Free Anchorages in the Med
- Thread starter Mino
- Start date
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Thank-you!
Having now qualified your original statement and specified two anchorages in the EASTERN Med, I can agree with you, though 55 knots is perhaps a conservative estimate.
With the qualification that there ARE NO FREE, SAFE WINTER ANCHORAGES in the Western or Central Mediterranean. In fact many of the marinas are dodgy in a good summer blow.
And I don't mean the famous New Year storm in which 14km of pontoons and 137 boats were damaged in la Rochelle.
Probably the most dangerous (for boats) place to be is on a town quay with lots of charters at any time when there's a wind. It's a good idea to get off the quay and anchor.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Thanks for specifying two anchorages in the Eastern Med.
Which qualification, supposes agreement with my statement that there are no safe, free anchorages in the Western or Central Med.
In fact in many of the marinas, in those areas you'll be at risk in a good summer blow.
I speak from experience.
The premise that you can run to shelter, if a blow is threatened, is predicated on there being some room - just try when the mistral blows round Hyeres - I spent a weekend in the travel-lift dock on one occasion and was very glad to share it with another two boats.
Liz_I
Well-Known Member
Assuming the OP is not wanting to leave his boat at anchor for the winter and will be staying on it.
TWO anchorages spring to mind! 1) Baie de Carteau. Not the most attractive place but this wasn't the criteria! The holding is 'glue' and shelter from the Mistral behind the training wall is excellent. Behind the sand banks again excellent shelter from the SE which is at time more ferocious than the Mistral!
2) Mahon, either behind I.Cuarentena or cala Taulera.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, latest news is that Taulera is now filled with PAYG mooring buoys.
With regard to Carteau, where would you get your early morning bread?
I could also add Port Mon, in the Ile des Hyeres and the anchorage between the Lérins, but both are remote from any form of civilisation and the latter can be over-exciting in an extended winter blow. One could always go to Cannes (IMHO the most undesirable place on the French Mediterranean coast) in the latter eventuality.
The point I'm stressing is that demand for moorings in the West and Central Med has been such that every conceivable (and some pretty inconceivable) anchorage has been "developed".
On the other hand most of these are so empty in the winter that any reasonable negotiator can demand at least a 50% reduction from summer rates (the published price lists are more a wish-list than cast in stone like the law of the Medes and Persians). The secret is to get to the boss-man.
IMHO France is the most civilised of the Mediterranean coasts and, quite easily the most expensive and uncivilised are the Italian coasts.
However I still prefer Greece, even if it's not a gastronomes' paradise, there is wind, lots of anchorages and some amusing, if illogical, inhabitants.
Liz_I
Well-Known Member
Taulera - well we will let you know about that one. Haven't heard about this from friends there. Maybe there is a bit of confusion over the channel marking buoys which were laid last year and take up about a third of the anchoring space in the cala. Also the long standing rumour of occasionally a fee being charged for anchoring. Truth is that a guy delivering bread in a big RIB arrives to take orders, he's dressed in white shirt and blue shorts, carries a clipboard... you can guess what happens, everyone sitting in their cockpit dives below and pretends they are not onboard - just in case it's someone collecting money!!!!!
Bread in Carteau, either make your own or take a short trip by dinghy (in good weather) or take the boat into Port Saint Louis, lie against the wall, for free, go shopping collect water, in cans & voila!
Bread in Carteau, either make your own or take a short trip by dinghy (in good weather) or take the boat into Port Saint Louis, lie against the wall, for free, go shopping collect water, in cans & voila!
TerryMac
Well-Known Member
No mooring buoys in Taulera as of last week. Great place to anchor!
lindsay
Well-Known Member
The French View
I have spent many of the last 15 years in and around the French Mediterranean coast. In my experience there are no 'safe' winter anchorages ie a place where you can leave your boat at anchor for days or weeks without supervision. A good option is to find and rent a buoy somewhere, attached to a large lump of concrete and a large chain, with the buoy fitted with one of those piston thinghies.
A French acquaintance who has been running an all weather sailing school for many years said ' There are actually NO completely safe anchorages, in ANY season, in France from either Easterlies or Mistrals/Westerlies of Force 10 or more (and , yes, they OFTEN attain those levels). They just do not exist."
Marina prices come down to relatively low levels during the winter as more and more people are hauling out during this period and re-launching in the Spring. Even St Tropez is 'cheap' from mid October to end March.
One exception might be in the Etangs near Marseilles, where lots of round the world steel yachts with penniless owners seem to finish up, but then that is a pretty grotty area, but perhaps 'genuine' France.
Porto Ferraio in Elba used to be a winter anchorage, with a couple of dozen liveaboards set on three or four anchors, AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND to keep an eye open. But that, I understand, is no longer the case.
I have spent many of the last 15 years in and around the French Mediterranean coast. In my experience there are no 'safe' winter anchorages ie a place where you can leave your boat at anchor for days or weeks without supervision. A good option is to find and rent a buoy somewhere, attached to a large lump of concrete and a large chain, with the buoy fitted with one of those piston thinghies.
A French acquaintance who has been running an all weather sailing school for many years said ' There are actually NO completely safe anchorages, in ANY season, in France from either Easterlies or Mistrals/Westerlies of Force 10 or more (and , yes, they OFTEN attain those levels). They just do not exist."
Marina prices come down to relatively low levels during the winter as more and more people are hauling out during this period and re-launching in the Spring. Even St Tropez is 'cheap' from mid October to end March.
