Getting water in Mahon!

[Ariadne]

We had been at anchor in the area for 7 days, and had 3 nights on Isla Christina (€74.00 per night!) prior to that, when we decided to head further afield. So water being the first priority, we headed up into Mahon to take some on board. Now according to the pilots and guide books, there is a floating island where you can do this, or you may go to Isla de Rey and get water there by prior arrangement from Ribera de Puerto who run it (on behalf of the port authority).

This is where it goes pear shaped! First of all they told us to go to the fuel berth and get pot' water there. So off we go and speak to the Club Maritimo mahon (who run it), no joy you must have a berth to take water. Contact Ribera de Puerto who have the island as mentioned above. Once again we call them up -- the island is not working and "its not worth us letting you alongside for an hour to take water". They were not interested, their attitude was go away -- there are people with more money than you about.

Next up is Sunseeker, no space sorry we can't help you out have you called Ribera de Puerto who are supposed to supply water. You all still with me here?

So we called Ribera de Puerto again explaining our predicament that we actually don't have enough pot' water and could we take some please. See above for response.

Marina Menorca -- no room at the inn -- call Ribera de Puerto who are supposed to supply water. See the pattern. So we called Ribera de Puerto yet again explaining our predicament that we actually don't have enough pot' water and could we take some please. See above for response.

Eventually we gave up, and moored along side a bloody great cruise ship, and walked into the Port Captain's office and explained the situation. They were not very happy about this, they made a few phone calls and low and behold, suddenly a berth appeared at Marina Menorca where we could go alongside for an hour or two to take water.

I'll not be going back into Mahon unless I need to again. The whole thing took over 4 hours to complete, then to add insult to injury the alternator bracket fell off (see blog for extended version of events) and we had to go back to anchor in La Mola again for another 3 days until I managed to sort it all out.

Anybody else had problems getting water in Mahon??

 

[ccscott49]

Yep, difficult to say the least!! One of the reasons, I have fitted a watermaker, now I dont need to do the "water hunt" everytime I need water in the ballearics. I can tell you it's not all that easy anywhere.

 

[Ariadne]

Are telling me its that difficult to get water in the Ballearics all the time?

Don't these people/ports know they they have an obligation to supply potable water (even if you have to pay for it) to vessel that needs it. They shouldn't refuse water to anyone at any time!

 

[ccscott49]

They are just being awkward, cant be arsed.
Dont make me laugh with obligated!! They are a law unto themselves, if you said that to them, theyd just disappear for siesta or coffee etc.
But lots of oplaces in the ballearics can be awkward, try alcudia, pollensa, they wont let you have water unless you are a berth holder, we managed to bribe the marina guys to let us have water in alcudia and pollensa.
Ibiza St Antonio, you can get water easily in cans, from the yacht club, or from the other pontoons, but you will have to pay, you pay upstairs!! in the office, not cheap! Cala Ratjada, only if you take a berth, Puerto Soller, if you can get to the fuel berth, and they arent busy with fuel, they MAY let you have water. Lots of places like that. I have just got so fed up with begging for water, I want to be independant of them/marinas as much as possible.
I carry plenty of fuel and two gennys!! If I have to revert to begging, I know a few places I can get what I need.

 

[charles_reed]

I remember

suggesting that one requirement for a cruising boat was a watermaker and being laughed out of court.

There's no problem in France and many Italian ports have water points at the fuel berths at which you can fill up, but generally islands, whether in the Med proper or the Adriatic provide a problem. In fact you'll often find water rationing in force during the season in Bonifacio to mention one.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: I remember

Yes, I agree, I still hear people saying, "more trouble than their worth", "high maintenance", "expensive", "water easy to get everywhere in the meddy" etc, etc.

Well none of the above in my experience!

I'm very happy I fitted mine!
Plus of course I'm now independant of rip off launderettes in the meddy as well!
I wouldnt be without one now for long term liveaboard/cruising and comfort, plus humping 20litre cans at least 20 of them, up the side of Englander at anchor was getting a pain and especially now I'm getting a wee bit older!

 

[Ariadne]

Re: I remember

Ok, OK.

So you are both telling me that to cruise the Ballerics I need to but a water maker? I could understand if we cruising some of the remoter Greek Islands but the Ballerics come on. I managed to get water without a problem from Club de Mar in Palma, although we were charged a fee of 1€ per 100 litres, luckily we only needed 300 litres so we just about afford it!

Alcudia seemed fine and very helpfull when we were there a month ago.

I'll go with the gen' set option though. But having to fit a water-maker in this part of the world is a joke.

As for obligations, as far as I remember a port is legally not allowed to refuse a vessel water if it needs it.

 

[Grehan]

Legally

Who's law?

