Cadiz marinas

[nortada]

Top tip regarding Sancti Petri. Which is another great place. Don't anchor! You may get lucky upstream but talking to the club marineros there after trying myself and watching others, the holding in the strong currents is awful. The yacht club has visitor buoys for not a lot plus a free water taxi service that is so we'll run, I always give a bit of a tip.

Anchored there regularly over the past 18 years, even in a full gale.

Never dragged and the current is only strong at the entrance so we anchor in about 5m, 200-300m into the Ria. Bottom is sand and the water so clear you can see the anchor set. Plenty of room so you can set as much chain as you like.

We have witnessed some interesting collisions on the buoys at the entrance.

The pontoons in the marina are too small for anything but the smallest boat.

 

[Roberto]

Hello Philip,

just curious, will the Spanish stamp the passports?
On a trip from the US, once arrived in Horta I asked the Portuguese if they could put a stamp on the passport (simply as proof towards the US of having left the country without overstaying, the Americans did not exit stamp the passports), the Police refused, they said they cannot stamp EUropean passports.
regards
r.

 

[capnsensible]

Anchored there regularly over the past 18 years, even in a full gale.

Never dragged and the current is only strong at the entrance so we anchor in about 5m, 200-300m into the Ria. Bottom is sand and the water so clear you can see the anchor set. Plenty of room so you can set as much chain as you like.

We have witnessed some interesting collisions on the buoys at the entrance.

The pontoons in the marina are too small for anything but the smallest boat.

Are we talking about the same place I wonder? The abandoned village behind the castle, Franco kicked everyone out to have a military training area? Just starting to come back to life.

Its full of visitor and local moorings right up past the two yacht clubs and the pontoons so you cant anchor for at least a mile without getting tangled, doesnt seem to be the same place?

Anyway Ive had real problems getting the anchor to set, seen lots of others struggling too. For peace of mind the buoys are great and the taxi drivers are spot on!

 

[PhilipH]

Hello Philip,

just curious, will the Spanish stamp the passports?
On a trip from the US, once arrived in Horta I asked the Portuguese if they could put a stamp on the passport (simply as proof towards the US of having left the country without overstaying, the Americans did not exit stamp the passports), the Police refused, they said they cannot stamp EUropean passports.
regards
r.

 

[PhilipH]

Hello Philip,

just curious, will the Spanish stamp the passports?
On a trip from the US, once arrived in Horta I asked the Portuguese if they could put a stamp on the passport (simply as proof towards the US of having left the country without overstaying, the Americans did not exit stamp the passports), the Police refused, they said they cannot stamp EUropean passports.
regards
r.

Hi Roberto.
The US will never provide outbound clearance documents or passport stamps. A few years ago this caused major problems for boats arriving in Mexico. Similarly Bahamas does not do outbound clearance presumably because of all the US boats. We got Bermuda in stamps but not out. When we arrived in Azores we did not get passport stamped but we did have papers for the boat and they have a superb IT system recording inter-island movements. We had a paper from Santa Maria for Porto Santo, Madeiras. Then we got three pages of document from Porto Santo for Morocco and were advised that without the paper we would be fined by the Moroccan authorities. We have an entry document for us and the boat in Morocco but no passport stamps. We do not know what happens when we arrive in Spain but our approach is least hassle and most respect.

 

[PhilipH]

Is it rules & regs to check in after a trip to Morocco?

Genuine question, I've never bothered checking back in to Europe.


(Always fly courtesy flag/yellow)

Working on the assumption that Morocco is not part of EU then it woud seem a bit odd for example that you could sail from any other country to Morocco and then go to EU without any clearance ..... noonsite confirms that EU boats arriving in Spain from non-EU countries must clear in.

 

[Roberto]

Hi Roberto.
The US will never provide outbound clearance documents or passport stamps. A few years ago this caused major problems for boats arriving in Mexico. Similarly Bahamas does not do outbound clearance presumably because of all the US boats. We got Bermuda in stamps but not out. When we arrived in Azores we did not get passport stamped but we did have papers for the boat and they have a superb IT system recording inter-island movements. We had a paper from Santa Maria for Porto Santo, Madeiras. Then we got three pages of document from Porto Santo for Morocco and were advised that without the paper we would be fined by the Moroccan authorities. We have an entry document for us and the boat in Morocco but no passport stamps. We do not know what happens when we arrive in Spain but our approach is least hassle and most respect.

