Cruising North Africa

[bazobeleza]

Have any of the sages on this forum information on Cruising North Africa. I have the RCC north Africa Pilot but it was last revised in 05 so any recent info or tips would be appreciated. I'm currently in laid up for the winter in Faro, a trip en-famille this summer to Tangier or Med coast, Ceuta is on the cards so a bit of pre-planning seems a wise move.

 

[PlanB]

We thought that the security and general state of Tangier marina left a lot to be desired - the moorings are very near the flishing fleet, so there's lots of general coming and going. Good yacht club, though. Town can be seen in one day.
Ceuta (Spanish territory) is an OK marina, in town, with security, and the town is pleasant and interesting. There's a terrific park/lido right next to the marina.
Smir, next marina down in Morocco, is a modern marina with decent facilities. Cheap fuel. Good restaurants (mostly dry, although the one next to the tower sells booze)and supermarket, beach next door. Nearby Tetouan and Chefchaouen well worth a trip.

Can't help with Africa beyond that.

 

[bazobeleza]

cheers plan B. any idea what he current diesel price is in morocco? my tanks are getting empty as I don't like paying portugal pump prices and i'm still on the remnants of my UK red. my tanks hold 1500l so it might well contribute to cutting my costs down this year.

 

[capnsensible]

Can absolutely reccomend Ceuta and the marina 12 miles down the coast, Smir. In fact went so many times, I had to renew my passport, full of Moroccan stamps!!
Ceuta is a bit scruffy but captivating. The big swimming pool complex just behind the marina is tops, especially with kids. For an entertaining evening, including family, try a taxi up to the OASIS restaurant. Up near the lighthouse, abot 4 euros in a cab. Try the 'Morroccan Feast' about 6 courses, fantastic.
Smir also has a good boatyard. We hauled there a few years ago. We worked the costs, take your own antifoul paint from Gib, and discovered that 4 days out, plus staying in the hotel 1 min from the marina plus the boatyard lads doing ALL the work was cheaper than a lift in Gib and us doing all the work.
Try a taxi tour to the old capital, Tetuan. Magic place, like going back in time by a hundred years!! I like Morrocco in general, very friendly albeit rather beaurocratic, many fond memories.
Hope this helps.

 

[capnsensible]

Try Gib for fuel, cleaner and still cheap.

 

[PlanB]

Sorry, can't remember exact price, but it compared well with Gib. Certainly we decided it wasn't worth a detour via Gib to refuel on our way back to Duquesa (and we're a 1300 ltr boat!).