 

[ccscott49]

Re: I remember

Joke or not Mr. Aberman, but you dont seem to be able to get water so easily, now do you?
You should have come over to Barce, when they shut the water off to the marina, and the town apart from 1 hour a day, for three months!
I like to have water available, the way I choose to do it is with a watermaker, you do whatever you want.

 

[silver-fox]

I agree with your observations recently having spent a month in Mahon - but at anchor.

We found the solution to wait until everyone went on their siesta and then go and tank up at one of the floating pontoons by the hospital island that had water! Alternatively turn up at the fuel pontoon after 8pm.

When in Spain do as the Spanish do...its only polite /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[absit_omen]

Move to Fornells. Much nicer and water by arrangement at the Town Quay. Loads of buses to Mahon if you really need to be there.

 

[dockmaster]

We used to sneak in under the cover of darknes with the dingy and jerry cans - after a while you get good at finding it and it is a bit of a laugh as well, the answer is not to get stressed about small problems they will always sought themselves out.

 

[jonic]

Agree on moving to Fornells, much nicer.

But this season throughout the Balearics it has been noticeably more difficult to get water, even if paying for it. We have been refused it after paying 200 euros for diesel in Ibiza, were told NO in Portals in Mallorca, again after filling up with 200 euros worth of diesel and the water pontoon in Mahon has gone. The general attitude to cruising boats at anchor has been unwelcoming. Often there have been no dinghy docks, our chain was cut twice and the dinghy removed in Fornells and off Binibecca in Menorca. (Both times whilst tied to the end of floating pontoons or landing stage) On two other occasions we have been told we could not land the dinghy on the beach even though there were buoyed channels and the only way to come ashore was to swim!

Then there have been the anchor police in Colom, the buoy police in Pollenca, the anchoring ban off Ibiza town and the list goes on.

I can't wait to get back to the Caribbean with it's decent anchorages, dingy docks, water barges, laundry collection, fresh fruit and fish delivered etc. I know it's not all roses there, but I certainly felt more welcome.

I have also fitted a watermaker.

 

[jonic]

Aberman,

Have just read your Blog....almost identical tales to our summer here, no water, alternator problems and a dodgy dinghy. I had a look at one if those aluminium hulled ribs in Alcuduia today and would be interested in your comments as I may order one in the next few days.

Thanks

 

[ccscott49]

My case rests yer' Honour!

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't wait to get back to the Caribbean with it's decent anchorages, dingy docks, water barges, laundry collection, fresh fruit and fish delivered etc.

[/ QUOTE ]That is actually a pretty good description of the eastern Med, so you don't have to go all the way to the Carib. Water can be a problem on some Greek Aegean Islands in the summer but then it is due to a real water shortage, not an attitude problem. Turkey has plenty of water basically anywhere and can easily rival the Carib in delivery services of everything from bread to laundry.

 

[JamesFrance]

After an absence of 28 years, we were planning to revisit the Baleares where we used to keep boats in the 70s. Having read this thread it seems we would be disappointed, as we were with the Riviera.

It seems there are just too many boats using the same patches of water.

 

[Ariadne]

The 2.4m Aquapro aluminium boat we have is great. All four of us can get in with a weeks supply of food, and get back to the boat dry(ish). They row quite well (but you need to distribute the weight, other wise it shears all over the shop), ours has been rowed more than motored. But that's mainly because our outboard isn't very happy at the moment, needs a new prop and the carbaretor needa attention.

On saying that it planes well and flys along with 1 adult and 1 child with a 6hp engine, and it almost planes with all 4 of us in it (ours is supposed have at least an 8hp engine). At just 30Kg its light enough to get and off the boat very easily, the same weight as our 2.8m Avon with the knackered floor.

I was wondering where you (Silver Fox) went to get your water, we were anchored alongside you in La Mola for most of that week. It was our kids paddeling around on the surf-boards and wind-surfers, with the Spanish kid from the 'Wishbone' the black hulled gaffer.

Still I suppose I'll have to go through it all again soon as we're heading back to Mallorca to meet up some friends. Water water every where but not a drop to drink! how true in the Ballearics! Just maybe I'll put a water-maker on my Christmas list, along with that 3KVA gen set I fancy!

 

[jonic]

Thanks for the heads up on the dink, sounds good so have ordered one today and am having the local sailmaker make up a permanent cover.

If you are back in Mallorca we are on the hook off Alcudia for a week or so on SERAPHIM.

 

[charles_reed]

Baleares CF Riviera

Don't think there's a comparison - Riviera (that's the part E of Nice) is far more civil and civilised.
Baleareanos are boors.

Mind you, when you get to the Cote d'Azur you need to miss the smart places Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes - apart from being overcrowded, they overcharge and are over pretentious.