Thanks Phil,
enjoy Cadiz, a mixture of Med and Atlantic, Naples+Marseille+Bogey's Casablanca, a place we would not hesitate to go and live for a few years.
As others have said, the marina is a long walk from the town; if you then go to Rota (I spent a few weeks there last year waiting for my women, loved it), as you enter keep away from the SW breakwater as it has/had heavily silted, local fishermen were very loud when I was approaching, or be ready to lift the keel.
all the best,
r.

 

[capnsensible]

Working on the assumption that Morocco is not part of EU then it woud seem a bit odd for example that you could sail from any other country to Morocco and then go to EU without any clearance ..... noonsite confirms that EU boats arriving in Spain from non-EU countries must clear in.

Over a period of around 15 years, I ran sailing schools in Gib. I would generally visit Smir 8 to 10 times a year and actually had to change my passport early once because it was full of stamps. If I returned to Gib from anywhere, you have to clear in but for many years it has been handled by marina office staff.

Otherwise, when filling in paperwork at Spanish Marinas, you generally give passport details and that is sufficient.

As I said at the beginning, try Puerto America in Cadiz. Fill in the paperwork and ask if that is enough. In the unlikely event it isnt, then you are a ten minute walk from the cruise ship dock where you can surprise an official by requesting to clear in. Its up to you, but you did ask.....

 

[PhilipH]

Over a period of around 15 years, I ran sailing schools in Gib. I would generally visit Smir 8 to 10 times a year and actually had to change my passport early once because it was full of stamps. If I returned to Gib from anywhere, you have to clear in but for many years it has been handled by marina office staff.

Otherwise, when filling in paperwork at Spanish Marinas, you generally give passport details and that is sufficient.

As I said at the beginning, try Puerto America in Cadiz. Fill in the paperwork and ask if that is enough. In the unlikely event it isnt, then you are a ten minute walk from the cruise ship dock where you can surprise an official by requesting to clear in. Its up to you, but you did ask.....

Thank you - this is extremely helpful. Will follow your advice.

 

[capnsensible]

:encouragement:

As others have mentioned, Cadiz is a great place to explore for a couple of days. Everything from Grand Plaza, Sherry, cobbled streets, watching the fishing fleet put to sea in the evenings, sherry tasting. Oh, and the sherry!

Nice showers in the marina and if you are on the pontoon opposite the reception dock an investment in beer and tapas gets you the wifi code for the small bar and you can just get it onboard when the bar is open. Otherwise, like all the Junta marinas, no public internet.

Enjoy your visit!

 

[GHA]

:encouragement:

As others have mentioned, Cadiz is a great place to explore for a couple of days!

Indeed! Spent a summer there onboard, great place. Fiesty bunch.

One of the many favourite tapas bars.

https://meson-de-las-americas.negocio.site

 

[pauldoody]

Well, we like to keep things nice and proper. Lots of folks don't bother with things like courtesy flags or other rules and regs but we do. It's our way of cruising.

Clearing in on a return from morroco is not a requirement, I also don't clear in. the first time I did the trip i tried, but the authorities are not interested. Why do you assume that we do not comply with other regs or courtesies. Where did you manage to get a check in?

 

[James Marinero]

Top tips?

Worth a couple of days in Cadiz. Splendid old town but a good walk from the marina especially if you need victuals.

A sail under the new bridge up to the old one is interesting.

A trip up the river to Santa Maria is fab with a potential to overnight at the Yacht Club. Helps if you speak some Spanish and are cool with strong currents.

Good anchorage just outside before the big Marina at Puerto Sherry. The marina itself is in a good spot, beaches either side but a bit pricey.

Rota is simply great. But will need a cab back from the bigger supermarkets if loaded. Good one bang in middle of town where all the bars and restaurants are. Beach next to marina, I could go on about this place!

Lastly, bit further on is another gem, Chipiona. Marina looks a bit industrial but old town is great. It's also a good start line if you want to go up the river to Seville.

Enjoy!

+1 to all of that.