One exception might be in the Etangs near Marseilles, where lots of round the world steel yachts with penniless owners seem to finish up, but then that is a pretty grotty area, but perhaps 'genuine' France.
Porto Ferraio in Elba used to be a winter anchorage, with a couple of dozen liveaboards set on three or four anchors, AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND to keep an eye open. But that, I understand, is no longer the case.
westernman
Well-Known Member
In our region (Golf de Lion) at least once per winter, you will have winds of over 80kts. Guaranteed. (Force 12 is 65 knots). OK it is not often, but far too often if you plan to leave your boat unattended at anchor or even on a mooring for the winter.
The winter before last we had 183km/h (99knots) in our marina! A few boats lost their furled head sails and a couple were blown over on the hard.
This winter we had several days with winds over 160km/h (100MPH - 86knots).
During the winter season I have at least 10 warps holding my boat in its berth. I check after every storm and change any warp which has chafed significantly.
This is also why a winter cover is useless here - no way will it stay on the boat for the entire winter.
I think the extreme weather in the Med is worse than the extreme weather in the Solent by a long way!
noelex
Well-Known Member
To clarify my posts. I do not consider it prudent to leave a boat unattended at anchor for any extended period.
My definition of a safe winter anchorage is simply a place where it is safe to anchor, during the stronger winds experienced in the Med over the winter months. Whenever the boat is at anchor in bad weather IMHO there needs to be someone on board who is capable of managing the boat, summer or winter, in any location.
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gavin_lacey
Well-Known Member
How would you suggest those onboard manage their boat in 80+ knts in an anchorage. I would not think that most yachts could even motor into this wind.
noelex
Well-Known Member
There are many things a crew can do in severe winds to reduce the chance of damage. As in most sailing emergencies the actions of people tends to be ultimately at least as important as the equipment. If you look up threads on hurricane management there are a lot of detailed advice on surviving strong wind at anchor.
Managing chafe is vitally important for example . As a last resort some crews have saved the boat by motoring forwards during the height of the storm to reduce the load on the anchor.
westernman
Well-Known Member
There are quiet free anchorages off season. But you need to watch the weather and make sure you are tucked up safe and sound in a marina when the storms come through as for sure they will. Unfortunately, in unsettled weather the storms pop up surprisingly quickly. Weather forecasts sometimes get it wrong so you need to keep an eye on the general situation and play it safe.
In France pretty much all the marinas lower their prices drastically in winter.
The idea of being in an anchorage in 80kts plus scares me and I don't fancy being at sea in that weather either, although my boat would be fine.
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gavin_lacey
Well-Known Member
There are many nice sailing days in much of the mediteranean in winter. If you want to cruise in winter rather than be based in one secure marina then weather forecasts are paramount. The really strong winds are caused by major weather systems that are usually well forecast. You would be better not to be in one of notoriously windy areas eg gulf of lyon. Ensuring that you are always able to get to a marina/port that is listed as type A for shelter in the imray pilot and are willing to wait for long periods is necessary. One of the reasons that so many of us are based in one marina for the winter and then day sail is cost. Even off season visitors pay much higher daily rates than those staying longer term. Another is the social life that develops. NB 80 knts at anchor is a survival situation that runs a considerable risk of an unhappy ending.
Mino
Well-Known Member
Thanks everybody. I have learnt a great deal from posting this thread!
narcer
Well-Known Member
Baleares
Hi there,
Just to add to your list for eg around the Baleares there ARE plenty of places you can anchor during the winter which are safe havens. First place is Porto Colom - I personally know a guy here who has lived onboard, on the anchor permanantly for 15 yrs !! There are more, however the safest in any weather has to be Cala Addaya on Menorca. It´s anything-proof. Also Taulera is good, just a long way by dinghy !
Hi there,
Just to add to your list for eg around the Baleares there ARE plenty of places you can anchor during the winter which are safe havens. First place is Porto Colom - I personally know a guy here who has lived onboard, on the anchor permanantly for 15 yrs !! There are more, however the safest in any weather has to be Cala Addaya on Menorca. It´s anything-proof. Also Taulera is good, just a long way by dinghy !
BigJoe
Well-Known Member
If you are looking for an anchorage in the Med………………
And an all year found on at that…………………….
It has to be the Mar Menor, its about 35 mils south of Alicante.
Its 12 miles long by about 6 miles wide.
There is a few islands so you can always find a lee.
About a dozen small towns with shops etc.
Its fairly shallow and you can only enter by a lifting bridge, if you have a mast, which I assume you have.
And an all year found on at that…………………….
It has to be the Mar Menor, its about 35 mils south of Alicante.
Its 12 miles long by about 6 miles wide.
There is a few islands so you can always find a lee.
About a dozen small towns with shops etc.
Its fairly shallow and you can only enter by a lifting bridge, if you have a mast, which I assume you have.
fredfreund
New Member
hi i am new on here, but living on my boat i can help you any time around the Balearic and most harbours they have a place to anchor free but just be careful of protected places, they are marked in the book all beaches are closed for boats so you need a small dingy and the med can change in ten min.
of season are much cheaper and safer to go in a harbour
fredfreund
New Member
had to laugh at that so true i spent last winter in the port the winds where so strong lifted the boats so high you could see the keel lol NE Majorca
randomsailing
New Member
Why ?
You can get a six month winter deal in Almerimar in Spain for under £1000 (12m). I hope people who are new to cruising in the Med don't risk a tragedy to save a few hundred pounds.
You can get a six month winter deal in Almerimar in Spain for under £1000 (12m). I hope people who are new to cruising in the Med don't risk a tragedy to save a few hundred pounds.