I want a bolt hole in the sun

JoeQ

JoeQ

Well-Known Member
Joined
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319
Location
Glasgow
www.use.me.uk
I want to move my boat somewhere warm that won't cost a fortune. Is it an idle dream or does it actually exist?

I am based in Scotland and have 2 boats and am considering moving 1 of them out to sun somewhere. One boat is a ketch rigged motorsailor, CheoyLee 63 and the other is a Butler 40 trawler yacht. Are there any marinas or harbours where I could keep 1 of them that would be similar prices to the Clyde?

Areas I thought of would be Med or Red Sea or UAE somewhere that isn't too long a flight.

Any recommendations please?
 
Greece or Turkey. Both have a good choice of different types of harbours and marinas but more importantly plenty of places to cruise. Access by plane easier in Greece, but still very seasonal - May-October.
 
JoeQ said:
Neither, I want to be able to make the most of the Scottish summer and the West Coast of Scotland cruising area.

What I want is somewhere to go during the Scottish winter.
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Me too!

I also wanted somewhere to go for the winter months where people speak English. Looking at the Med. there's only Malta and Gib. The weather in Malta in Jan. and Feb. is wet and windy. Gib is a very very small place, and there's a border to cross to Spain that can take hours. Its also very built up with nasty modern buildings.

The Caribbean is expensive, you've got hurricanes and endemic crime. It's a long way from Europe and flights cost a bomb.

The Canaries are 'culturally interesting', think Costa's, Benidorm etc.

Ok, it's not going to an English speaking country. Spain? Portugal ?
 
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JoeQ said:
Neither, I want to be able to make the most of the Scottish summer and the West Coast of Scotland cruising area.

What I want is somewhere to go during the Scottish winter.
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Quite a tall order and a change from the question you asked.

If you want somewhere with sun during the N Hemisphere winter you've got to look in the S Hemisphere. That immediately conflicts with your demand for cheap flights.

So what do you want winter sun or cheap flights?

The nearest it's come to is Las Canarias, but whilst they're fairly warm in winter, days are shorter and weather more wintry so you'll be able to use a boat as a residence but not as an exploratory medium - it makes more sense to have an apartment.
 
Trizonia Gulf of Corinth. Sheltered marina and no charges (yet)

Bus to Athens and the airport after you've crossed the small straits for €1 in the little ferry.

Don't tell everyone!
 
charles_reed said:
Quite a tall order and a change from the question you asked.

If you want somewhere with sun during the N Hemisphere winter you've got to look in the S Hemisphere. That immediately conflicts with your demand for cheap flights.

So what do you want winter sun or cheap flights?

The nearest it's come to is Las Canarias, but whilst they're fairly warm in winter, days are shorter and weather more wintry so you'll be able to use a boat as a residence but not as an exploratory medium - it makes more sense to have an apartment.
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I was in Dubai until a couple of weeks ago and the weather is perfect during our winter months so I don't see that I have to go as far as the S Hemisphere. I didn't say anything about "cheap flights"? What I said was "isn't too long a flight".
 
rustybarge;4110747 The Canaries are 'culturally interesting' said:
Only a few parts in the Canaries are full of hen parties from Essex, a few German or Dutch bits but mostly quite Spanish with all the great food and lovely wine which goes with that. And possibly one of the best climates you can get :cool:
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Conachair said:
Only a few parts in the Canaries are full of hen parties from Essex, a few German or Dutch bits but mostly quite Spanish with all the great food and lovely wine which goes with that. And possibly one of the best climates you can get :cool:
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Could you be specific please, it's a very long time since I was in the Canaries?
 
JoeQ said:
Could you be specific please, it's a very long time since I was in the Canaries?
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Good overview of the marinas here...
http://www.bluemoment.com/portguide-canaries.html

La Gomera is one of my all time faves :cool:

Sadly a bit lacking in anchorages but great climate and plenty cheapish flights. Year round cruising.

Not sure of costs these days, wasn't too extreme a few years ago on a monthly booking.
 
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Look at somewhere near Gib, like La Linea or Duquesa. The former has modern facilities (although no shops,bars or restaurants - short walk to town for those), walking distance to Gib. The latter has a sizeable Brit community, good facilities,bars, shops etc, you can work on your own boat on the hard, bus or 25 min taxi to Gib. Malaga an hour away.
 
Torrevieja Marina Silines

See link below.

http://www.marinasalinas.com/esp/index.php

Cheep flights to Alicante from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Cheepish year round berths, we are 5.5K for 46 feet.

A days steaming from Formentera and Ibiza

New up and coming marina, 5 mins walk from the town.

Local bars in marina, with a Scottish run bar / restaurant with the ex chef from Duck Bay.

Oh, and its 22 deg................... all week.
 
I was aboard a friends boat last year. A BIG ONE.....Lets say Gin Palace. i think it cost him 5 k to top it up ! Never mind all the luxury that provided.
I found i spent most of the time outside. The only time i went inside was to get a bloody drink ! I could as well been a board a 22 ft'er.
Our summers are not like blighties. We dont need big massive living spaces indoors. Its normal to go three months without seeing a drop of rain.

Maybe consider selling one of your boats, replacing it with a nice cheap to keep 30 ft'er. in the med. If you go over 30 your risking invalidating many free mooring entitlements. Lots of smaller boats here can slip under the radar and you get a free mooring. Expecting to bring a forty plus footer here and your gonna pay through the teeth, unless your the antichrist of me for example and can afford to blow away tens of thousands.;)
 
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Tranona said:
Access by plane easier in Greece, but still very seasonal - May-October.
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May-October? Where does that come from? Athens is a big international airport with flights every day of the year to most European countries.

Joe - please send me a PM with details of your boat, draft, how many months you want a berth, and how much you pay in Scotland.
 
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