Gibraltar Marinas-top tip!

capnsensible

capnsensible

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Mar 2007
Messages
49,543
Location
Atlantic
Visit site
It's that time of year when lots of yachts of all nationalities are migrating South to the Med and beyond.

There are very few visitors berths in Gib and the new marina across the border in La Linea is predictably behind schedule and it will be at least August before berths start to be open.

There have been quite a few dissapointed arrivals here in the past week, prompting this post. It can be a hard sail, sometimes, through the Straits and to get the 'no room at the Inn' news at the end is also frustrating.

Tip, then, is to book first by email or phone. Shouting at the Marina staff doesn't work!!

No relation, but see this every year.... giving a bit of notice we were easily able to book in a certain well known (on the forums) catamaran, thereby ensuring a hangover at some stage this week!

Hope this helps.
 
And, to add a probably unnecessary rider . . the traditional anchoring 'off the runway' is no more and has not been allowed for some years now. Anchoring just across the border, off La Linea is still possible (I trust), fairly sheltered behind breakwaters except in strong westerly gales, but unfortunately also a magnet for dinghy-nickers.
 
Indeed the airfield rules changed (usual health and safety stuff) some time ago. Masts over 14 m banned from Marina bay too.

Strong westerlies aren't the problem hereabouts though, sea kicked up by west winds dissipates in Alboran.

Easterlies are the ones that cause all the damage as the suge sets up in the bay. All that sea trying to get into the Straits causes it. It was east winds that smashed the La Linea breakwater 18 months ago!
 
We were in Marina Bay 3 days ago. No restriction on mast height. We at 16 metres quite small. We did clear port authorities as we entered and were allowed in as, as suggested we booked a few days ahead. Going north into the Med everywhere is empty..........no problem anywhere to date. In Almerimar, and the beer is cool.
 
Just spoken to office, the berths are now graded from 8m mast closest to runway across to other side of Casino, virtually unrestricted. An outbreak of common sense??

Yeah, lots of Spanish Marinas half empty, berthing fees gone daft plus taxation concerns. New La Linea marina has dropped prices quite a bit to get people booking.
 
LinTeal

Planning on heading for Gibraltar at the end of the month.Will it be easier for me to get a berth as length of boat is only 8.65m.Is Ceuta a viable option or do you also need to book ahead ?
 
Hi, its always going to be difficult in Gib at this time of year whatever loa!

Regarding Ceuta, it does get busy through the summer, not many visitors berths. Some Spanish would help if you try and book there but the office is somewhat less than efficient! Great place for a couple of days though, noisy now the marina bar is open again. Personally really like it.
 
Top Tip For Gib

We were in Gib (Lalinina) at the begining of May, not the most hospitable people on planet earth unless you have a superyacht, they managed to upset SWIMBO, so my top tip is to refuel there and carry on to Almerimar.
 
My top tip is to sail right on past!!! :) The rock and the straits make a lovely evening sail. Get the tide right, and you will shoot through.

Having been there for a day in 2002, I saw enough to confirm that I wouldnt be too worried if I never went again.

Rota to Almerimar wasnt too arduous on the way in, and Almerimar to Lagos, equally straightforward on the way out.
 
Please do not be lulled into thinking the Straits are always so kind. Mostly, its windy and we all know what wind against tide does. My observations are based on upwards of a hundred trips through the Straits.

Last time, I left Gib with a 25 knot easterly forecast. Great for downwind passagemaking. Turned into 45 knots true windspeed at Tarifa with seas to match. Interesting.....
 
Ional said:
We were in Marina Bay 3 days ago. No restriction on mast height. We at 16 metres quite small. We did clear port authorities as we entered and were allowed in as, as suggested we booked a few days ahead. Going north into the Med everywhere is empty..........no problem anywhere to date. In Almerimar, and the beer is cool.
Click to expand...

Interesting to see the recession biting. I wonder if the Balearics marinas will free up/have a bout of reality? We will be in Gib (having already booked at Queensway) on 14th and after getting some trinkets fitted by Messrs Sheppards, will head to Balearics-rather scared by the reports of full,rapacious, unwelcoming marinas. Comments and recommendations welcome!
 
Blue Biscay

Was in La Linea last year. Club Nautico will let you securely park a dinghy for 5 Euros/ day and fresh water is on tap. Anchorage was excellent several long term unattended boats there. Big Carrafour only a short bike ride away which is cheaper and has more choice than Morrisons in Gib. You can easily walk into Gib if you need a pub crawl, it's just round the corner.
 
Having sailed to Gib from Portsmouth in March, and been welcomed with kisses and hugs in Brest, we were very disappointed with the welcome at Gib. Rude, unhelpful, and unwilling. We were exhausted and needed to come in. The night staff at the marina point blank refused to let us in, so we ignored this, and went to see what we could find. Sure enough there was room for at least 20-30 yachts of a similar size to us.
We moored up; at 4am the thug that worked there was banging loudly on the coach roof and shouting at us to get lost. He was a big agressive and nasty person to us right from the start - even by radio/mobile as we appraoched he had this awful demeanour.

The crew had about 120 years of sailing experience between us, and not once had we ever been treated to rudely or unplesantly.

A real shame to get a welcome like that, especially in our own back yard. I for one, was really looking forward to seeing Gib, especially as someone who used to live in Hong Kong.

The day staff talked to us for a little while, but didnt really say anything other than "phone ahead" to book in.

I dont think I will go back.
 
Last edited:
This is a very disappointing post and the sort of thing that starting this thread will hopefully be of help to others.

There is no excuse for rudeness from the marina staff.

But.

If you have been told there is no room for you, why not go the extra half mile and anchor? If a berth is empty, that doesnt mean its vacant surely? That is why there are staff. Is it suprising the guy was unpleasant?

Say you ran a hotel and I arrived to be told there is no room. Suppose I waited til your back was turned and went and found what appears to be an empty room and moved in? Would you be happy? You would know why it was empty, not me.


Were you aware of the rquirement to clear customs by fax from the marina office? Or if you dont that it is the marina staff that get in trouble....could cost them their job.

Sorry to disagree with your position, but there are always 2 sides. Maybe this helps a bit?
 
My top tip is to anchor off La Linea and make arrangements by phone to enter Queensway at 11 next morning. Its stress-free and has worked every time. This fits in with the general movement of yachts in and out of the marina. There is no point in fulminating and quoting 120 years of experience. If the marina is full its fulll!!! Come on RELAX, you're cruising after all!!!!!
 
Last edited:
It wasnt my decision, I was crew. I understand what you are saying though.

I was just recounting my experience of Gib. That there certainly were berths available, as we stayed a few nights there. The attitude of the staff wasn't nice, as I said, even over the radio on our approach before we had berthed without authorisation.

I wasnt aware of the need to clear customs as such, but as crew I had no dealings with the port authority. Does this formality stand for UK nationals? Im heading south myself now, and may end up there despite a preference to avoid the area.

M
 
Last edited:
La Linea (Alcaidesa ) is open with hundreds of empty berths. Very helpful staff. Very wide berths. Left our 9m Catalac there last week @ €12 p.d. compared with José Banus quoting us €90 p.d. Easy walking distance to airport and bus terminals.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top