France / Spain, the Med July/Aug

[blampied]

hi Formites

We are still new to the Med, travelled from Jersey through the French inland waterways, arrived into the Med at Port St Louis Sept last year.
Boat was out of the water for the winter and relaunched at La Grande Motte yesterday.

We have a vague plant to start off this year by traveling south into Spain, aiming for Barcelona. (No particular reason than its there)
And Cartagina in Spain looks promising for overwintering, (unlike the cold south of France, hopefully it's far enough South for conducive winter live aboard weather) but nothing is fixed in stone.

Being retired we need to keep to a budget, we are a small single engine motor boat (9.95m) anchoring out for long periods is not an option.

July and August is looking like it will be very expensive months.
Are there any low cost areas/places I should be considering?

We are small enough and with low enough air draft to tackle almost any canal.
Would the canal du Midi / Garonne and Lot rivers be feasible / lower cost July/Aug option.
Just how bad /how many are the bumper boats and is it only the Canal du Midi bit that's overrun with them.
Are there options for overnight stopping FOC on the Garonne /Lot.

All suggestions welcome.

 

[LadyInBed]

Before heading toward Spain you should not miss out on a short excursion East to Iles du Frioul off Marseilles, Calanques off Cassis (you can sit out a Mistral in there!), Ile de Port Cros and Ile du Lavant. About 75nM

 

[Sea Devil]

The canal du Midi is full of 'bumper boats.... as are most of the waterways coming off this system

Actually the difference in price between winter and Summer visiting overnight berths in most of the Med is around 30%

Barcelona is expensive as are much of Balearics -

Cartagena is less expensive and lovely - I tried to give an indication of prices last year in my book GENTLE MEDITERRANEAN ROUTES TO THE iSLANDS which can be downloaded from http://www.gentlesailing.com/gentle_routes_to_islands.htm. I tried to give an indication or both winter and summer rates over most of the Med

Michael

 

[blampied]

Hi Ladyinbed.

Yes thank you for the suggestion.

Last year when we arrived in the Med at Port St Louis we turned East, spent a week in Marseille and a few days in the Clanques and Cassis before turning West:- Port Camargue, la Grand Motte, Aigue mort, Carnon, Pavlos lesFlots, Sete. Before returning to La GrandMotte where we had found a boat yard to leave the boat, not only out of the water but tucked up in a secure warehouse at €230pm, for the winter.

Best regards and good boating Paul

 

[Cardo]

There are a few expensive ports along the Spanish coast, such as Roses (€63 for 10m on 1st July!) but if you get down to Barcelona, it's much more affordable. We stayed in the Port Olimpic, but Abramovich's Port Vell is surprisingly affordable for short term stays.

For longer stays, head further south to St. Carles de la Rapita. They have an MDL marina which is very competitively priced. We stayed there for the month of July back in 2013 and paid €340. Bargain! The marina is also fantastic, with a few liveaboards and plenty of British holiday types. I've heard there is also a winter liveaboard community. Sant Carles is a full time town, so doesn't shut down over winter.

 

[colind3782]

Forget Roses and Empuriabrava in July and August. They are packed with French holidaymakers and parking is nigh on impossible. L'Escala might be a better option or, further South at Palamos or Blanes. Port Forum at Badalona is ugly but cheaper with good public transport links into Barcelona.

 

[westernman]

Forget Roses and Empuriabrava in July and August. They are packed with French holidaymakers and parking is nigh on impossible. L'Escala might be a better option or, further South at Palamos or Blanes. Port Forum at Badalona is ugly but cheaper with good public transport links into Barcelona.

I have never had problems getting into Roses in August. L'Escala might get full but you will probably get lucky, Palamos is reputed to be the most expensive place on the whole Spanish coast (although Mahon in Menorca is more).

Here is a photo of us in Blanes on the 18th August 2012.

View attachment 50234

Here is us in Roses on the 27th August 2010.

View attachment 50235

Never had any problem just turning up (except at Porto de Selva in May - we then parked on the Fishermans Quay for free). Even in August.

 

[blampied]

Thank you for all the replys,
Does anyone else have an opinion on the Garonne and Lot rivers.
We realise that the Canal du Midi will be swamped with Hire boats but could do with more of an idea how badly the above rivers are affected and any parts of them that can be recommended ?

Best regards Paul