How long is winter?

[yachttequilla]

About to head off to Med for approx 2.5y. Want to maximise travelling time around Med rather than holed up for too many months over winter. However, am bit concerned by various threads on here regarding need to book in advance for winter, we are 13.5m LOA.

Can anyone offer advice on what periods are considered as winter by Med marinas. For instance what is minimum period (if any) that a marina would let one book a winter berth for, and whe from/to.

Does it depend on budget and how fussy one is about where to go?

I realise I may as well as aked how long is piece of string but some idea would be useful.

Thanks

Steve

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[Sunny_Jim]

For the Spanish & Portugese coasts including the Med the publication "Cruising the Spanish & Portugese Coasts" priced about 20 euros gives you all that info. "Votre Livre de Borde" (about £14) does the same for France.

Good luck!

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[colvic]

Most Spanish marinas have split the year in half with April to September classed as summer and high charges with October to March classed as winter with lower charges, but not everywhere. Port Olimpic in Barcelona charges the same evry month of the year making it very much cheaper in Summer than Port Vell but a little more expensive in winter.

You do not need to be holed up unless you want to be if on the Spanish Med. coast, especially if you are prepared to coast hop. We have ben out at sea every month of the year though of course there are spells of poor weather.

Boat ownership is climbing faster in Spain than any other Euro country at the moment and there is a general shortage of berths. New marinas being built north of Barcelona but very little activity elsewhere with some even stopped in Mallorca.
The German fraternity are heading East to Croatia, with all seven liveaboards leaving Valencia last summer.

Prices are a lot higher than they were and go up every year. At 13.5Mtrs. you will be charged for 15 in most places, but not all, and in Port Olimpico you would be charged 323Euros plus tax a month, water, electricity and showers included. Carparking is 3 Euros day short term. One of the cheapest lift out charges in Spain.

Hope this little bit helps


Phil

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[Paulka]

As already mentionned in a earlier post, I discovered - to my surprise - a half empty Formentera Mar marina last week (Feb. 22 2003).

The management spontaneously gave me its "Offertas de Invernada" valid from Oct. 1st till May 31st., and showing what appears to me pretty cheap prices: e.g. it would cost for your boat (less than 14 m.) 238 Euros for 1 month, or 1521 Euros for 8 months, water (expensive in Formentera) and electricity NOT included.

Formentera, the middle of nothing right now (speak wintertime) has good communications to Ibiza (1/2 hour small ferry, at least 5 times a day) which in turn has pretty good connections to the world, particularly to GB, even during the winter months.

I sail myself throughout the year, and even enjoy more and more sailing in wintertime, despite the occasional bad weather, or storm. There are so many boats fighting for every anchorage or marina berth in summer, that its no longer fun!

Pls. feel free to PM if you have more questions or suggestions.

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[charles_reed]

Winter in the Med is from the beginning of October to the end of March.

I would put to one side any expectations of sailing during the winter months - it's far more inhospitable at that time than the Atlantic coasts.

It is IMHO a waste of time trying to book - all the marinas are full up and most boast 3 year waiting lists.

I have worked on the principle that posession is 9/10 of the law.
The worst that can happen is you can't get in when you turn up, the best you can negotiate a winter rate which is comparable to an annual berther.
For your boat in the Rousillon marinas, that will work out at about €1600 for the 6 months.

Farther S in Spain you can expect to pay about 60% of that price.

However marinas really are crowded and you may have to wander around for some time to find a berth.

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[yachttequilla]

Thanks for the comments - a range of views clearly but gives me some idea what we'll do.

Cheers

Steve

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