Cabo de Gata - Carboneras?

Grehan

Grehan

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Inland France + Oxon.
www.french-waterways.com
The 50 nm stretch of Costa Blanca coast from Cabo de Gata to Garrucha has no obvious harbours of refuge, save the commercial and fishing fleet ports at Carboneras, not normally recommended for yotties - has anyone here ever been in there?
 
No, not into Carboneras but I have been into Garrucha. You can anchor down at the far end. We were not troubled but I have been told they sometimes move you on in which case you can lie alongside FVs, some of which are quite large. I am told that you would NEVER be turned away from Garrucha in a blow. The marina is for quite small boats, I believe and not much spare space. Garrucha has the best fish restaurants in this part of Spain - unmissable.

I have also anchored in San Jose bay - the harbour is for very small boats - and that was fine. I anchored just away from the small boat moorings.

The west side of Cabo de Gata itself has a brilliant natural anchorage hardly a stone's throw from the light. We were there in an E 5 and you could have lit a candle. If you are ever caught in strong E or NE that's the place to go and the holding is good. You can also anchor a little further down the coast off San Miguel but it is open, I'm sure you'd get swell - you always get swell along this coast it anything is blowing out at sea.

I have several friends who stayed a few nights in San Pedro which is at N36 54.113, W001 58.745. Apparently it has had a lot of work done and is clean, nice and inexpensive.

Also, from another cruiser's email....

"The following may be more info than you wanted to know. If so, please forgive me.

We also enjoyed Puerto El Hornillo the evening of the 11th at N37 24.420, W001 33.622.

Tonight (the 12th) we considered Cala Cerada at N37 32.424, W001 09.252, but thought it too small as it had 2 other large boats in it already. So, we are at Cala De La Salitrona N37 32.965, W001 07.530. So far (8:11PM) it is very nice."
 
I don’t think there are any refuges between Cabo de Gata and Garrucha. I remember Carboneras as a grubby little fishing port with little or no space or facilities for yachts but it may be possible to anchor off Carboneras, I remember there is a tiny island just out of the harbour which might serve at a push. Garrucha is much better but is very limited on space as almost all of the berths are privately owned and always occupied. Tho sometimes they let yachts tie up to the fuel pontoon for short periods. The main problem with Garrucha is that it is used to load bulk carriers with minerals and can be very noisy even at night with the constant stream of trucks feeding the two JCB loaders with their continuous reversing warning bleepers going bleep bleep bleep!
Lemain is right about the fish restaurants and one of the best is the ‘El Rincon’ fish restaurant which is adjacent to the marina at the NE end. The marina has a supermarket (Mercadona) nearby and a good market on Fridays. I can even recomend a good dentist if needs be! There is nothing further up the coast either until you get to Aguilas (just into Murcia), this port is a bit bigger than Garrucha and may have more space or even allow anchoring within the harbour walls but you would have to check with the Port Captain.
 
Looked in to Carboneras but didn't stay. Looked distinctly commercial and not very yottie friendly, although in extremis it might provide shelter. Garrucha was OK, but as has been said, noisy, with the bulk carrier loading. We were there in June and the marina was full, but you can overnight on the fuel berth by arrangement with the gnarly marinero. That little anchorage up near the light is a hidden gem if you get caught in an easterly.
 
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