Any suggestions on where to keep a boat in the Western med?

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NealB

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I'm trying to evaluate whether it would be viable for us to base our boat in the Mediterranean for a couple of seasons, with year round access by air from London (say 2 hours from Stanstead or City would be perfect).

We'd like: safe, secure marina, good local cruising, and, of course, dead cheap (yeah....we may need to compromise somewhere with that list).

Any suggestions on locations, or any ideas, or stories based on experience will be very welcomed.

Thanks.
 
Almerimar hits most of those but not sure about good local cruising to give sufficient variety for 2 years, as it is a little limited along this coast. However if you want could get to the Balearics in 2 long day sails and an overnight, where you have plenty.
If you wanted it just as a base for overwintering could not fault it.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, so far...lots to research there.

Overnight passages are cetainly part of the plan.

We'd also consider Italy, Sardinia and Corsica, if anyone's got knowledge from those parts.
 
NealB said:
Thanks for the suggestions, so far...lots to research there.

Overnight passages are cetainly part of the plan.

We'd also consider Italy, Sardinia and Corsica, if anyone's got knowledge from those parts.
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We checked out Alicante area southwards. In a nutshell it is expensive! All the local marinas are fully occupied by locals, however Cartegena was OK, roughly equivalent to Solent prices but negotiable - they want the business!!! I think Almerimar is cheaper but not so nice. Coast is ruined by development (Benidorm is every bit as bad as the series!!!) but some of the coastline is still pretty (bays and that!). We decided not to bother until we could go for months and not weeks.

Good luck

Dick
 
The West coast of Italy is worth checking out - it's less popular with transiting yachts, which mostly seem to go from the South of France to Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily before heading for Greece - so it's possible to get good deals at some of the marinas. There's an Italian publication called "Pagine Azzurre" (the 'Blue Pages') which is the almanac for Italian waters that has full details.
 
greenalien said:
The West coast of Italy is worth checking out - it's less popular with transiting yachts, which mostly seem to go from the South of France to Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily before heading for Greece - so it's possible to get good deals at some of the marinas. There's an Italian publication called "Pagine Azzurre" (the 'Blue Pages') which is the almanac for Italian waters that has full details.
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West Italy facilities have a reputation for being high-priced, even by west Med standards.
 
Twister_Ken said:
West Italy facilities have a reputation for being high-priced, even by west Med standards.
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The area around Capri and Naples can certainly be pricey - as can Sardinia - but go further north and it gets cheaper - at least, that was my experience. There was even one marina run by a couple of Brits, although the name escapes me at present.
 
Western Med

We spent 4 years in Mallorca. We have not discovered anywhere more expensive since!

I have investigated a lot of places on the Net. France has lots of marinas but most seem full when you enquire for a years berth. Even Port de Camargue - which is huge had no space. The enquiry was made by a friend who does have a berth there

Spanish coast is lots cheaper than Mallorca. We are currently in L'Escala which is pretty reasonable. It is close to Girona airport. Lovely town and close to Bay of Rosas

Italy may be possible, but there is a question of a wealth tax on yachts being introduced.

Sardinia is about the same price as Spain for the year, but a pain to get to in Winter. Prices are very skewed. Very cheap in winter. Hugely expensive in the peak summer period

Malta is a little cheaper than where we are at present

Does this help?

TudorSailor
 
I like Cartagena, the marina prices are ok, the town is very interesting and active all year round and offers all facilities incl. 3 chandleries and two haulout facilities, airport facilities close by (Murcia and also Alicante 1.5hrs away) and best of all great weather virtually all year round! Ibiza is only about 130M away.

Here's the YPC website: www.cartagenamarina.es
 
South of France is mostly full up with infinitely long waiting lists (nothing moves).

However a couple of places worth trying:-

Leucate - http://www.leucate-port.com and may be
Sete as I think they added a few berths recently.

Leucate is probably one of the cheapest places in the South of France and Spain. I pay less than 4000 euros per year for a 15-17m slot (and I am just over 20m length with the bowsprit). However, there is often lots of wind which not everyone appreciates. The Costa Brava is close and plenty of spectacular coast line. Just a few miles is Collioure with its royal palace and plenty of reasonable restaurants. For us Port de Selva in Spain is a days sail - lovely bay for anchoring, a couple of nice restaurants. And a further days sail takes us to Rosas (again we know some really good restaurants - but we need the bikes for that).
 
Not the Med, but Lagos on the Algarve is a great all year round location. Good live aboard community, all year town, reasonable amount of cruising..... Lisbon a day IIRC, Cadiz a day, Gib 2 days, Ibiza 5 days.

Easy access from Faro airport by train, hire car, or the transfer buses.
 
michaelchapman said:
South of France is mostly full up with infinitely long waiting lists (nothing moves).

However a couple of places worth trying:-

Leucate - http://www.leucate-port.com and may be
Sete as I think they added a few berths recently.

Leucate is probably one of the cheapest places in the South of France and Spain. I pay less than 4000 euros per year for a 15-17m slot (and I am just over 20m length with the bowsprit). However, there is often lots of wind which not everyone appreciates. The Costa Brava is close and plenty of spectacular coast line. Just a few miles is Collioure with its royal palace and plenty of reasonable restaurants. For us Port de Selva in Spain is a days sail - lovely bay for anchoring, a couple of nice restaurants. And a further days sail takes us to Rosas (again we know some really good restaurants - but we need the bikes for that).
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Leucate Port is currently adding more berths and there is lots of scope for so continuing.
In respect of the wind, our apartment is next door in the naturist village and our roof-top anemometer has recorded sustained force 10s off the Pyrenees. However, they don't hit the sea for a good way offshore. Yet nobody ventures out.

On-shore winds are a different matter and the beach topography changes every winter.

Port Leucate is substantially a holiday destination and in the winter is dead. There are a few yards in the port and the acastillage is not bad (another agent for the MastaClimba!).
 
NealB said:
I'm trying to evaluate whether it would be viable for us to base our boat in the Mediterranean for a couple of seasons, with year round access by air from London (say 2 hours from Stanstead or City would be perfect).

We'd like: safe, secure marina, good local cruising, and, of course, dead cheap (yeah....we may need to compromise somewhere with that list).

Any suggestions on locations, or any ideas, or stories based on experience will be very welcomed.

Thanks.
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The new marina at La Linea might offer what you want. It was the cheapest that we had come across. Easy walk into Gib. - as close to the airport as the Gib marinas. From there you have access to the Med. north Africa and the Atlantic coast of Spain and the Algarve.
Being modern the berths are wide so they didn't charge extra for the 9m Catalac.
 
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