate my boat to be 'shuffled' when I wasn't there.......that's the basis of my comment.
 
In Gomera I have seen boats moved when they are very busy, however I have never seen the marina staff move any boat. The owner has always been on board and been asked to move if they are occupying a berth that is too large for the boat.
 
I left my yacht FATHOM in marina san miguel and it turns out the owners had sold my yacht I am currently in court with them please keep away.
 
>It's old info now OV, but I wintered there 2006/7, live-a-board at the Rubicon Marina, Playa Blanca on the Southern tip of Lanzarotte.

Lovely place and definitely worth hiring a car to tour round. On the west coast there is a beach with a huge lava flow cliff that looks like waves, there is an oasis in the north where there are trees and in the NW caves to visit. A guidebook will give details. Also see how they grow grapes in volcanic soil.
 
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