Espagne !

[taf]

I have a cunning plan to charter a boat in SE Spain in September, and to meet up with some friends over there. We found a handy charter base in Denia, and intend to sail down the coast about as far as Cartagena and back. Did the sensible thing, and bought the pilot book, and checked for any warnings about wind or currents, and it all looks within our capabilities (dayskipper plus a bit of chartering in the Solent and the Med.) However ...... my (non sailing) friend has just returned with tales of woe about "unpredictable winds", and now I'm getting cold feet - has anyone got any experience of this area in Autumn ?

 

[Sinbad1]

Unpredictable winds!! Isn't that what the wind does everywhere.

You have a really good cunning plan. The sailing around there in Sept. is lovely. Its getting a little cooler and many boats are tied up for the winter leaving space in the marinas. There are also lots of harbours and marinas from Denia going South tho there is one longish day going South to Cartegena. You would probably find you have enough to do from Denia, around to Calpe, Moraira, Altea and as you can see Ibizia quite clearly you may be tempted to sail the 60 odd miles to there.

You will love it. friendly people great restaurants at good prices and you can either anchor off or tie up alongside.

 

[tcm]

The winds are unpredictable in that they are not as predictable weather-forecats-wise from several days ahead. But the locals will all know exactly what is going on, forecasts are posted around the marinas, and you'll be sailing inshore anyway. Generally, the breeze turns up as a 4-5 from midday as the lands heats up. But the fetch is short in the med, so the sea settles quickly, and if you've been out of the solent in or sometime after a SW6- 8 - it's not at all like that - unless a storm settles in for some days, and in september, it usually doesn't.

You should calm the nerves of your worried companion who is merely expressing his concern for you and subconciously testing your resolve and confidence in your own abilities which you should not doubt, provided that they are diluted 50-50 with caution and an occassional sprinkling of blind panic.

 

[sailbadthesinner]

I would only add that we did have some strong gusts blowing down narrow anchorages as the adiabatic wind blew at night. We dragged once but it was no great shakes. This was in Ibiza but that is only a hop from say Valencia. I have not been in august but have been told it can get very busy. However it still would beat the solent IMHO. I certainly would not be wary about going. Go for it!
Good luck

Wants woman with boat
Send photo of boat

 

[taf]

Well - thanks all for settling my fears ! I can get back on with booking the boat now ! We can cope with the wind not doing what the forecast says it will (does it ever ?!), just worried that some bizarre storm season started that we didn't know about !

TAF.

 

[ruthhobson]

We were told by people in Majorca (who have been out there for quite a few years) that the middle two weeks in Sept would be wonderful for sailing. Before the autumn or winter weather arrives and the patch of "bad" weather they can have in August is over.

Ruth